ROBIN Redbreast

Nicola adored the little bird - at least she would have him for company on Christmas Day

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He was working in the garden of his cottage when Nicola walked past.

Handsome, craggy, probably in his late 50s, like her, he was shovelling snow off the path between white-coated shrubs.

'Hello!' she called. 'Lovely day, isn't it?' He stopped, glanced at her, then turned away.

'Oh well, can't win them all,' Nicola murmured, making her way down the track to her own cottage.

The 'un-neighbourly neighbour', she christened him as she hung out fat balls for the birds.

Her husband Robert had died earlier in the year. This would be Nicola's first Christmas without him. Thankfully, she still had her daughter Annabel and family coming to visit her tomorrow, Christmas Day. She was looking forward to it so much.

One last peek at the birds already hovering for food, then she went inside for an online chat with Annabel.

Only, the look on her daughter's face told Nicola that all was not well.

'The boys are in bed with flu,' Annabel said. 'We won't be able to make it.' They both shed a tear of disappointment.

'Don't worry, darling,' Nicola tried to sound positive.

'When they're better, we'll have the biggest party ever!' Despondently signing off, she looked through the window.

Blue tits pecked hungrily at the fat balls.