Inconvenient Annoyances

I've been hesitant to tell this story because of the inherent (unintended!) cruelty involved, but maybe you can appreciate it...

Many, many years ago at my mother's house one afternoon, I was preparing some food to go into the oven.  About halfway through the prep work, I turned the oven on to preheat.  After a minute or two, I started hearing a soft scratching/scraping sound.  I kept working on the food prep as the sounds kept getting faster and more intense, then they slowed and stopped.  And then I started to smell burnt hair.  Finally, it hit me what was going on and I opened the oven door in a panic to a waft of very unpleasant smoke billowing out and the charred remains of a dead mouse under the heating element.

I was traumatized by what I'd done, and the house smelled so bad, that I didn't have any appetite for dinner that night.  I don't know what my family did, but it didn't involve the oven.

Thing is, we didn't know my mother's house had a mouse problem.  In fact, that was the only one we ever encountered.  My brother and his then-girlfriend (now wife) had cats, so I think this one mouse was just on a desperate mission that ended in disaster.

Oh, that's awful.... but I may have giggled a bit.

It would have been a LONG time before I could have used that oven again!!!

I was going to say, the silverlining might be that it gives you a reason to redecorate if you're wanting to?

Depending on what cat cam shows us (if there are more) hopefully we'll determine where they are.  I'm not against replacing the kitchen.  Just hate to do it now and then potentially again in a couple of years!  Plus, we have MEGA childcare bills at the moment.

We pulled out the dishwasher at the weekend and there is nothing under there (mouse man suggested this to see how far spread the problem is).  So we do hope we caught it quickly.

We've had ZERO catches in the garage and no further evidence there.  So we think they found a way inside and we've caught them quickly.  At least we hope so!!!

Depending on what cat cam shows us (if there are more) hopefully we'll determine where they are.  I'm not against replacing the kitchen.  Just hate to do it now and then potentially again in a couple of years!  Plus, we have MEGA childcare bills at the moment.

We pulled out the dishwasher at the weekend and there is nothing under there (mouse man suggested this to see how far spread the problem is).  So we do hope we caught it quickly.

We've had ZERO catches in the garage and no further evidence there.  So we think they found a way inside and we've caught them quickly.  At least we hope so!!!

The garage mice also could've been there and left, and you caught the family behind the fridge. There were 6 when Elly had a field day in my old rental with a problem. I have my fingers crossed that's the end of it for you!

We have a new oven sitting in our living room waiting for the electrician to come install. Jordan was wishing she'd also replace the hob, but I'm SO happy we'll have a working oven soon. I don't know how the previous tenant never reported that it was broken. We are still waiting for the third plumber visit to try and find the leak again, and once it's found she plans on tiling the entry way which makes sense. That should also solve the ant problems because they're coming up where they cut into the concrete trying to find the leak source. I'm glad the landlord cares but it's frustrating to have so many problems! The place sat vacant for a few months in the middle of winter and that did no good. (previous tenant had treatment for a major illness and in the end had to move back with family )

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We are mildly optimistic that MOUSE HUNT 2018 is over.

Fingers crossed!   

We are mildly optimistic that MOUSE HUNT 2018 is over.

Fingers crossed!   

Crossing my fingers and toes for you!

We are mildly optimistic that MOUSE HUNT 2018 is over.

Fingers crossed!   

Good luck!  Show me that it can be done!

When I get to a point where I think I have defeated the mice, I put out a Mouse Test:



If it's gone (or at least moved) the next morning, I know I've failed:



I haven't felt confident enough to do a Mouse Test in ages.  *sigh*

I’m working out of London today....

That’s all. That’s my IA. Sitting on the train as we speak, struggling to stay awake. Coffee awaits me on the other side! (I hope)


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Good luck!  Show me that it can be done!

When I get to a point where I think I have defeated the mice, I put out a Mouse Test:



If it's gone (or at least moved) the next morning, I know I've failed:



I haven't felt confident enough to do a Mouse Test in ages.  *sigh*

It can be done!  At least we think.  We've had no further evidence of any mice.  But SIX.  In our kitchen.  That was pretty intense!

We'll have a look at the poison in the loft spaces this weekend and see if that's been touched.  I hope it hasn't been... but it is what it is at this point.

It can be done!  At least we think.  We've had no further evidence of any mice.  But SIX.  In our kitchen.  That was pretty intense!

We'll have a look at the poison in the loft spaces this weekend and see if that's been touched.  I hope it hasn't been... but it is what it is at this point.

Oh, good luck/congratulations!  I hope you have won.  I sometimes wonder if the mice are the reason the previous owner moved out.  She built all these spaces for them to hide in, and then she left.  Now they're my problem.  *sigh*

Oh, good luck/congratulations!  I hope you have won.  I sometimes wonder if the mice are the reason the previous owner moved out.  She built all these spaces for them to hide in, and then she left.  Now they're my problem.  *sigh*

Are you fearful of them breeding?  That's been my fear!

Are you fearful of them breeding?  That's been my fear!

In the end, we will be gutting this house room-by-room and rebuilding it nice and secure, so it really doesn't matter... but, yeah.  I hate that the previous owner seemingly purpose-built rodent runs and nesting boxes all over the house, then ran off and left it to me without any warning about what was in store.  I love my house and we will fix this, but the previous owner was an idiot.

MOUSE HUNT 2018 FINAL UPDATE

No additional mice have been caught.  And an inspection of all the poison put out last weekend, has revealed that NONE of the poison has been touched.  I'm very relieved that we have not killed any animals - even if they were destroying all of our belongings. 

The garage has been cleaned and we had a good clearout.  We (read, my husband) could purge more but it's a really good start.

MOUSE HUNT 2018 FINAL UPDATE

No additional mice have been caught.  And an inspection of all the poison put out last weekend, has revealed that NONE of the poison has been touched.  I'm very relieved that we have not killed any animals - even if they were destroying all of our belongings. 

The garage has been cleaned and we had a good clearout.  We (read, my husband) could purge more but it's a really good start.

Yay!  There is hope for us!  I'm really happy for you!  And I'm hopeful for my mouse-free future. 

MOUSE HUNT 2018 FINAL UPDATE

No additional mice have been caught.  And an inspection of all the poison put out last weekend, has revealed that NONE of the poison has been touched.  I'm very relieved that we have not killed any animals - even if they were destroying all of our belongings. 

The garage has been cleaned and we had a good clearout.  We (read, my husband) could purge more but it's a really good start.

That's exciting! I'm glad they are gone, and the garage is clean.

I'm at the point I'm debating hiring a cleaner. My husband likes things tidy (no clutter) but when it comes to actually cleaning surfaces he falls flat. I don't have the physical strength to do it all and he knows that but unless I say "you need to do this right now" it doesn't get done, and I don't like bossing my husband around like that. It makes me really angry that if I don't I have a dirty dusty house and we both have allergies. So I think I may be asking for suggestions on WGG of someone who is OK cleaning without heavy duty chemicals and won't wear perfume/cologne in our house. It's mostly just the vacuuming and shower/bathroom floors. They were too expensive for me in the US but seem quite a bit more reasonably priced here!

That's exciting! I'm glad they are gone, and the garage is clean.

I'm at the point I'm debating hiring a cleaner. My husband likes things tidy (no clutter) but when it comes to actually cleaning surfaces he falls flat. I don't have the physical strength to do it all and he knows that but unless I say "you need to do this right now" it doesn't get done, and I don't like bossing my husband around like that. It makes me really angry that if I don't I have a dirty dusty house and we both have allergies. So I think I may be asking for suggestions on WGG of someone who is OK cleaning without heavy duty chemicals and won't wear perfume/cologne in our house. It's mostly just the vacuuming and shower/bathroom floors. They were too expensive for me in the US but seem quite a bit more reasonably priced here!

Cleaners are MUCH more affordable here.  Quality can vary.  But many will use "your products" for less £ per hour, which would prevent part of your issue.  I love my girl, but she's a heavy smoker.  I can't tell from the house cleaning but if I'm home when she's there, it does bother me.