27TH FEBRUARY. 



A GREY day at last. At this stage in the summer, the sun is 

 almost an enemy ; for months we have known no rain and 

 life becomes a struggle to keep plants alive with the ever- 

 present watering-can. 



After a blistering day yesterday I woke to find clouds on 

 Simonsberg at last. It may be that they will disperse and we 

 shall have no rain, but at any rate we shall have had a respite 

 from the fiery brilliance. At this time of the year the sun seems 

 like one of those overwhelming parents who manage family 

 affairs so perfectly. Much beloved undoubtedly, but oh, 

 what fun the children have when such a one goes out for the 

 day ! The birds feel the relief from the sun's all-penetrating 

 gleam ; I have not seen so many about for months. The robins 

 are back from their mid-summer moult. After bringing up 

 their family they disappear into the bush thoroughly shabby 

 and worn out, to reappear in a complete new outfit and behave 

 as if they were lords of creation. As always, a pair stake out 

 a claim to my stoep. They appear with extreme regularity at 

 meal times provided that the cats are absent, and their querulous 

 little song is one of the first indications of coming autumn ; 

 when they are angry or frightened there is no mistaking their 

 very firm " tut, tut ". They are charming gay little fellows, 

 and with the expenditure of some patience and small quantities 

 of butter and cheese one may have them as friends for life. 



The small sugar-birds are very much in evidence to-day 

 too. The male has a brilliant blue-green coat with red flash 

 across the breast, the female is clad in sombre browns and 

 greys, just a tiny " little woman in feathers ". Both have the 

 long beak for collecting nectar from long-tubed flowers. 

 They have been enjoying the bird bath at intervals all morning. 

 The sugar-birds attract by their appearance only, their voices 

 are harsh squeaks, but one can't have it all ways. It is seldom 

 that beauty appeals to both eye and ear in one form. Is that 

 why ballet takes us straight into the world of faerie ? 



This morning I sowed another hundred seeds of Gerbera 

 hybrids rather late in the season, but I have to wait until 



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