h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of these days I'm going to swing for Harry!!

Yesterday, the weather was horrendous and I wanted him in where it was warm and dry. So! I went to the kitchen door and shouted him - he came at a run; dripping wet. I had just started towelling him dry when I noticed that he seemed to have grown a moustache - you know the type, head at one end and tail at the other

He's brought me the gift of a dead mouse I thought! - Will I never learn?

I made the grave mistake of telling him to drop it; which he reluctantly did; and just as I was about to get the dustpan to scoop it up, said mouse shot under the dishwasher with the speed of light.

Now! I don't know if anybody has ever recorded the speed of a wood mouse around Donington; but I'd lay odds that it would have beaten Lewis Hamilton hands down.

I rang SS; away on holiday and he asked what I thought he could do from 170 miles away - "you'll have to catch it" YEAH - RIGHT!

Out came dishwasher, washing machine, and tumble drier - no sign of small rodent. The fridge freezer is full to bursting and must weigh 3/4 tonne. Eventually, after much heaving and tugging, I managed to get the damned thing forward a couple of feet; and lo and behold, tiny wood mouse is sitting quietly, quivering. I'm having you I thought - can't imagine the consequences of an incontinent and probably pregnant mouse roaming freely through the house. I'll get a pint glass to drop over it and cardboard underneath and then put it back in the garden. Before this thought had even taken fruit, himself had beaten me to it and pounced.

Leaving me yelling "out, out, out" and sending both Harry and his unfortunate 'prize' back into the pouring rain.

Awww! He loves you really!

Oh I know that - unfortunately, it's why he brings me these presents that I can well do without

He can't help it! When was the last time you gave him some pocket money? How can he buy you a box of chocolates if he's got no money?

Three meals a day (at least), plus prawns - why does he feel the need to catch mice - he could offer me one of his prawns.

You can see what a hard done to pussy he is here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11305258@N08/sets/72157603522049603/

Ahh... I'll have to look at that later, the hospital network blocks photo sites.

Would you *really* want one of his prawns after he's ed on it?

Perhaps not! When my neighbour (who abandoned him) originally found him as a kitten, he was trying to get into a fridge in the local shop. Perhaps he thought he would make a good 'cat burgler' Maybe he could nip in and steal some chocolates.

Scorp, hope you managed to get the 'white goods' back in situe without doing yourself a mischief

Poor he must have been frightened

Websailor

thoughts of a mouse it's just been one of those days, but twice aw now come on

*giggles*


Our cats only bring home moths, butterflies and the occasional slug

It was our old neighbour's cat who used to leave us gifts of dead mice on the back doorstep, when we looked after him while his family were away

It's also the bl***y extra work it causes - the white goods as WS calls them are still in the middle of the kitchen floor - 'cos if you can visualise a large item which has not been moved for a couple of years, you can imagine the state of the floor beneath - Lord forbid that I should have had to have any sort of technician out to repair something. I am currently on hands and knees, trying to make something decent out of what is currently there

Oh, Scorp, you have made me feel better We recently had a flood in the kitchen which involved shifting everything, and I had the same problem as you. The tumble dryer draws the dust, and with the water as well it was a right mess, and s galore. PHM, as always, was in a hurry, and I had to lay the law down hard to be given time to clean up before things went back.

Please be careful putting things back. It is hard work, unless you have wheels on everything.

Websailor