One warm morning last September I looked up from writing a letter to see a fox sitting on the sofa at the other end of the room.

He had entered through the nearby back door which in the summer we often leave open. I tried to chase him out but he turned the other way and ran into a bedroom where he settled himself on the pillows.

We managed to chase him out of the front door. I spent the rest of the day laundering upholstery and discarding pillows.

For a long time there have been a lot of foxes in our area but they seem now to have become bolder. I have since heard of several people having similar experiences.

This summer, if we should have any nice weather, we will have to leave our doors firmly shut - a shame.

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