Stand Off

Absolutely no sign of Fred this morning so at around 6.30 Myself wandered out to see if it needed any assistance. (Really, Myself makes such enormous efforts to be helpful that what happened next was Totally Uncalled For. And I shall think twice before offering help in the future.)

Just as Myself reached the little path between the pond and the big flower border (mauves and blues with a touch of pink and many tall aliums growing through the lower plants. Most elegant) by the greenhouse Fred arrived. Very rushed and ruffled and in a great hurry. Simply wasn't looking and very nearly ran into Me. Stopped and glared. Myself of course, simply stopped and waited for it to move aside. But it stood there, glaring as if I had no right to be there in My garden. (No manners whatsoever.) So I sat down. It glared some more and stamped a foot. Naturally I remained where I was. Then Fred got extremely puffed up and flappy and started muttering in a nasty sort of way, all the time fixing Myself with a very evil eye. (Appeared to be on the verge of an attempt to remove Myself forcibly.) Wasn't going to be spoken to like that so removed Myself from its bad-tempered company.

Within seconds it had its beak in the food tray and was eating as though its life depended upon it.