Badger Galore
Staying ‘Up Over’ for a while.
Return of the mice!
So...I put away the mouse traps while Deranie and Phoebe were visiting but we had not caught anything for weeks anyway.A few days ago we started to hear skitterings in the night and one morning Will watched as a cheeky mouse scurried around the floor as he sat on the sofa.I set the humane traps for the last two days to give the mouse a chance to escape with it's life but having had no luck set the lethal traps last night.I set four lethal traps and the cheeky mouse managed to steal the bait from 2 of them before it's luck ran out on number three.One lucky chicken had a boost of protein this evening.
A surprise addition!
Return to the realm of the Squirrel Killer!
So...the holidays are over and today I was back at school. This was the week that I was supposed to be in a Year 3 and 4 class, the thought of which had been giving me palpitations for months but a few weeks ago I was asked to take a Year 1 and 2 class for 8 days rather than the booked 5...so I won on both counts.So for four days this week and four next I am once more in the realm of the Squirrel Killer. (if you don't know what that means you need to look back in this blog for 'Squirrel Killer!' and catch up.)Everything had been so well organised for me by the class teacher. There was a large box on the desk with everything that I need for my eight days in the class. In the box there were two files, one for week 1 and one for week 2 with all the planning and all the worksheets I will need all ready photocopied. I barely have to think.I was still waiting for the day to start and the Teacher Aide from Toerag and Fidget's class came in saying"Welcome back!.....Now I am a great Op Shop (Charity) shopper" she went on, " and I saw this book in the holidays and I thought of you so I have bought it for you. I thought it would be right up your street."It was 'The Pear in the Pear Tree' by Pamela Allen...(no relation). It's a funny one.It was a lovely start to the day.The day passed pretty much without incident. I thought it best not to mention any killing of squirrels after the last time but the during their 'Quick Write' session, where the children could write anything they wanted, the Squirrel Killer herself wrote a piece entitled 'Mr Allen' which repeated over and over again how 'nis' I am.I was a little concerned about a 'Lockdown' Practice that was being held at Lunchtime and rushed off to the Business Services Manager at Morning tea to find out what I was supposed to do.It turned out all I had to do was lock the classroom door, close all the windows and hunker down until it was over. The children who would be at lunch at that time were all apparently to be herded into Toerag and Fidget's class for the duration. (Thank goodness I was not in there!)When the alarm bell finally went I did as I had been told and got on with some marking until, about 10 minutes later, a voice came over the tannoy saying;"Attention everyone!....The beach is now open. I repeat, the beach is now open."It was a strange way of saying 'Ok, Lockdown over' but that's Australians for you.They are a nice class and though I cannot deny I was delighted when they all went home I don't envisage too many problems with them in the coming days....(he quickly touches wood!)
A bit of plumbing.
Still counting!
So...after just over a week since the voting in the Australian Federal Election closed, votes are still being counted. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his Coalition Government have claimed victory and look as though they will just scrape in with the 76 seats that they need to win.Pauline 'the Xenophobe' Hanson has been voted into the Senate! She is calling for a ban on Muslim immigration to Australia, wants a royal commision into Islam, a ban on new mosques and wants CCTV cameras put into all existing Mosques.The Lunatics are taking over the Asylum!