Let us end the year though on a positive note, following my account last week of the death of the angel who had lived most of his life with me in the little pond on the balcony. He had been moved with his mate from the big pond when the other pair spawned, and they had seemed a threat. But the small pond was too congested then and one of those moved died, and the other was only just saved.

When he came back though, after some time in a smaller tank, he did well, but I was thinking of moving him, when there were lotus plants to provide shelter, to the new big pond by the garage, which I showed a couple of weeks ago. Before I could do that however he was gone.

So he was not to be reunited with the babies whose parents had seen him as a threat all those months ago. It was some of them that I finally moved, after much effort, for Kithsiri was able only to catch one, when we first tried, a comparatively little black one, and then Kavi after much effort got just three, two big white ones and an even bigger one with a touch of gold.

But that seemed enough, and they all seem quite happy in their new home. They are not easy to catch on camera though, unlike the white catfish I had put in earlier, who dart about the place enthusiastically, and not only when food is dropped in.

Also readily visible are the four tiger barbs I put there along with the catfish, two ordinary striped ones and two described as green, with a large patch on their sides. They tend to lurk near the front of the pond, against the thick clear glass that Kithsiri managed to procure.

The black mollies I had put there initially had all died in those early days, save for one whom I am convinced was one of those from the lotus basin. And it is he I think who is most prominent still, by the front of the tank, accompanied at times by one of the other two whom I added in later along with the angels.

And the lotus plant soon spread all over the pond It was a little one, whose flowers do not rise much above the surface, along which its leaves float. And I was worried because it lies low about whether blossoms would get sun. But as I was advised by the lady who sold it to me, they will seek the open air, and within a day the bud that was highest broke the surface and soon blossomed.

And though it drooped after a few days and did not open, as had happened to plants of that type I had put into the tubs in the garden, almost immediately another bud rose to the surface. And within a couple of days it blossomed, though this happens only in sunlight, and by evening it folds up and falls asleep.