Zebra

Gidday.

I think Australian winters are somewhat easier going than Kiwi ones. No frosts for a start. Average day temp in middle of winter where we are is still around 20 degrees. Can't complain with that. It is starting to cool down from the stupidly hot heat we have been experiencing, so it is a welcome change. 28 degree highs are better than 38 degree ones.

Well, nothing too major to report, pretty "standard" days, for Australia anyhow.

I ended up doing some on call work on Tuesday, as the guy who was supposed to be doing it was away at the dentist getting a couple of teeth ripped out. Drawing on my wisdom teeth uhh... wisdom, I had to sympathise with him.

One thing did make me laugh... on the site instructions it states "a cherry picker is required for antenna access". I got there, and the site is 10 stories up on top of a hotel. That would need to be one giant cherry tree to warrent them manufacturing a cherry picker to reach that height.

I am having a small battle at the moment, with a rather cunning rat which is residing in our roof space. He made the mistake of showing himself one night when we drove back into the garage, he shot across the floor and gave Ryan a small heart attack, then shot up the wall and into the roof.

I went out the next day and purchased a rat trap, thinking this would be a simple matter. I baited it with peanut butter, thinking that no rat would be able to leave that. A day or two went by, no sign. Then, the next morning, what was in my trap? Well... no peanut butter. I put it down to the fact I had set the trap trigger a little heavy, so I re baited with more peanut butter, and then set the trigger so light that if you even looked at the trap funny it would go off.
A couple of days went by, still no sign, then next day... no peanut butter again. Still the trap sat there, untriggered. I was baffled, could not understand how he has been that careful to get the bait twice and not ended his life.

So, next day, I decided to get more cunning and bait the trap with cheese, as I could then key the cheese to the trap trigger so when he pulled on it it would go off. Next day... nothing. Next day again... no cheese... trap still armed.
I tested the trap with a stick, and it certainly works.

So, back to the drawing board... I might have to see if we have a spare video recorder and camera at work and I'll set that up and spy on the little creature, see how he is managing it. Perhaps he has a trained mouse to steal the food for him, or perhaps a gecko. Next step I may make a captive cage with an infrared beam and a solenoid driven cage door to entrap the blighter.

I shall let you know how I get on...


Right, I better carry on, I'll no doubt think of more to update later on.

CIAO