R.I.P rats!

Well I mentioned the mouse population that had had a rave in our spice cupboard while we were in Adelaide correct? Well, it turns out they are actually rats. Mmmhmm. I can no longer turn a blind eye as I have seen mr. happy fat rat twice and there is rat poo in an assortment of unsavoury places.
When we were gone overnight I returned to find rat poo in CHARLOTTE'S COT!! NOooo!! You have overstepped your bounds Mr. Rat. I may have turned a blind eye if you kept your actions more discreet, but this? This is a flagrant violation of human rights! (isn't it?)
We sought advice. and eager to be humane in our extermination we purchased 3 rat traps that are kinda like little tunnel things. They lure in the rat with peanut butter and then it tips over and BANG! the door whams shut and they can feast away and then they are sent away to live in the creek the next day. Happy ending for everyone right? Well turns out there is little need to crawl into creepy tunnels when there are boxes of cereal (ON TOP OF THE TOP CUPBOARD) to get into and enjoy. So that's that. We tried to be kind. To do things win win. No one had to die here. But I cannot, cannot have little rat poos lying around for Charlotte to get into. No doubt she would as she will put anything into her mouth right now and I have fished decent sized bugs out at least twice!I freaked out today coz I thought she was eatingn one (rat poo that is). Turned out it was a runaway sultana from Esther's overcooked fruit loaf. Phew.
So, to cut to the chase, we have bought rat baits. I know they are horrid and they certainly don't sound very humane to me. Yes, I do feel somewhat dreadful about resorting to these means...but desperete times call for desperete measures and believe me I am just about desperete! So don't call the RSPCA on me please. I just want to keep my children safe, honest, I take no pleasure in killing. Hey, I used to have PET rats so believe me this isn't easy for me. But it is time and there will be no more soirees in the spice cupboard at this house. That time has come to an end. I am just hoping that they will choose somewhere easy to retrieve when they take their final rest... I will keep you posted....

Home again, home again jiggidy jig!

I am home! Back in Darwin. I had a really lovely, refreshing, fun and relaxing time in Adelaide with all our friends and family. It was great, everything a holiday should be and another thing that is great about the holidays; coming home again. There is nothing like being away for awhile that makes you appreciate even more the place you call home. Even if that home does smell like mould on your return...The house was tidy just very musty. We spent the next two days going nuts unpacking, cleaning and washing things. Shane really got stuck in! He took everything out all the dishes, cups, pots and pans and washed EVERYTHING before cleaning the cupboards and putting them back. We are hoping that this will unsettle the mouse population that seemed to have had a rave in our spice cupboard while we were gone, well that and the mouse traps should do it.

It actually has been kinda fun, reorganising and cleaning thoroughly. It feels good start fresh on the year with these sorts of things. I LOVE the new year! I always have loved getting the new stationery at the beginning of term 1 at school, writing my name on things, covering books, the empty pages and the expectation of learning new things and making friends...Gosh its fun! I am really looking forward to being able to do all that school stuff with the kids one day. But in the meantime I make the most of enjoying my new diary for the year and pondering all the things I am looking forward to in the coming months as I fill out its pages. I love how there are so many new beginnings in life, there always seems to be a fresh start coming, just when you need it. I think God knows the humans psyche can only bear so much. We need newness like we need breath. His mercy is NEW every morning. God is fresh and ever present each day and the knowledge that he is with me and goes before me as this year is unfolding is really the most exciting thing of all. So, happy new year everyone!! I am planning to continue to blog faithfully this year and I hope you will all join me in my journey and allow me to share in yours. xo.