The mice are still around, still causing problems. Fortunately we have seen no signs of mice, dead or alive, for a few weeks; Bianca the Elderly Geriatric Cat caught one as it emerged from under the dishwasher, we disposed of it in case it had been poisoned and haven't seen any since. There are no new signs of mouse shit either, so we are hopeful that they have moved on from here to elsewhere.

The people who know such things tell us that we need a spell of cold wet weather to get rid of them, so fingers crossed that next week's forecast cold wet weather - even possible snow, no less! - may help with that.

Meanwhile, there are sad news stories about native animals, fish and birds and domestic pets being poisoned by eating straight rodent bait or dead rodents who have been baited. I don't know the answer to that - do we let the mice run free to ruin crops, cause health problems, even cause fires by chewing through cables if by doing so we save other creatures? Or do we leave the mice to bankrupt farmers because their infested crops are useless and can't be sold?