It has gone cold again and the wind that has been whipping up from The Mersey has lowered the temperature even further. Despite that the sun has been out and during lunch there was nothing but blue sky overhead.

We have been home alone now for almost 48 hours and so far the sharp knives have not been out. Most of the family have settled down into rhythm of revision and the exams start tomorrow. There will be a release of pressure once they are finally underway and the end is in sight.

As the evening glooming gathered up around the house I looked out of the window over the garden and against the black silhouette of the trees I saw the the quick sharp flicker of a bat. Its flight was jerky and indistinct. It was lost against the dark and then flickered again.