Bringing the washing in from the line, we laid it over the bed. A buzzing began. A pyjama top moved slightly. The buzz grew louder. Then a bee popped out from the pyjama jacket pocket. It was a buff-tailed bumblebee queen, our largest bee and the first to emerge in spring.

She must have crawled into the clothing to get warm. Dragging herself on to the pillow, she paused a moment as though to gather all her energy.