Friday, March 02, 2007

Mouse


So we were plodding along using a woodburner for heat and an immersion heater for water.

The weather was improving and it was all looking quite rosy really. We could possibly wait until the Autumn to replace the boiler and we might have won the lottery by then, or maybe someone would give me a huge voice over contract, or offer me a book publishing deal. Something would happen. Life was fine.

Then we had no hot water.

Again.

Something had gone wrong with the immersion heater.

Now that made me really unhappy. It's one thing having no heat. You can always put an extra jumper on. But no hot water. No baths. That is not good. I am a serious bath person. And now we were down to one - not brilliant - electric shower between the seven of us, cold water for washing your hands and kettles if you wanted to wash up.

I think it's the timer said hubby. I think I can fix it. I went to bed, confident that it would all be all right in the morning.

Instead, the next morning I was greeted with the news that we had a mouse, and plenty of cold water. Hubby had been working late on the immersion heater and had found evidence of such. Mouse that is. He may have found evidence of cold water too, but the mouse was his worry. We didn't want an electrical fire, caused by hungry mouse eating through all things edible to mouse and rodents generally.

So where was the cat?

Nowhere to be seen of course.

The cat is a pacifist.

Any sign of action and he's gone.

Lucky mouse!

..............And we still had no hot water.

So off went hubby to the hardware shop that day, bought a new timer, fixed it on, and hooray we have hot water again. For now at least.

The pacifist cat is another matter however.

Less easily solvable.

I guess it's off to the hardware shop again.

Sorry mouse, there's no room at the inn.

19 comments:

enidd said...

poor sid. but it's an advantage to be a pacifist in most situations - can't he come and give stalin a few tips.

sallywrites said...

He's not keen on the car, so a plane would be a no go area really. Perhaps when you next bring Stalin to England........

Beccy said...

Glad to hear you've got water...for now...

I'm inclined to say poor mouse but know if I found said mouse here I wouldn't be so mushy about it!

sallywrites said...

Not poor mouse at all. the last one we had nearly caused a fire by eating through a wire in the airing cupboard. We found it when the electricity shorted - shortly before the fire was due to start!!!!

FH said...

OH NO!! Sally,when it rains it pours,doesn't it? Hope everything gets solved by Spring!

sallywrites said...

Thanks Asha! We're fine though......................

You can't help but see the funny side!!

Anonymous said...

The thought of no water has me running cold. (okay, bad joke, I know).

I am now sending "Win Sally Win" vibes to the lottery ticket office.

ChrisB said...

Sally glad you've got some hot water back. If we lived closer I'd say drop by for a bath. It's turned quite a lot colder today so hope you have plenty of wood.

Anonymous said...

We used to have mice. Annoying little buggers they can be. Contrary to popular belief, they don't much care for cheese, but they do love chocolate. Absolutely amazing bate. They'll even chew through the box to get to it. We tried "humane" traps but they didn't work very well. In the end we went for the proper mouse traps. It isn't pleasant to clean up but it doesn't half work!

Anonymous said...

So if the washing machine packs in now you will be off to the river and bash the clothes on a rock no doubt?

Keith

sallywrites said...

Ah.....thank you Karmyn!! I'll go and buy a ticket now!!

Oh thank you Chris! That's really kind. Fortunately yes, we do have wood!

I've heard that before aobut chocolate Ignorminious - and actually the first time we ever had mice we discovered them because they had eaten through to some Tunnocks Chocolate Mallows - choc teacakes. The funny thing about that was that I discovered them when I was making a cup of tea for Hubby's bosses wife, who had popped round................. Absolute truth. I never let on about the mice. Was a few years ago and I was very nervous of the woman anyway. (So if you are reading this Francesca, don't worry, I didn't give you any contaminated teacakes to eat!)
We too tried humane traps once. I had hubby taking them in a car ride on his way to work and dropping them in a field a little way away......... Trouble was they soon worked out a way of getting the bait and not getting trapped!! So I'm afraid it's proper traps this time. And possibly chocolate!

sallywrites said...

Keith

Funny you should say that......

(Don't tempt fate please!! Actually I'll cry very loudly if the washing machine goes!!!!!!!!!)

Beccy said...

Ooops sorry Sally for the blase comment about that evil rodent.

Hope you caught it and strung it up by the bo****ks.

sallywrites said...

It seems to have done a runner Beccy............... Completely disappeared...........

Either that or maybe the Pacifist Cat decided to take offence at my blog and thought he'd show me what he was made of............

I'll keep you posted!!!!! These things do have a habit of turning up where least expected!

Anonymous said...

Now that your mouse problem is solved, am I allowed to ask how "The Memory of Water" is going, or is that unlucky? I have just started reading the play; I assume from the previous posting that you are "Theresa", so that means you don't get to jump on the bed like "Mary". But it looks like a very big part. Once again, sorry I won't be able to come and watch you.
Good luck, Pierre L

sallywrites said...

Hi Pierre!

Yes I am Theresa..........

Huge part............

It's going ok really. Thank you! Fingers crossed!!!!!!!!

Rehearsal tonight, so will report back tomorrow!!

Anonymous said...

Pacifist cat indeed!
You are overfeeding the little bugger.

sallywrites said...

Clearly that is where we are going wrong then!

Thanks Meredic!

Anonymous said...

I am not convinced. I think it's movement that does it. My cat chases rubber band, etc. Doesn't seem to notice that the object only moves when he prods it. As for the mouse we had last summer (and I saw it but couldn't catch it to put it out) - I am sure it left the house in disgust due to the lack of action. If the cat had caught it, he would have shown it to me (and said "miaow" loudly as well).