Sunday, May 23rd

Warm morning, even at 6.45 a.m., when we left the house. 

The sun was blazing down from a clear blue sky, and the dew on the grass had already been burned off.

We went to the ravens field, walking round - one raven came. It was one of the young pair, quite skittish, but she got her scraps, always picking them up after we had turned our backs.

She didn't call, and no other raven came.

On the way back we met Ralph, at the top of the big field. He is a seven-week-old Bernese Mountain Dog puppy - adorable! Miss Sophie was very good. They sniffed each other, and she let that puppy jump around her without getting agitated. Quite the 'adult', was Miss Sophie! She did tell him off rather fiercely when she had enough - but that was after we' walked down the big field together.

As I type - a fly has managed to get into the house, and Miss sophie is trying to catch it. Shades of Big Dog ...

Too hot to go out in the afternoon ...

May 22nd

It was too hot for Miss Sophie and me to go to the ravens field - we had a very early (6.45 a.m.) and very long walk around the whole of Pontcanna Fields. Not one raven to be seen.

The afternoon we walked in the shade of a Lime Tree avenue, along Pontcanna Fields because it was even hotter - again, no ravens: too many people out enjoying the spell of dry, hot weather.

I'm sure all the barbecues will provide lots of scraps for the ravens ...

May 21st

A beautiful, warm morning: sunshine and a few little clouds. Good-bye gloves, good-bye winter clothes until the appropriate season!

We left the house at 6.45 a.m. and took a leisurely stroll down the big field, interspersed with a bit of training.

In the ravens field, the bold raven's companion picked us up and followed us, taking her couple of scraps, flying off and coming back. Miss Sophie totally disregards her. 

May 20th

We left the house at 6.35 a.m. It wasn't sunny, but mild, dry and still. We had heard some raven calls, but didn't see any in the big field. 

Into the ravens field, and no ravens came as we walked towards the far end and the fence to the allotments. 

Miss Sophie got some more training - and as we neared the wall to the allotments, one single raven did turn up.

May 19th

Well, it wasn't proper, full-on rain - it was just a nice, soft drizzle this morning when we left the house at 6.50 a.m.

There had been no raven calls, and again we saw the first raven when we got into the ravens field. It was the companion of the bold raven, acting not very bold.