Sunshine and showers

Traditionally that about sums it up for the British Summer, of course; and that is because it's true. We have been swinging wildly between blazing sun, followed by frequent sightings of lobster-coloured people, and cold, rainy days, with the concomitant hordes of blue-skinned masses. In fact, with the rollercoaster temperatures, our skins can change from the one to the other so quickly we may cause epileptic fits from the strobe effect.

One sunny day I was able to sit in the garden and count the bird varieties, from sparrow to sparrowhawk. Our swallows, for those interested, are doing very well in their nest over our kitchen window. Fortunately the mess they are making of the bottles and cans in the recycling box beneath them is fully biodegradable, so no problems there. The car is beginning to look like it's in camouflage kit though, with lots of whitish patches streaking across it. Ah, Nature red in tooth and claw!

All in all, a colourful time of the year.

The two main events to report, however, are less drenched in rustic charm, although provide the reader with a flavour of life in the country as she is lived, rather than as she is read about in glossy magazines.

Firstly, Google has updated our digital presence with a new satellite view of the village including all the latest building developments. Obviously we aren't able to express outrage about Street View encroachments yet, because we haven't been photographed. I'm sure lots of people are looking forward to being incandescent about it just as soon as Google finds us.

Secondly, we had lots of heavy drilling plant trundling through the village last week because of a new gas well starting up nearby. There are considerable gas reserves underneath our feet, being drilled out through nearby fields. We had a gas leak a couple of years back (very unusual) and had to call out various emergency services. I was particularly gratified to receive a thorough check-up for fume inhalation by some very pleasant firemen - but I digress...

So, we continue to play our part in the important endeavours of global mapping and exploitation of natural resources with full vim and vigour.

Meanwhile, I was thrilled to spot a bullfinch in the front garden. In case you thought I could resist putting up a photo, I couldn't. Here it is, hastily snapped through the window before it flew away. Very pretty, and hopefully sufficiently rural to restore the balance. Happy Solstice!