House guests and other animals

1 – 7 June 2009

This has been a traumatic week for animal encounters. The first occurred on Monday when I had a very unwelcome visitation from a snake – it was only about 4 inches long but that was 4 inches too long – see previous entry re snakes. John was not around and I felt too much of a fool to go to get one of my male neighbours in the state I was in so eventually I plucked up the courage to chop it up – using my longest knife. Well I was determined it would not come back when it had grown up a bit more!

The next was just strange – I was taking Naomi down town on a borrowed motorbike when we stopped for petrol. I was just sat back on the bike when something hit my helmet, then fell onto my right foot. I looked down and discovered it was a bat – they are quite a size here. Not sure if had been alive when it left the tree but it certainly was not when it got as far as my foot – so at least it did not get a chance to bite me; I do not think I could have told VSO I needed to go for yet more rabies boosters!

I have had a continual influx of ants since coming back home. They flow through the house, congregating and them dispersing. They are so industrious but mean I cannot leave any food out for even a few minutes without their appearance.

There are lots of other insects that pay ‘flying’ visits to the house. One of my regulars is this praying mantis.