The housemartins are gathering

During the morning, I spent some time gazing out of the window at the housemartins, whizzing around over our pond, swooping low, sometimes even dipping low enough to hit the water.  We continue to be disappointed that this pond, unlike the one we had made in Norfolk, hasn't attracted any dragonflies or damsels.  But there's plenty of small insect life in and above it.  Conversely, we were never aware of housemartins in Norfolk - but then, we couldn't see the pond from the house.

After lunch we took the Zoë in to Waterford for its annual service.  We arrived a little early for our 2pm appointment, expecting to be able to hand the key over to the receptionist and leave.  But the service receptionists were all at lunch!  And the young lass manning the general reception hadn't a clue.  We had to hang around for 20 minutes waiting!  Pretty appalling service.

Eventually we were able to leave, and went across the road to the shopping centre, where we were similarly unimpressed by the lack of service in Curry's.  Ended up in Harvey Norman, where we have previously been pleased with the service; once again well treated and they got our custom - new dishwasher bought, paid for, will be delivered and fitted next week.

The car servicing finally finished, they want it back for a full day to try to sort out the heating - or rather the lack of heating.  We didn't book it in - I think we might see if the service is better at the Renault garage in Wexford.

When we got home, the housemartins were all perched on these power lines.  Lovely to see them, but their deposits are so not welcome - the polytunnel is quite filthy, and half the washing I hung up yesterday had to go back into the machine again tonight!