Who has been sleeping in the holly bush at the entrance to the church? We’ve not seen them, but they seem to have built quite a little den. But since Gone is away at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, we don’t have an immediate suspect. I’m afraid the bush dweller may be disappointed tonight, as we’re clearing out this evening and the Vicar will be taking the debris to the dump.
There’s a funeral in church tomorrow and it’s respectful to the mourners to provide a tidy churchyard. The bush is right next to the church steps by the main entrance door. The church is being cleaned too, as we’ve had scaffolding in whilst damp plaster and ant chewed woodwork right up in the ceiling above the chancel has been removed and repaired. Theological college training can never cover all the bases for ministry life.
Bed (and sitting room it seems) in the bush
The Vicar's Wife 
You should plant Opuntia humifusa. It is a nice looking ecological weapon again intruder. It is a kind of cactus that can support even Canadian winter.
your “intruder ” could be an angel in disguise.
“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.”
Hebrews 13:2
Thanks for this sort of insight into the life and times of a parish. It makes my heart ache for the poor soul who slept there – your care for him/her is lovely, as it is for the mourners on their way.
I think our holly bush is there to stay, but we’ll look out for the person who’s been using it and see if we can sort out some housing for them or help in some other way. But we’ve not seen anyone so far.