dinsdag, 2 november 1999 21.59

The mice still continue........

This is gonna be a never ending story, I am afraid.

FOUND MOUSE No.4

After I had chased, hunted and killed mouse no 1, 2 and 3, I thought the story was finished. (Marit still claims to hear once in a while some small mice crawling around the boat, peeping and yelling for their mother, but I guess the off-spring was too young to survive.

WAS I WRONG.

This morning I started cleaning out SYLPHE in preparation for the works that should start in a week or so. Than, we shall start with taking the whole boat apart, every cupboard empty and out. So, as a prelude, I started today with cleaning out some of the material of which I knew I was not gonna need it anymore. For those who read the previous stories on the mice-hunting; I was reluctant to use the poison, as I was afraid the mouse was gonna die in a hidden corner and start smelling. Well this one did just that, more or less.

This one was caught by the trap, but had gotten away, crippled and seriously injured.................... So it was dead by the time I found it. After the extensive autopsie I have concluded that this one was dead for more than three weeks already. !!!!! So it had started smelling after all. (bon appetit, for those having breakfast at this moment)

What had happened, for those who want to know the exact story:

AAA) In the beginning I had set traps in two different cupboards in the kitchen. Every time, the traps were eaten empty or triggered, but no mouse in it.

BBB) The trap in the left cupboard was untouched for weeks, the food left untouched.

CCC) The third mouse I caught in the right hand cupboard.

DDD) I guess the smell of the dead mouse in the left cupboard kept the others away and safe from this trap.

One big mystery stays: Except for the first mouse, all other three mice survived the initial crack-down of the trap. Seen the position of the food and the anatomy of a mouse, the trap would slam (and break) its neck.

However all three mice were able to free themselves form the trap!!!! Not to survive for long, but anyway. This is not the intent of a mouse-TRAP, it should trap, trap and trap more. Not just slam and let the mouse get away. I guess I will spent this winter some time on developping and marketing a renewed, more efficient mouse trap.

This will make me a millionaire and capable of financing the rebuilding of the Sylphe.

So, I guess, I should be gratefull for the lessons (and millionaire-opportunity) the mice have given me over the last couple of weeks,

Love roland

TO BE CONTINUED, I am afraid.