There is an Angel in Clare called Connor

Yesterday morning I awoke early, waiting for it to get light to see whether BlackJack was still up the tree and try and coax him down. I opened the back door and could still hear his plaintive cry, quieter now. It was another thick frost. I went and got dressed in warm clothes and headed up to the tree with my binoculars to try and see him. The branches are quite dense at the top of the tree and I still couldn't see him. Shortly afterwards a car came into the yard. Two chaps started to work on the broken down digger. They asked what I was doing so I explained about BlackJack and they could hear him too.

Connor, the younger of the 2 men, leaped into action. 'Have you got a ladder?' Off he went to the barn and fetched our longest ladder. He could just see the cat and after a while I spotted one white paw too. Without a second thought, Connor climbed the ladder then scaled the rest of the tree to the top, monkey fashion. He grabbed BlackJack, who was of course very scared and fought back!! Connor valiantly held him fast and then came back down, this time with only one hand of course. When he was at the top of the ladder, he turned and let BJ jump down. He shot off into the distance and Connor climbed down. 'I'm still alive' he said! What a hero. His mate just spent the time killing himself laughing.

BlackJack was really spooked and it took a while for me to persuade him to come inside, but he did and had some food and drink, then settled down at my feet in a box of gloves and scarves for the rest of the day! Today he's hardly been outside at all and at this moment he and Sandy are asleep in Buster's chair.

By the time I went back outside, my hero and his boss had gone, and the dumper truck. At least something had gone right at last.

The water was frozen again and didn't start running until about 3pm. Today it's very slightly warmer and it didn't freeze overnight.

Connor's journey up and down the tree. Sadly you can't see the cat as he was clutching him close to his chest then let him go before I could take the 'hero' shot on the ground.




BlackJack is right at the top of the tree on the left. The 'lump at the top of the tree on the right is a magpie's nest.















Connor reaches the top of the ladder



















He scales the tree
















nearing the top

















Here he managed to grab BlackJack with his right hand













Coming down one handed




















Back to the ladder! A bit of a 'builders bum' going on here!










What a hero he was. I offered tea and refreshment but it was politely declined. Bless him. A pity I didn't get to photograph BlackJack but take it from me, he was there!!

After I'd settled BlackJack, I did some more work on the allotment on and off all day with stops to go inside and warm my feet. I took a few photos of the work in progress:


The fence on the left now trimmed, on the right, not done yet. Look at the frost on the ground.











The section of the bank I have cleared and, below, still to do..





























Willows in the sun












This pile of cut willow still frosted










This pile was in the sun. Such beautiful colours







I finished the right hand section of the fence today but it was bitterly cold so I didn't stay out too long. Even Buster looked ready to come indoors. I'm hoping to finish it tomorrow.

Hopefully the builders will be able to start again on Monday as the temperature is supposed to be rising.

I spoke to Jim this afternoon and someone has crashed into the back end of his hire car! Amazing. What is in store for us next...?