Last week I spied a reptile in the garage. Now I don't want you to think I am a wimp, but I am, in actual fact, a wimp of the first order. I did my heebie jeebie dance and rushed into the house, hoping that said reptile would take a scurry out in the same way it scurries in. Unfortunately he did not leave the premises and instead CAME INTO THE HOUSE!! I was putting away the Christmas decorations on Sunday and he ran across the floor and under the armchair. After the screaming heebie jeebie running dance I rang my Aussie aunt to come and clear it away. She refused citing that the 45 min journey was not warranted in such circumstances and that as the lizard/ghekko (I'm not an expert on these things) was only (ONLY!!) six inches long she would save her emergency visit for snake invasions. Is she mad, if a snake comes in then I go out, taking only what falls into my hands on the way! My uncle, hearing that I intended sleeping in the car, rang later to say that these creatures are lucky as they eat insects (and that was supposed to be reassuring). Lucky! These Australian people are mad! Anyway the reptile skittered across the floor and under the fridge. I barricaded the kitchen off with the Christmas tree box and opened the back door so that it could get out. It didn't. The next time I heard it it was under the bed where to the best of my knowledge it currently resides. Now I do have to admit that perhaps it wasn't actually under the bed and that in in my semi catatonic state I imagined the growling and snapping noises, or the weird clicky noises.
It appears that the notice stuck on the front door - No insects, reptiles and such like - has been ignored. How rude!
How do I find out if this creature has left? I can't move things about under the bed as he may still be there. I do want to get a book out of a box under the bed, but that it no longer a possibility. Do you think Crazy Clark's sells a reptile detector (as it sells everything else)? Perhaps a full scale exorcism would do the trick. I did float the idea of asking a neighbour to flush him out but this idea was vetoed by the rellies as I would come across as the 'Paranoid Pom'. I'd wear the badge if it did the trick, but they didn't think it was a good idea. What if Lenny the Lizard goes home and brings his family back with him? What if my house becomes a reptile haven? Do I need the door notice to be more threatening? I don't want to provoke any confrontations as I am fairly sure I would lose.
Immediate help, sympathy and support required.
Location: Maudsland, Gold Coast from Oldham, Gtr Manchester
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First time we saw them outside, thought the skink/geckos were cute, but got home one night from dinner and there was one on the curtain, and we nearly wet ourselves! It was tiny, about 4 inches long, but looked almost translucent, which I think was the creepy thing. My husband caught it in a wet wipe box and took it far away outside to release it. A few weeks later, we had another, but this time didn't even bother us, just put it on balcony- you get used to these things pretty quickly! Even cockroaches don't bother me now- unless they came in my house again, then it's war!
Jo
Last week I spied a reptile in the garage. Now I don't want you to think I am a wimp, but I am, in actual fact, a wimp of the first order. I did my heebie jeebie dance and rushed into the house, hoping that said reptile would take a scurry out in the same way it scurries in. Unfortunately he did not leave the premises and instead CAME INTO THE HOUSE!! I was putting away the Christmas decorations on Sunday and he ran across the floor and under the armchair. After the screaming heebie jeebie running dance I rang my Aussie aunt to come and clear it away. She refused citing that the 45 min journey was not warranted in such circumstances and that as the lizard/ghekko (I'm not an expert on these things) was only (ONLY!!) six inches long she would save her emergency visit for snake invasions. Is she mad, if a snake comes in then I go out, taking only what falls into my hands on the way! My uncle, hearing that I intended sleeping in the car, rang later to say that these creatures are lucky as they eat insects (and that was supposed to be reassuring). Lucky! These Australian people are mad! Anyway the reptile skittered across the floor and under the fridge. I barricaded the kitchen off with the Christmas tree box and opened the back door so that it could get out. It didn't. The next time I heard it it was under the bed where to the best of my knowledge it currently resides. Now I do have to admit that perhaps it wasn't actually under the bed and that in in my semi catatonic state I imagined the growling and snapping noises, or the weird clicky noises.
It appears that the notice stuck on the front door - No insects, reptiles and such like - has been ignored. How rude!
How do I find out if this creature has left? I can't move things about under the bed as he may still be there. I do want to get a book out of a box under the bed, but that it no longer a possibility. Do you think Crazy Clark's sells a reptile detector (as it sells everything else)? Perhaps a full scale exorcism would do the trick. I did float the idea of asking a neighbour to flush him out but this idea was vetoed by the rellies as I would come across as the 'Paranoid Pom'. I'd wear the badge if it did the trick, but they didn't think it was a good idea. What if Lenny the Lizard goes home and brings his family back with him? What if my house becomes a reptile haven? Do I need the door notice to be more threatening? I don't want to provoke any confrontations as I am fairly sure I would lose.
Immediate help, sympathy and support required.
Rebecca
It probably isn't just the one gheko, but several you have, they won't hurt you, they will keep the bug population down.
I'm sorry, but there has been some kind of misunderstanding. Informing me that they travel in packs is not supportive. Good God! I've only just plucked up the courage to sweep away the cobweb outside the back door and on the washing line so I can go and hang out the washing.
What if a spider took exception to my destroying his home and decided to run down the brush and on to me. I went round the outside of the house with some spider spray and am waiting for a native relative (of mine - not the spider!) to come and sweep away the remains. I hope they arrive soon as I am now worried that other lazier spiders may decide to move into a turn key home round my house eaves rather than settle on a build your own site. (Can you tell I've been doing my house options research?)
Any way I moved the boxes under the bed this afternoon. It was hot work as I was dressed in a suit of armour including mace and jousting lance. He is not under there anymore which may or may not be good news as he may have gone to bring back his chums.
Also, I have now taken to slapping various body parts as I imagine there are various creepy crawly, biting things on me. I may need some intensive therapy in the near future.
I tell you, living in this country is blummin' hard work!
Awwww Rbecca you do soooooo make me laugh, i know i shouldnt but what you say just tickled me. I does get easier as i had beasties on my first night but it was worse as i am living on my own at min until hubby and kids arrive so i really pooped myself but i am getting better now with them as i just have my spray tin at the ready for them. You ask Jo what i was like my first night as i rang her in a frenzy and what made it worse was she had no idea what it was and had never seen one before but found out later it was a grasshopper ready to just out of my air conditioner unit on the wall. My heart does go out to you but i did have to laugh
Location: Maudsland, Gold Coast from Oldham, Gtr Manchester
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rbecca
!) I have now taken to slapping various body parts as I imagine there are various creepy crawly, biting things on me. I may need some intensive therapy in the near future.
I tell you, living in this country is blummin' hard work!
Lizard Update:
He's back and currently under the tv. He was watching series 2 of the West Wing on dvd but I think my semi hysterical dancing and sqealing may have interrupted his viewing. Since I was quite keen on watching it myself (West Wing not Lenny the Lizard) I tied the sweeping brush to the carpet sweeper handle and tried to encourage him out of the patio door. Lenny made a run for it as did I with accompanying sound effects and heebie jeebie goosebumps (once again not Lenny, that was me - and I don't think the neighbours are too chuffed either). The latest advice is to either throw a towel over him or scoop him up with the dustpan and just put him outside. However I'm thinking that is going to be difficult from an absolute minimum distance of 8ft. The tying of the sticks was an engineering nightmare (and none too sturdy either - mind you that was exaggerated by my nervous wobbles). I had a closer look and him and I have to say he is rather repulsive looking. He is browny/grey/transluscent with very dark eyes and rather reminds me of Rowan Atkinson when he was medieval Blackadder. I'm thinking seriously of starting up a petition and presenting it to him as soon as possible although he may have taken advice already on his squatters rights. In the eyes of the law, he is probably entitled to stay. Next thing I'll have to be hunting up creepies for him. Oh God, I've gone back into the realms of delirious rambling. Does Medicare provide for the Paranoid Pom brigade?
Rebecca
