We had a lie in this morning as Mum was writing her Christmas cards in the cottage before she came to let us out.
"It is the last day for second class post, Gordon. If I hadn't got the cards in the post this morning I would have had to buy extra stamps."
She seemed pre-occupied, muttering about addresses and things. Dad had left early for the second Big Show and he won't be home again until tomorrow evening. I do hope Mum will stop her mutterings. Luckily Bird saved us from the situation by trying to trill a few bars of The Holly and The Ivy. Mum was delighted and rushed to his cage to encourage him. She has been trying to teach him a carol for weeks now. However this only led to stage fright and he reverted to his well rehearsed Even The Bad Times Are Good.
"The Holly and The Ivy."
There was no stopping Mum now.
"When they are both full grown
O- of all the trees that are in the wood,
The-er Holly bears the crown.
Oh the rising of the su-un,
And the running of the deer,
The-er playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir."
Well yes. There is Holly and Ivy in abundance in the woods and the sun does rise - albeit occasionally - and the deer do run. But what's with this playing of the merry organ and especially the sweet singing bit? We covered our ears with our wings and sloped stealthily and steadily back to the barn from whence we had just alighted. Sadly we couldn't completely muffle out the warbling. This is going to be a long weekend. G x

Hot news received from Dad's ancient mobile phone - Drongo won the Gold Sebright Cockerel class! We decided to have a celebration on his behalf and uncovered my store of millet seed remains. Binny scruddled in the corn bin and Harvest flapped her wings and scissored her beak in the paddling pool. Well done Drongo!

Mum's Old School Buddy Mandy has been on holiday with her Man, Dave. They went to Scotland and we had a card from them to say that it poured and poured and poured. Sounded like a lot more rain than we had here and we thought of our new friends that we had met at The Big Show that lived there. We hope you are all safe and not washed away! Anyway Mandy and Dave sent us this postcard and it is called 'The Neverwrong Forecasting System'. We think it is perfect! Exactly what is needed!
There is a large stone on the end of a length of rope hanging on the fence and it goes like this:
Forecast                                     Condition
Stone is Wet                              Raining
Stone is Dry                               Not Raining
Shadow on Ground                 Sunny
White on Top                             Snowing
Can't See Stone                          Foggy
Swinging Stone                          Windy
Stone Gone                                  Tornado

Now that's our sort of Weather Forecasting System!  Gordon and Sylvia xxx

We have all settled down after the excitement of The Big Show - going about our daily duties and the oldest cockerels and pullets are studying hard for their final exams at Poole Tree College. We have promised them that they can go for another Big Day out just before Christmas - if they work hard and try their best. It seems to be a good incentive as they are diligently reading and making notes late into the afternoon. It seems to be getting dark so early - sometimes around half past two on a rainy day - but we are nearing the shortest day and then things will start to improve! If somewhat slowly at first. The Oak trees have shed almost all of their leaves over the last ten days - leaving only the younger trees and saplings with any on at all. At first they provided a lovely thick brown carpet and Honey loved to gallop through them and toss them in the air. But after the recent rain they are soggy and Dad had to rake the ones in our yard yesterday before he could get his Leaf-Blower to pick them up.

The old pond is starting to fill up from the rainwater that has drained off the fields and the berries of the Holly and the Hips and the Haws are still providing a meal for Mr and Mrs Blackbird, Robbie Robin and their friends. The Fox makes his visit regularly and each morning Mum puts his Toy on the top of the bank by the path to Wattlebury School and sure enough next day it is always re-arranged. We have seen him playing with it and he throws it in the air and pounces and rolls around in a world of his own.

We aren't actually sure which Fox will settle on Wattlebury Down yet and which one will go up to Wattlebury Cottage. They are trying to establish their territories and later this month will be looking to find a mate to settle down with.
After all the visitors and babies and noise of the summer it seems all seems very quiet and we get to know the remaining animals quite well. And we can see them now the trees are bare - we can see the Roe Deer grazing in the field with Lois and we can count the jackdaws sitting high in their trees - and even clearly see Mrs Jenny Wren weaving amongst the black and spikey hedgerow. The Ivy is quite magnificent though and amongst the flowers the green berries are forming. These berries will turn a beautiful dark-purple colour when they are ripe and the greedy Mistle-Thrush will gobble them up when the other berries have all been eaten or have fallen.  The flowers of the Ivy provide a rich supply of honey to winter moths and those brave insects which have survived past the autumn. In fact it has been so mild that we are still seeing tiny flies and insects hanging around our yard. Neddie and Seagoon delight in springing as high as they can to try and catch them. Gordon and Sylvia xxx