What you looking at?

This is Dolley, one of our (five) chickens. Few sights are so good or quick at making me happy than seeing our birds busying themselves in the garden (we also have two ducks). I spent the day trying to be busy, too. Mrs O decided to go out on her own, so I began tackling the ironing mountain, mowed the lawn (the birds love picking over freshly mown lawn) and digging up some thistles. Thistles are evil plants. Why anyone would want them as their national symbol is beyond me.

I was also excited to receive in the post a copy of The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters. I'm interested in writing short stories, but it's not a genre I know anything about, or even have any familiarity with. This book is colossal compendium of great English-language short stories, along with assorted commentary about them, the authors and short story-writing in general. The latest (seventh) edition is nearly £50 new. I got a second hand copy of the sixth edition for £2.81. Win.

Got out after the light had gone to take a photo. Took a few of the chickens but this close-up of Dolley was definitely the best.