It's raining...it's pouring
the old man is snoring....
My son turned 38 on Monday
and he used to love that nursery rhyme
so as I sit here by the fire
listening to the rain on the roof and looking forward to summer,
I think back to the year he was born
We lived in a small country town in Victoria called Bacchus Marsh
the avenue of honour, entrance to the town
I didn't drive, we were new to town and Top was in the USA
on business so I fled back to NSW and the beloved parents
with my 3 month old baby
but after two weeks of being spoilt I headed home three days before
Top was due to return.
My FIL picked me up at the airport drove the thirty miles home
and as he was due back at work
I shooed him away without inviting him in
You know those moments that you just never forget?
Glad to be home, I put the basinet down on the verandah
and I opened the front door of our tiny little cottage
which was not unlike this one here
and if you can imagine camel coloured carpet instead of grain
this is the sight that met my eyes.
A moving sea of grey about 3 inches deep!!!!!
Thousands upon thousands of mice had taken over the house
in the short two weeks I had been away.
They were in every cupboard, the bed, the stove and the bath!!!
Lucas was left in his bassinet
which was then balanced on tins of water on top of the sideboard
whilst I covered the house in newspapers and poisoned wheat.
After two long days,
where closed eyes were not allowed because they knew
and took the opportunity to run up your leg,
we were down to just the odd one left
more poisoned wheat and the cleaning began.
Every surface, every possession
had to be boiled and disinfected not once but twice
That house shone from top to bottom
Why am I telling this story?
remember I said I was looking forward to Summer?
well perhaps I am not
as this is what we have had predicted for this year again!!!!
They have also predicted a locust plague
but that's a story for another post!
Goodnight
