Storm Alex – the second day today. The barn has been painted, the kennel also, and the winter door draught shield has been deployed and the temperature is now five degrees or so warmer than outside. The Warren has been partly refurbished and more to do, and the Donks have got their Autumn coats on.

The river level is still down to Summer height, but with this rain for the best part of two days, it will rise. Our measuring system needs overhauling as a pole in the river risks being swept away. This year we will try using a tree with markings – a cut-up set of car registration plates will do. This will enable us check at night.

The yellow marker is at six feet, and the top-most yellow is at twelve feet.

Whilst doing this at river level, I thought I’d check the pond outlet and clear the debris. The run-off from the surrounding fields is channeled away from the cottage land via a pipe, with a smaller one feeding the pond – this outlet controls the pond level. The 40cm field pipe is hidden to the upper left of the smaller ones.