At this time of year, we often have an invasion of mice. These mice seem to find my little office (the size of a large cupboard) particularly attractive due to all the paper, books, newspapers, discarded novel drafts, magazines I was going to write for, Christmas wrapping paper I couldn’t be bothered using, discarded novel drafts, Son’s old school reports which are best forgotten, newsletters from local wineries we never get to go to, information pamphlets about aged care, x-rays of Son’s scoliosis, discarded novel drafts, Son’s old school reports that I should have framed, photographs of me when I was young and beautiful, discarded novel drafts, lecture notes from my university days, Son’s childhood drawings when we thought he was going to be the next Picasso, or maybe Dali, unopened mail, bills that need to be paid, discarded novel drafts, sentimental jottings and so on………….
If you were a mouse, you would understand that my little office is HEAVEN!
For me, however, sharing this small space with mice is HELL.
Now, for all of you pet mouse owners, I apologise for what comes next….
Mousetraps! Yes, I have discovered a newish invention; it’s plastic and all you do is put some peanut butter on the middle bit and, ideally, the mouse will get whammo-ed (it’s very humane and quick), then all you do is (without having to touch the mouse corpse) empty it into the bin, then re-set the trap for the rest of the mouse family.
The problem, however, is that my mice companions (a couple just scurried past me) are too clever for the traps; they simply eat the peanut butter from the sides of the trap and avoid death. Here is a picture of a trap that has been foiled. As you can see, the peanut butter is gone. It’s almost as if they think I am feeding them!
My feet are permanently up off the floor, sometimes around my neck in an acrobatic move I have developed, in order to avoid being trampled on by the growing army of mice. I am no longer horror-stricken, just brave. I will win this war!
It’s lovely having what my friends are calling a ‘zoo’ outside but inside? No thanks!
jmgoyder 