James came round for a meeting today and met my robin as he left. The blackbird too is singing during the night (a question to Winterwatch - it's the urban street lights), as is the thrush.

I have very much a bird sanctuary here in the centre of town; they have lived here as long as I have (48 years) and probably much longer. We enjoy each other (I put out lots of seeds, water and breadcrumbs when it's cold).

Good for you, JK ... its good for the soul. Its hard to image how much weight a bird loses during a freezing night just to generate enough heat to keep itself alive.

Have you been watching the Polar Bear family programmes?

I actually say a cherry tree budding today (you could actually see the colour of the blossom) - on the sheltered south side of a house.

We forget that temperatures were exceptionally mild for January only a few days ago.

Wait for this weekend !

Interesting chat over tea with Bob Woffinden (top investigative journalist in the world for miscarriages of justice - and he's in the book - Three Months) who loved the book and talked for ages on whether I was sure about the gay turtle doves (you need to read the diary to understand).