Leisurely day walking around Little Paxton and Little Paxton Wood, enjoying the bird life and then tea in front of our last coal fire of the season as King Hussein of Jorden assures the Prime Minister today by phone that the recent bomb attacks are not a source of danger to the Queen during her forthcoming visit

A less than productive day but good rest and chance to catch up on some reading and writing in bed this morning. Up a bit late, particularly in view of the fact that the clocks were moved forward at midnight for British Summer Time. My Sunday breakfast of fried egg, bacon, mushroom and bread and then out of bed at 10.15 to get showered and dressed. Daniel helped me to let out the ducks and scrape out the duck house and then to wash the car of three weeks dirt. I walked around Little Paxton a couple of times today, imagining the changes that have occurred since it was developed in 1960+.

Along the older roads there are still a fair number of trees and I am resolved to try to plant a few more oaks, limes and willows in the area soon. My bird table was very busy all day, with the bones from Sunday lunch attracting starlings as well as the normal seed eaters. I cannot yet see any evidence of nesting in the area and today’s weather was continuing wet and windy. The river is well coloured and rose considerably in the last 24 hours and, from what I can see, Marilyn’s ducks are back in the river again. I took the car today up to Paxton Wood and took a walk inside. A nice wood with plenty of bird life – I saw a long-tailed tit and heard a magpie or jay. I was intercepted after by what could have been a gamekeeper but intend to return when I have researched the footpaths and lie of the land. Tea tonight in front of the last coal fire of this season as I toasted crossed buns and got Debbie to butter them for the family to eat. News today of rising concern over the Queen’s visit to Jordan but King Hussein assured the Prime Minister today by phone that the recent bomb attacks are not a source of danger to the Queen. A late evening relaxing and reading after an early hair wash and bath – fully ready for work tomorrow physically though well behind in my plans for preparation.