The care home rang me before I got around to phoning them - oops! Pam (the owner) said mum is very well settled and has a friend and is eating well and being chatty sometimes ..  I said I'd planned to collect her tomorrow, but she suggested I leave her over the weekend, and who am I to argue?

I have to nip in tomorrow as they're running out of meds - it's be interesting to see how she reacts to seeing me ..

I went to the local animal rescue this morning and have signed up - they'll send someone out to look at the garden and discuss dog ownership with me.

No Benji news - a couple of friends are a bit concerned his foster mum doesn't want to give him up - I hope not - though I'm pretty sure my distance from Essex will be a problem.

Meanwhile - I met the sweetest and very dainty seven year old JR cross at the rescue place. They told me he wasn't really for a first time owner, and his age may be a problem for rehoming him. That's a shame then - his age is a positive for me.

Here's a common buzzard ..