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Just when everything looks bleak and dark, I notice the little snowdrops pushing up their delicate but obviously strong shoots with buds opening, in the most hostile of places. It never ceases to amaze me the way they keep appearing year after year.
This winter we have had more severe weather than normal, with lots of frost and some snow.
I have been feeling pretty fed up with the kitchen excavations and the way things have been going wrong.
At first, I was filled with hope that we would get to the bottom of my rodent problem. I kept thinking that the men would find a rat run and be able to put it right. Son hurt his arm and we had to spend a good deal of money on a CCTV technician who searched a strange pipe under the kitchen. We were excited that maybe there was a crack in it that could be repaired and that would be the end of the problem. What did we find? Nothing. The pipe was disused and blocked off and no cracks or sign of any thing unusual at all.
We are back to square one. The underpinning has to be finished and now it looks as though we will have to dig up the floor and take off the roof to find where the pests are coming in. Only we will have to wait for Spring. In the meantime the rats ( who are probably laughing their heads off) are partying like mad in the roof space and the poisoning continues and the incense sticks are burning almost continually.
I am aware that there are so many terrible things going on in the World. The fires in Australia, the crisis in the Middle East and the fact that two of my blogging friends have died and left people who will miss them, not least their relatives.
I realize I am letting rats make me depressed.
I am annoyed when my husband and son tell me how lucky I am. Is it lucky to have rats?
I do know what they mean though, but it doesn't help one bit to be told this everyday. I think of all the people I know who don't have this problem. They are the lucky ones.
So I go back to the snowdrops that have pushed their delicate heads through that hostile earth. I look at them and realize that I must face my challenge too, but it is getting harder as the time goes on.
37 comments:
Know what you mean. Other's troubles still don't take away your own, no matter they are worse. Hang in there... I am sure it all will sort soon and the pests will be evicted. Meanwhile, just know someone somewhere is cheering you on.
Cheers.
Love Granny
Holy Rip! You really did open up a rat's nest there, didn't you? And now, to have to wait till spring to work on this some more, boy, that really is one heck of a bummer.
Are those flowers in the picture only in England or what? I don't believe I've ever seen them before. Very pretty though.
I know what you mean when you mention your problems and many around the world do have more than we, in terms of hardships and suffering but still, when you think about getting rid of rats, one doesn't think it would be this difficult to do either, do we?
Peace my friend and remember that spring is coming -slower than we'd all like, but it's coming. So they tell me anyway.
Rats to your husband and son! I would be tearing my hair out, mainly in fright and disgust that the little perishers are still scurrying around. Hope the problem gets sorted soon.
I would be depressed too Maggie. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.
I admit, Maggie, it's hard to stay optimistic when you have rats dancing under your roof and you don't know how they get in. There is a solution to your problem eventually, but it is all very cumbersome and frustrating and not something you want to find yourself in the middle of.
I'm sorry that you have to put up with all this nuisance and the smell as well. Too bad it wasn't that pipe leading into your kitchen that was the entrance. You probably feel that you've been invaded and you have, in a way.
I don't think my optimistic point of view is of much use to you right now, as I'm sure that taking off the roof is going to cost a pretty penny, although it is probably the best solution. It is the best way to get rid of the smell also.
You hang in there and don't let it drive you crazy. It probably seems like an unsurmountable problem now, but it really isn't. It will be resolved, Maggie. Just remember that.
Sorry about your troubles. I always dislike the feeling of chaos, when work is being carried out on the house, even if it's just decorating, so I would be tearing my hair out, if I had a similar problem.
I don't suppose you could go back to a flat roof, so that the rats wouldn't have anywhere to party? I know that a flat roof always used to be a problem, because of water lying around etc, but there are lots of houses around here with flat roofed extensions. Silly suggestion? I know nothing, unfortunately! ;0)
Hope the situation improves.
The thought of rats makes me shudder. They can get in through the smallest holes. Grrrr! Good luck with getting rid of them.
While there may be much worse things going on the world, that's hardly a comfort, Maggie May, when you have such an annoying problem near at hand. I would be just as upset as you if I were in the same situation.
I do hope somebody can help find a solution for you soon and get this fixed. Meanwhile, the snowdrops are lovely--surely a hopeful sign of spring.
You have my sympathy as the weather is awful and with all that stuff going on with the kitchen and rats too. No wonder you are down after all that you have had to go through.
The snowdrops are a little bit of promise and hope that things can and will get better. All the best Maggie. X
That picture is full of hope and I sincerely hope all your worries will vanish soon. The rats seem to have become immune to all poisons.
Not lucky at all to have rats. Sorry that you are having such difficulties tracking them down. Hope you solve the problem soon and get straight again. Lovely snowdrops. A x
Award for you over at mine.
You don't feel lucky when you are under pressure and it doesn't help to know that others are worse off. You know that already and it just makes you feel worse so I do understand. Take heart Maggie. You will get to the bottom of it eventually. The poisoning etc is a temporary problem but at least it is preventing a plague of rats.
Chin up girl - and enjoy the snowdrops. :)
Sorry - that should read the poisoning etc is a temporary solution !!
Grr.
I so feel for you. I can't imagine how I'd feel knowing that rats are running around partying in my attic. I hope you find the solution soon and with minimal expense and trouble.. at least compared to what you've already invested into this mess. Sending calming thoughts your way.. and maybe a cat.
Maggie - was looking around and came across the following.
Fit hard metal strips to the bottom edges of wooden doors and their frames, wire netting screens to windows, steel rat guards to drainpipes (one metre above the ground).
What made you think they were coming into the roof from the floor? I don't know if you've ever said.
The thought of having to pull down the ceiling? Um....perhaps you'd like to come for a visit while that is going on?
Aw, you've reminded me how much I love snowdrops and how I haven't got any now we've moved. Must get down to the garden centre to buy some 'in the green'.
As for the building work - it will all finish eventually and be worth it - something I've learned over two years of 'doing up the house'!
Spring's on the way! :)
Oh poor you with rats... I hate it when they come anywhere near our house or the chickens. Hope it gets sorted asap... and in the meantime just keep looking at those snowdrops!
Rats would spook me too - despite the horrors that I am lucky enough not to have to experience. REally hope it is sorted out soon!
Poor you, what a long drawn out saga it is for you and at such a bad time as well. Not that there is ever a good time for rats, you understand. It seems an obvious thing but have you called the Council? There is a dept.in every Council that deals with rats, mice, cockroaches etc.
I have one tiny daffodil braving his face to the cold icy winds. Spring is just round the corner. Honestly!!!
thanks goodness spring always follows winter!
Maggie may, I'm terribly sorry that your blogging friends died. Terribly tragic.
But you are having troubles with these rats and you are not to feel one bit guilty about how this problem is affecting you. Anyone in your place would feel the same way. I had my hot water tank spring a leak a while back and there was water running all over the basement floor and I couldn't sleep a wink, neither could I accept the utility company telling me to wait three days for a new one! Terribly upsetting. I hope and pray that your family's efforts to get rid of the rats take a turn for the better and the problem is solved very soon. My best to you.....
It will be another two months before I see a single shoot anywhere. Sigh.
And rodents in the rafters are enough to spoil anyone's good time.
Awww - rats! Bet you can't wait until they're all gone and your kitchen is back to normal once again. It's hard. And I don't blame you one little bit for feeling fed-up. It doesn't matter what others are going through, there will always be people worse off and better off than we are.
Hang in there.
Spring is around the corner.
You know what? Rats suck, no matter what else is going on in the world.
I think I would be upset over rats, yes it may be minor compared to the "big" things, but everyone has thier moments. I hope it works out for you.
oh I ADORE those flowers and I can't believe you are blooming - already????
Oh Rats! sorry I couldn't resist! :P
I do hope that you find their party place entrance soon.
Oh Maggie, everything is relative, and I'm sure I'd feel just like you if I was fighting off a rat invasion! So sorry it is all going wrong, sometimes things like this are just the last straw aren't they.
Enjoy the snowdrops!
Take Care Sx
Too bad you can't put those tracker things on them to find out where they come from.
We did have mice in the basement, and had to set up mousetraps. Also, every year we get a few in the garage. I feel terrible seeing the poor things in the mousetraps. They do look cute.
We get yellow jackets inside also, but not every year. I'm not sure where they come from either, but fortunately there aren't too many and they don't dive bomb us.
Anyway, your flowers are pretty.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/morganmandel
I dont think anyone would be happy with rats, you feel how you need to feel and sod anyone else :)...
Aint the snowdrops just so special, it means spring is on its way, hang in there, spring IS coming....
Shit, dont rats breed in the spring? JUST KIDDING lol
x
Mmmmmm we can't always measure our happiness by other people's unhappiness, you shouldn't feel guilty for feeling fed up. Have had a lousy time recently and know of course it can always be worse, but we are all human and if our world is rocked, then it's rocked! Go easy on yourself. Good luck with the vermin!
I feel for you. We have been through this sort of thing several times. Invariably one job leads to another and it all takes far longer than you expect. Be brave like the snowdrops and it will all sort itself out.
Thank you EVERYONE for your kind, comforting words.
I am sure we will get to the root of the matter before too long. I feel a bit better since I first wrote this post
You have all helped me and we have enjoyed a very quiet weekend as regards the kitchen ceiling noise. Too soon to say yet whether it is temporary respite or whether the men have blocked off the hole somehow without knowing how.
I will write a post about it in a few weeks........
In the mean time some of you asked about the Snowdrop which is a native of England. Its Latin name is Galanthus! The bulb is one of the first flowers to appear in January and heralds the Spring!
Granny is wise!
I was once told that everyone's troubles are big to them and shouldn't be compared to others.
I can only imagine how frustrating the rodent issue is-- we had starlings that about drove me mad, rats (even laughing ones) might cause me to just flip over that proverbial edge.
I am so sorry about your friends. I lost one this summer and was devastated! But how could I express that to the "real" people? I still find myself opening my email and looking for her name.
Brave snowdrops (thanks, I've been wondering what those seasonally- challenged little plants all over my drive are) is a great title for this post!
Wonderful blooms! Glad you have something pretty to look at while solving the rat problem.
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