That's better

Confession

I have a stark confession to make.
It concerns my very raison d'etre.

Break

That's been a nice break.
And what a six months - Twitter has taken over the world, swine flu is on everyone's lips (literally) and the arc has opened in Bury.
How can I top that?

Catches

But me and the chaps (well, them - I can't catch a cold at the moment) did get some living creatures in our sweaty mitts at the weekend...

Nothing, zip, nil, none

I'm a broken man.
Mr Bean 0 - Mighty Mouse 4 (empty traps, that is).

Result

Empty. I have a ghost mouse.
Now I'm scared...

Gotcha (?)

Both traps emptied of food again - and neither gone off.

But - and it's a bit but...the 'humane' trap is leaning as if full of Mighty Mouse...

Hols

Seafront at Cadiz

Palm trees in Rota

Wish my leylandii looked like this

Cadiz was a mix of styles - a lot of Spanish influence (duh) but it felt like Cuba, too

Deserted beach ... Rota

Meant to place a few pix on here to show how Mr Bean enjoyed a little stay in sunny Spain.
Rota, near Cadiz, was the venue - and what a hot time it was (for September).
Sangria was ace, company was better and a nice time was had by all.

It's empty, 11am

Watch this space...

Humane

Let it not be said that I am anything but a trier.

I am, however, becoming more and more like that nutty professor, above, from the Back to the Future films. I open the garage door, mouse has run off with food, trap is untouched. My hair is starting to resemble the mad prof...and I guess I need some sort of:

a) treatment;

b) counselling;

c) haircut.

I am now going to try the humane route with a humane trap.

If I catch, I will feature Mighty Mouse on here.

Wish me luck.

(and ok, I promise not to stick his awkward little body in the real trap)

You guessed it

Rats!

But no mice...

Nothing again

Ok, cheese doesn't work.

I tried - and failed.

It's feeling like I used to feel on opening the hen laying area as a child and finding eggs.

I now open the garage door - and hope to find a mouse.

How sad am I.

Anyway, Mighty Mouse lives - and is driving me nuts.

Nuts! Perhaps I should try those...

There's a mouse in my house

...well ok, not in my house, but in my garage.

I moved in a while ago, and was initially upset to find they found my fishing bait far more attractive than any fish has ever done.

So I locked that away.

And put down a trap...

I was not happy at doing this, but I'm a farmer's boy and humane traps were never our thing. Even the dog had a mole-catching role.

Anyway, I have now come up against Mighty Mouse.

He/she is very clever.

I bait the trap. I wait. It gets dark - I sleep.

Mouse comes out. Mouse eats bait - without disturbing trap.

I have used cheese - he has gobbled it.

I have used chocolate. He has gobbled it.

I have used marine halibut Dynamite Baits paste (anglers will understand). He has gobbled it.

When I test the trap, it nearly takes my arm off.

Advice please - and bait tips welcome... it's becoming a scene from that great film Mousehunt and we know how that ends.

And another thing...

I see that Ruby girl has been trumpeting the fact that she's had 100,000 visits to her blog.
Big deal.
This one has hit 1,000 today so watch your back Ruby2Shoes, Mr Bean is closing on in!

Whoa!

My youngest is away this week on holiday and texted me last night. 'Dad, jmpd off va rck at blu lagoon. It wa cold.'

That's the rock above, and it's a scary (Wales) jump. I would have done it, of course, if I had been there - I'm no wimp. Due to the ample proportions of my trunks, I would have advised any nearby families to take cover for fear of tidal waves, though.

Three days on...

...I guess it must have been the Next sale at the weekend?

There are lots of red bags going to and fro as busy women buy/take back/buy again/and take back things they liked the look of, didn't really need and then had a crisis of consicence when they got home.

Who'd be on the tills, eh.

Safe journey

I see Ruby is moving on to pastures new in York.
Good luck and safe journey, Ruby - I'll miss your Bury blog as will all the little Beanies.

Ecky thump

Jack Sugden (aka actor Clive Hornby) has died.

I grew up with Emmerdale Farm, as was.

Jack, Fraser Hines (Joe), Annie, Seth Armstrong, Amos and Mr Wilkes.

I'll raise a glass for you at't Woolpack tonight.

Wheely good

Had a month's rest but back in town, now.

While on holiday, went to that big wheel thingy in London - and it was really great.

What about putting one of those in the Abbey gardens?

Get well soon

How sad. I hear Monty Don has had a minor stroke and will be quitting his role as lead presenter of Gardeners' World. I like Monty. Get well soon - your garden needs you.