Yesterday, one of the pair of beautiful magpies who visit our back garden sat on the window ledge and peered inside as I watched. Generally they announce themselves before patrolling the garden, which is an English jungle of sorts full of enormous ferns and spiky palms that catch on your clothes as you pass. Once they arrive, the magpies inspect the plants, the various things jutting out from the brick wall of the building next door, and Paul’s bike. We dare not feed them so as not to attract rats from the back lane, but one morning there was a tidy pile of mysterious droppings on the step outside the glass doors where I work as if, a magpie perhaps, had been sitting there peering in. Or admiring its reflection - years ago, in Provincetown, a goldfinch visited me several times a day and did the same thing. She got so used to me I was able to take photos without her flitting away. That’s a goal, my goal, to take pictures of our magpies before I leave on Monday.

There was a bit of a panic when we realized on Tuesday that I’m leaving this coming Monday and not the next. Suddenly our list of things to do got more urgent. After repeated but failed calls to an immigration lawyer’s helpline, which is only available on Wednesdays for two hours, we decided I should email my list of questions from home. Although Newcastle feels like home too, now that I have a great work station, some new-to-me clothes from local charity shops and we’re entertaining guests like a settled couple. However, I can’t help being anxious about flying and what’s happening in the US, or the hurricane which appears to be headed right for Ireland on the day of my flight even if it will probably only be a bad storm by then. Anyway, I managed to get a good shot of #25 above, the owl from last week that refused to be photographed properly, and there are two new birds this week, #26, the eagle in the middle and #27, the finch below. I’ve been confirmed for the Canteen Craft Fair in Provincetown for Thanksgiving weekend, and even though I don’t push readers to be paid subscribers because I’m more interested in building my audience than the money, one of you has switched to a paid subscription after last week’s post. Thanks so much Susan, I really appreciate it. Every little bit helps. Onward.