We were visited by a couple of raccoons in the garden, one barely being impeded by next door’s fence which it scaled without effort. The other passed through to investigate what we had, digging several holes with its busy little paws as it went. The sludge on the bottom of the only partially filled pond was of especial interest.

I must say that I am quite fond of raccoons which seem to be very interesting creatures – they are evidently intelligent and certainly able to efficiently problem-solve. Rather handsome also. Won’t be long now before they come back at dusk with the youngsters as we sit on the deck with cold beers.