Slowly the Old Manse is returning to its normal complement of inmates, if not quite. It was built for an average Victorian family of one minister and at least five children-plus a house keeper. So with the addition of two daughters, a brother in law, three adult attachments and two grand children we are hovering above average. And the brother in law was persuaded to abandon his tent and sleep within the walls last night. May have found it colder than the garden but has politely not said anything yet. Perhaps because he is still asleep. Sparrow fart being now.

Actually not too many complaints about 'bloody freezing'. True, the weather was warm for Hutton in Spring (mind you 6C is warm for Hutton in Spring) And the wood burning stove was at its best. Never the less one reli managed to sit a few inches from the fire with the room at over 73F (do the maths) huddled in a fleece. Mind you he is into the history of Artic exploration and knows what cold can do to a man. He was
also moderate in his alchohol intake which can't have helped.

The junior brother in law assisted by the middle nephew spent the early hours of yesterday morning laying (no pun intended) over 100 mini chocolate eggs in the garden to provide sport for the children. No doubt we will still be finding them throughout the rest of recorded history as some of the smallest eggs were hidden imaginatively. One packet of craftsmen designed ones (made in Shanghai)-edition limited to a handful of millions- were so realistic that I suspect some of our graden birds will have a stressful few weeks.

Oh yes today is Hutton's Real Birthday-not his recently celebrated official one.

Have a Happy one I hear you cry!

I will, thankyou, I will

And, oh yes, the 'Egg Trick' worked perfectly (first time-I always foget the old troopers advic-never do an encore) Amazing images to follow.  ¶ 6:39 AM