Where are all the otters?

The news this week is that otters are making a come back in all counties of the UK except for Kent. How disappointing. In a bid to prove those reporters wrong, I went down to the exact spot on the river Medway where I saw an otter over 20 years ago, but my hopes were dashed almost immediately by the sound of barking and baying and the call of the bugle. Not the best time for spotting wildlife..

Welcome to the world Baby Sam Foster!

Baby Sam Foster arrived a little ahead of schedule on 1st October, after playing the okey kokey with him mum for 3 days as she went in and out of labour. Both are doing fabulously and Sam, blissfully unaware of all the attention, slept through being poked, prodded, cuddled and kissed by two very excited little children.

Never Too Young to Learn

James doesn't seem to understand yet that DIY in the long line of Burgess tradition means trouble. Here he is practicing the fine art of how to hit your finger with a hammer.

Extreme damson picking





Much of the fruit on our damson trees is out of reach, but with a little help of two small boys, a slide and a toy sword, we managed to get a good trug full.

Painting

James and Jennifer help Daddy to paint the tree house.

First week at school

We made the most of our long lazy afternoons on James's first week at school, here visiting Ightham Mote.

First day at school








It's a big day for James - we have just returned from school having dropped him off for the very first time. What a fine figure he cuts in his royal blue uniform. Despite my expectations of being very level headed about the whole event, as I watched him walk away into the classroom holding the hand of his new Teaching Assistant, I admit I did shed a very small tear. My boy is growing up.