When, on drawing the curtains in the morning, I see the tree next door glowing as if it is on fire, I know it’s going to be a lovely day. I lie in bed and look at it and feel inspired. Today it seems to be an especially good omen for the first day of Alert Level 3.

Then it is no hardship to get up and plan the day. A little bit of “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” is evident on my study window, with late roses a memory of summer.

On the kitchen window sill are the casualties of the last couple of days’ gusty winds glowing in the sunlight.

At either end of the vegetable plot, chrysanthemums are beginning to do their thing.

First job is to check the chooks, clean out their house, and pick up after them as they amble about the garden. I’ve found myself humming Abba’s Super Trouper song as I do this, but with different words:

Today the super pooper chooks are gonna find me

Shining like the sun (super pooper)

Scratching, having fun (super pooper)

Making lots of number twos

Super pooper smells are gonna hit me

But I won’t feel blue

‘Cause it’s what they do

On the deck and in the garden too.

It’s ambiguous who is doing the shining, scratching and making – but you know it’s the chooks, right?