Inter-species communication.

Still not much growing, just the odd bud coming through on the trees and some new grass coming through the ground in patches, like a teenage boy's first face-fuzz.

So most entertainment is coming from the livestock. Carrot, the youngest sheep, has been seen chasing one of the neighbour's cats, and it was definitely a game. Cat trotted off, but was careful not to get too far ahead and looked behind her to check that Carrot was still playing catch.

That was last Saturday. The following morning, we saw all six of the flock sunning themselves, lying on the ground with legs outstretched, with about a dozen Jackdaws hopping on and off them, picking wool off their backs. And apparently quite happy. Our first thoughts were of sharp-billed Oxpeckers and Rhinos in Africa. The Savannah this is definitely not, but apparently Jackdaws do habitually jump on the backs of sheep and cause no problem.

But something has to start growing soon. The sheep are getting very bored of hay.

Spring is spring, the grass is riz .... er, hang on!

By now, we were expecting to have been reporting on new growth, buds, leaves, etc on the trees. Not a bit of it. After a week of the satirically-named British Summer Time, we still have biting east winds and sub-zero temperatures. The amount of growing that's been done is .... zero.

The sheep are not pleased. They still get a diet of hay, and they're very, very bored with it. Another part of the land was seeded with grass in February, but hasn't produced anything, and we're worried that it may not at all.

Ho hum. Here's hoping for better in a week or two.