Golden Days

I guess the goldfish enjoyed the hailstorm last week. It decimated the water lilies, probably gave the newly moved in grass snake one heck of a headache and would have cooled down the water very quickly. Apart from which, they love a good spray of water on the surface to oxygenate things.

What started as by 12 for the price of 10 @ €1 each have now become literally an uncountable swarm of 100+, I dare say 200+. Problem is it is illegal to put them in to wild ponds as they apparently damage the native environment. Although we do have lots of herons in the area, seemingly none feel it necessary to visit us, unlike the foxes which continue to give us daily problems with our chickens. I don't remember a year when we have lost so many chickens over such a long period. The early spring when the cubs are born is always fraught, but not normally throughout the summer.