Heading out for my walk today I realised that I was able to walk some 5 kms in the centre of a major city going from one park, and nature reserve into another continually all the way. Now that’s what I call great city planning.

Along the way some jubilant signs of spring –

I cross a road to get into the next park and come across a street library. I always have a look and this time I came across a book which I was aiming to buy – except here it is free ! I will return with something to give back. The ones I am enjoying at the moment are these. Navalny is engrossing and so readable. What a loss to the world. Esther was my Freebie. Love in a far place is the latest novel of my good friend and colleague at Reading Radio and Silk Silver and Opium a fascinating insight into how rich and powerful China was until the West decided to impose their own might over it. I don’t think China will allow itself to be humiliated in the same way ever again. The audacity with which the West simply attacked, pilfered and destroyed was shocking. Making money unsurprisingly was at the bottom of it all.

Picking up some early bits for Xmas- more freebies.

A weeping boer bean named so because of the copious nectar that drips from its flowers which birds and insects love. Next time I can show you the flowers when they have opened up.

And then the entrance anyone would wish to go through.

But how can I leave this post without a photo of a brush turkey feeling utterly handsome, all wattled up, in hot pursuit of its mate.

What I love about these strange birds is that they prepare the nest, raking huge mounds of leaves. This is exactly what this one was doing and in fact was almost invisible before he popped out to see if I was a female he could approach. I was, but of a different sort. The females lay them a few eggs – but then the females take off .. and these guys are left to make sure that the mound temperature is constant for about 50 days. A real labour of love.

Once they have hatched the little ones are pretty much on their own. No helicopter parenting here.