My worst fears confirmed this morning regarding the noises I had been hearing in the roof at night.
In the bathroom my bar of soap had large gnaw marks on it and next to it was an unmistakable rat dropping.
I'm pretty live and let live about these things and was fully aware that there would be rats around but I'm not prepared to live with them in the house! After much frantic signing and failing to communicate ( although I learnt that Amharic for rat is ayitt) I managed to find a shop selling rat poison. Now the roof space is well baited I'm hoping the current noises above are rodent death throws. Sadly more humane methods, I'd prefer traps, were not forthcoming and I'm afraid I've had to throw my principles out with the soap!
In happier news that is only exciting to me today I managed to buy a fridge after persuading the shopkeeper that I was not going to pay the ferenji price of double the sticker. It is now humming away reassuringly, inside are a few bottles of water and a St George's beer to take my mind off the rats (I fear the singular is unlikely).
On Friday I had a brief look around the hospital and met many of those I will be working with. That deserves more than this quick update.
In the bathroom my bar of soap had large gnaw marks on it and next to it was an unmistakable rat dropping.
I'm pretty live and let live about these things and was fully aware that there would be rats around but I'm not prepared to live with them in the house! After much frantic signing and failing to communicate ( although I learnt that Amharic for rat is ayitt) I managed to find a shop selling rat poison. Now the roof space is well baited I'm hoping the current noises above are rodent death throws. Sadly more humane methods, I'd prefer traps, were not forthcoming and I'm afraid I've had to throw my principles out with the soap!
In happier news that is only exciting to me today I managed to buy a fridge after persuading the shopkeeper that I was not going to pay the ferenji price of double the sticker. It is now humming away reassuringly, inside are a few bottles of water and a St George's beer to take my mind off the rats (I fear the singular is unlikely).
On Friday I had a brief look around the hospital and met many of those I will be working with. That deserves more than this quick update.
Coal tar soap; coal tar soap. That will do the trick.
ReplyDeleteDad
Do you know the origin of the word ferengi?
ReplyDelete:) a bit of a Star Trek reference, I'm very pleased! X
ReplyDeleteHi Ed,
ReplyDeleteJust want to follow up on what happened to your little ``housemates``. Please dont tell me you are now living happily together. How about flies and mosquitoes? Are they partying at your house too? Angela
I managed to block the rat out (was getting in through the shower drain) but still hear the odd one in the roof.
ReplyDeleteFlies are not a problem but mosquitoes can be, not so much at this time of year!
Ed