A Bug's Life - 6th July 2007
One thing that has become more and more apparent during my time here is a lack of decorum and propriety. There is a lack of order here that extends from highest to the lowest orders of society.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the breakdown in the unspoken entente that exists in the UK between the human and insect populations. At home insects know where they belong. There is strict dividing line between human habitat inside the household and insect habitat outside the household. At home neither party would dream of infringing on the other's privacy and breaking what is a most satisfactory arrangement.
Here there is no such sense of correctness. Insects simply do not know there place.
Ants march freely and brazenly across the kitchen threshold. Millipedes constantly barge their way under the door jams and arrange themselves around the living room, up the walls and on the curtains even going as far as attempting to copulate with the spiral telephone cord. Woodlice do likewise and then fall in small armoured balls at the base of the walls. These require daily sweeping from the house and back outside. There appears to be no end to their varieties. Ants range from something that could mug a rottweiler to those that are microscopic.
Their memories are disappointingly short. Only days after a ceasefire is declared in one of my numerous chemical warefare battles with them than they have breached the defenses again and are encamped around the refridgerator or front door trying to establish new territory. They are not happy with the entire garden and surrounding areas. Their colonial ambitions appear to know no bounds.
Houdini-esque mosquitos, an insect rarely seen in the UK, find invisible holes in the fly screens to torment us at night. And why is it that a creature that was one second buzzing sweet nothings around your ears determined to stop you sleeping in the dark should suddenly become so shy when the light is switched on. I am awaiting the kiss of the benchuca to complete the experience.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the breakdown in the unspoken entente that exists in the UK between the human and insect populations. At home insects know where they belong. There is strict dividing line between human habitat inside the household and insect habitat outside the household. At home neither party would dream of infringing on the other's privacy and breaking what is a most satisfactory arrangement.
Here there is no such sense of correctness. Insects simply do not know there place.
Ants march freely and brazenly across the kitchen threshold. Millipedes constantly barge their way under the door jams and arrange themselves around the living room, up the walls and on the curtains even going as far as attempting to copulate with the spiral telephone cord. Woodlice do likewise and then fall in small armoured balls at the base of the walls. These require daily sweeping from the house and back outside. There appears to be no end to their varieties. Ants range from something that could mug a rottweiler to those that are microscopic.
Their memories are disappointingly short. Only days after a ceasefire is declared in one of my numerous chemical warefare battles with them than they have breached the defenses again and are encamped around the refridgerator or front door trying to establish new territory. They are not happy with the entire garden and surrounding areas. Their colonial ambitions appear to know no bounds.
Houdini-esque mosquitos, an insect rarely seen in the UK, find invisible holes in the fly screens to torment us at night. And why is it that a creature that was one second buzzing sweet nothings around your ears determined to stop you sleeping in the dark should suddenly become so shy when the light is switched on. I am awaiting the kiss of the benchuca to complete the experience.
posted by /s at 9:41 pm
1 Comments:
These tourist card schemes are a really good idea. I have just been to Cyprus and we used the My Tourist Card.com scheme there. We obtained discounts at hotels in Paphos, discounts at restaurants, excursions and shops during our holiday. We saved seveal £'s. The scheme was easy - we purchased the card online and received details the next day. Goto www.mytouristcard.com for more info.
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