Happily Ever After

Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running

Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.

The Beast Inside The Walls

by admin - 23:09 on 21 September 2010

One of the charms of rural living is sharing a cottage with local wildlife, whether you want to or not.

We've grown used to the pitter-patter of dainty mouse feet between the living room ceiling and upstairs floorboards, but Matchgirl has recently become alarmed by fearsome sounds we believe originate in the cavity between the kitchen's interior and exterior walls.

This consists of much scrabbling and scratching from a beastie who seems unconcerned when we bang on the wall to silence him.

Matchgirl, who has some North American blood in her veins, wondered if raccoons had found a winter home. When I pointed out that the Black Isle isn't noted for such creatures, her next suggestion was possums. Her third was badgers...

I'd like to think that Master Marten has settled in – a hungry mustelid has to protect his source of Nutella – but my best guess is a well-amplified mouse. We've seen no evidence of rats in the area.

Bess has shown nothing but disinterest. After being displaced from the sofa yesterday evening by Mike M, who spent the night here en route for the Northern Isles, she was more concerned this evening in reclaiming and keeping her current favourite spot.

However, if she drags a badger through her cat-flap tomorrow I'll apologise profusely to both her and Matchgirl for doubting them.

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