These are the culprits – the red tail black cockatoos. They drop the nuts and branches on the front and the back garden, on my head two to three times a day and make a big mess.

I keep negotiating with them – just come to have their meal once a day – but they never listen.

There are also times of peace, quiet and beauty at the Hermitage. Even the pink flowers of kindness, delight and joy are blossoming in the very hot and dry summer of 43 degrees in Perth. We only need to give them water and care. It is like the practice on the Eightfold path; it can thrive with our care, persistence, patience and Metta.