Ian has company in his workshop!

For weeks now, the swallows have been astounding us with their aerobatics, zooming in and out through a hole in the wall. There are three nests up in the roof, splatters of poo on the floor, but it's worth it to see the chicks with their hunrgy mouths!

And when the parents come, there's no doubting the enthusiasm to be fed. I wish George was that keen on my cooking!

Unfortunately, they now seem to have jostled each other out of the nest. We keep finding them on the floor. We'd put them back, but with three nests we don't know who's who. It looks like the parents are still providing though. They've left lunch - two flies - for this youngster who had foolishly waddled outside.

We pick up these bundles of fluff, and put them on a high shelf, out of the way of Muttley and the neighbours' cats. But they keep  jumping off. At least they'll be getting some gliding practice.

So now we just keep the door shut, and when we have to be in there, take care where we step. They're very still when they're on the ground - only moving if you get really close, when they shuffle to the nearest corner and stick their heads confidently into any crack or cranny they can find. Their obvious belief that if they can't see you, you can't see them is hugely endearing. Yet in a couple of months they'll have to face all the dangers and fatigue of migrating to Africa!