I have to say, it melted the heart a bit to see Meg rushing towards Maria – she was hiding in the meadow and heard Maria calling to her – and she came running. And Maria picked up Meg, beaming, and brought her to the barn. It seemed as if the two were talking to one another, and saying, oh, we are so happy to see you, we are so glad to be alive and in this place and time. It’s so easy to project notions into the heads of animals, but there is something connected there, something sentient and powerful, a real kind of communications. You can see it. From Meg’s back, it is clear the fox got a huge chunk of her feathers, but not flesh or bone, as he did with Fran.

And then, there is this: I have no ill will to the fox. Probably out looking for food for his family – Spring means pups – while I am glad my chickens are alive, I have some admiration for this brave and resourceful creature who came into an area with dogs, donkeys and people, and almost pulled of it. I bet he’ll be back too. Maybe Frieda needs to spend a bit of time in the back fence.