Admit it, I've sold you on them. The rats, of course...
But not their tails, or perhaps tales!
The lovely Lisa B's photos do the rat-baby-beasts more justice, it has to be said. Many of the photos that my hubby, GJ, has taken of them show only a blur, as they dash off in full motion to do something far more interesting.
This one, Dobbie, is the worst culprit. In a blink of an eye, while you're distracted by filling a water bottle he's off. He jumps silently off the sofa, scuttles off under the Belgian dresser and he's off and away! Without even a cry of 'High-ho, Silver' to draw attention to his escape...
This is him in a rare moment of repose, being grizzled by me on the sofa and squeaking in a diva-like fashion, "I'm ready for me close-up now, Mr De Mille!"
This week, the babies (I know, I'm totally lost, given that I've taken to calling them 'babies!') have been subjected to some dark glances from friends and visitors. If looks could kill, I ask you!
...Bizarrely, two of our acquaintances have experienced frightening vehicle break-downs involving 1) a new car and 2) a decrepit camper-van.
Both incidents involved destruction of the rubber tubing carrying diesel to the vehicles. Apparently, rats had chosen to gnaw through the pipes, rendering both vehicles immobile. The damage was extensive. There was no CCTV footage of the alleged offenders and no eye-witnesses so, under the circumstances, I am 'holding my powder' as they say. However, both events had devastating consequences and brought considerable expense to the parties involved... In the case of the camper-van, half a Mars bar had also been scoffed and also some of the bedding and interior decor of the van had been 'tasted'.
Oops!
"It wasn't me", the rat-babies squeak in all innocence and surprisingly in unison. "Not our type at all. Not us 'fancy rats'. No..."
Would you believe them?!
The truth lies in those little beady eyes, methinks.
