President Obama on Tuesday reminded Americans that he has wound down two unpopular wars since taking office more than three years ago and said the defeat of al Qaeda is "within reach."

"My fellow Americans, we have traveled through more than a decade under the dark cloud of war. Yet here, in the pre-dawn darkness of Afghanistan, we can see the light of a new day on the horizon," Mr. Obama said in a high-profile television address from the war-torn nation.

Great Tit feeding on a fat ball which I'd put into our "juvenile" hedge (we planted it a couple of years ago) at the bottom of our garden. As briskly but as quietly as I could I snapped him before he fluttered off back into the bushes

One of the first signs of Spring. Having looked after my tender apricot tree throughout the winter months by wrapping it snugly in old torn pillow cases clipped together with clothes pegs, my ministrations, hopefully, wil bear fruit during the Summer months!