The world is transformed. Sunshine. An end to the months of rain. Blue sky without a cloud.

I’m able, for the first time this year, to sit outside to work, albeit with a thick sweater on. The chickens are trotting around, browsing through the leaves, pecking at human-eye-invisible bugs. The birds are singing.

We’re lucky to have a large pond, with an island in the middle. A couple of weeks back, Angela and I rowed over and removed a lot of brambles and cut down endless bamboo which takes over around here. This will allow for more of a variety of wild plants to grow there, and it also allows us to see what’s happening.

And what’s happening is that the geese are back.

A pair of Canada geese turns up every spring – and often more than one pair. One pair is great. More than one is also great – but very noisy.

As I’m sitting out here this afternoon, a pair of greylag have arrived – and been given short shrift by the Canada Geese who arrived about 5 hours earlier!

In time, Mrs Goose will hopefully, if previous years are any guide, make her nest on the island, and Mr and Mrs Goose will together do what all creatures do… and then in 4 weeks or so, we shall be delighted to welcome, and royally entertained by, a gaggle of tiny goslings.