I wrote
some time ago about how our house had become a time-share for the local
rodent population. I also wrote about how my normally mild-mannered wife
turned into Hannibal Lecter's evil cousin and bought up the entire
stock of poisons within a thirty mile radius of our house to kill
them. I also mentioned that they may come back with nano-Uzi's, all
terminator-style, to avenge their loved ones. Well, it seems to have
happened (maybe without the Uzi's, though).
I think
they may have heard of my wife's reputation as a rodent slayer, because by the look of the mess in our pan cupboard they were
shitting themselves. It was everywhere! So the strange blue poison
which the mice don't seem to be able to get enough of has resurfaced, and this time it's personal.
Strangely, when I realised that we had the little critters again last night I
received a text from my son who was staying at a friend's chalet on
the Yorkshire coast. He was asking if I knew a hotel nearby to where he
was, for them to stay in. I asked him if he was staying in the chalet, and he replied, “No, it's infested with mice! Kim and Harleigh want
out, now!
I have
never understood the irrational fear that people have of mice, I
would prefer that they chose somewhere else to live, like 10 Downing Street, rather than my house, but I don't mind them that much. But I
do wish they would go outside to take a dump, instead of in my
cupboards.
In
other countries they don't want mice for all the right reasons. They
attract predators. Now, here in Huddersfield, a predator is a cat or a
fox or a middle-aged man with a medallion fixation. But in countries
such as Australia they tend to be venomous snakes, I would much
rather be confronted with an ickle mouse than a brown snake! (That's
not a euphemism, it's actually a highly venomous snake!)
Snakes
have a habit of not being noticed until you either tread on them or
put your hand on them.
Someone
once told me that they had an infestation of ghosts in their house! I
don't think the collective noun for ghosts in an infestation: maybe a
spook of ghosts, or a spirit. I think I prefer a non-existent as
that sums them up best. THERE'S NO SUCH THING!
I was
also told once by some one that had travelled and trekked most of
the world about how they were once confronted with an infestation of
ants in their tent. We don't realise how bad ants can be here in
England. We only have the kind that like to nibble on our jam
sandwiches while we're picnicking, but these ants were bullet ants, which
can cause excruciating pain with just one bite! Some tribes actually
use them as an initiating ceremony for their young men. I prefer the
Tequila slammers ceremony for an initiation, myself!
Finally
the world of politics seems to have a strange infestation, these days: a swarm of
idiots, or "politicians" as they are otherwise known.