Saturday 24th March

We received a food package from Peeks, the guy who bought the Jeep, as a thank you for putting him and his friend Andy up when they flew over last month.  We found it on our doorstep in a bad state and think that the authorities must have opened it to confirm there were no illegal substances inside.  This was a shame as Les had sent us chilli powder, curry paste and a fahitas pack.  All had been opened, even the jar of paste and there was chilli powder everywhere! 

We have a bird who we think may be one shilling short of a pound.  For the past two days this male chaffinch has been sitting on the door handle of the patio doors in the computer room, pecking incessantly at the window pane chirping intermittently and occasionally jumping onto the bird table for some food.   We are able to walk right up to him behind the glass and observe him behaving in this unusual manner.  We have no idea why he is acting in this way.  Does he see his reflection and think there is another bird there, rather like budgies that play with themselves in a mirror?  Does he think his reflection is a rival – we have noticed that chaffinches are very territorial.  Chris had to get up at 6.30 this morning and close the shutters as the bird’s continuous tapping was keeping him awake, but as soon as we rose this morning and re-opened them, there he was back again.  We are even able to go out onto the balcony from the other direction and stand and watch him, and still he does not fly away.  There is now a large pile of bird droppings on the stoep as he sits and poops to his hearts content.