THOSE PESKY CRITTERS ARE AT IT YET AGAIN...........................

The mice, I mean. I couldn't understand how they got into my kitchen pedal bin - everytime I opened it one popped out. And then a while later, the pedal didn't work as the opening mechanism broke. Not knowing any better, I bought a new one. And the same thing happened.

The little blighters were not only going up the mechanism to get into the bins, but were eating their way through the plastic opening mechanism. Right, I thought, let's fox them with a different bin. A tall flip-top one that they can't get into.

Wanna make a bet?

They must have taken a flying leap from the kitchen base unit next to the bin and got in.

Question.

Once they got in, how on earth did they get out? No idea, but they did.

So, I bought a strong plastic dustbin shaped bin, with a close fitting lid - and they can't get into that one. And I doubt if they can eat through THAT. So far, so good. I hope.

Safe at last, I thought. Until I noticed tiny red crumbs on various kitchen surfaces. Strange, I thought. How did they get there, and where were they from? The mice have now taken a liking to red plastic, and are currently chombling their way through the plastic lids on the glass food jars in the kitchen. So far they have only nibbled the edges, and hopefully it will take a good while before the lids are ruined, and in anycase, jars and lids are easily replaceable.

What REALLY was the last straw though, was a couple of weeks ago. My monitor and my keyboard are well covered at night. Not a loose fitting plastic cover, and not just a piece of sheet draped over them, but well tucked in. The following morning, when I uncovered everything to read and then answer a load of emails, as soon as I touched the keyboard I realised something was VERY wrong. A number of keys felt very rough, and when I looked, they had been nibbled at the top and sides of the keys.

Sure, the keyboard worked OK, and there were no tell-tale signs of mouse droppings, but what else could have eaten my keys? An expensive 7 month old keyboard at that. Anyhow, it has now been replaced with a new keyboard, and both the monitor (a thin LSD one) and the keyboard are now covered tightly with pillowcases.

The chewed keyboard? I have kept it, as a spare, as it is still useable. However, I now also have a new, spare mouse (not a four-legged one!) just in case......................

The Rucker

Having realised a few months ago that I could no longer cope with my manual wheelchair all the time, I applied to the Ministry of Health for an electric chair. Sure, they said. No problem, they said. We will supply you with an electric wheelchair.

But.....................................

I would have to take what they sent me, and the size the physiotherapist considered suitable.

No way.

I had the same problem with my manual chair as the physio said I needed one with a 40cm seat width, whereas I knew that 40cm was too wide, and I wanted a chair with a 35cm wide seat. So I bought the chair I wanted and the supplier wrote on the invoice and receipt that he had supplied a chair with a 40cm wide seat, and the Ministry of Health duly paid the full amount.

Even though I have had the front door frame and door replaced, with an outside opening door, a 40cm chair would hardly go through it, let alone go through any other doorways in my bungalow, which has had all the doors removed.

So I bought my own electric wheelchair. The same make and model as my manual chair, but the heavier model, necessary for the additional weight of the back wheels, the motors for each back wheel, plus the two batteries. The chair is also foldable, as the batteries can be easily removed. It's not just an indoor chair, but also an outdoor one, and copes with my steepish ramp/path with no problem. Very useful for taking the rubbish out!

The best thing, is that the specially made and formed seat and back rest that I had made for my manual chair, also fits on the electric one. And the company which supplied the electric chair, took my manual chair and replaced the back wheels with the ones I had originally wanted but couldn't get (not the same company which supplied the manual chair) - so instead of bicycle type spokes (which used to snag my nails) and slippery hand grips (which used to cause blisters on my fingers), I now have wheels with wide plastic racing type spokes, and non-slip hand grips. No charge. (The original wheels are now in The Shack, together with Bronco, my bit 4-wheel electric vehicle). The Shack being the special lean-to store room I had built onto the side of the bungalow.

Why do I call it The Rucker? Because in spite of metres of wide, sticky-back velcro, when I reverse it away from my computer, it STILL rucks up the carpet. If I didn't appreciate and need it so much, I would give it a far worse name!