Life cycle
There were quite a few RugRats here on Sunday for the day that was in it.
They were playing around the estate when they discovered the lake was full of frog spawn, which was nice. Spring? Fresh beginnings? The start of the life cycle?
They rushed in to tell me the exciting news when one of them made an unfortunate discovery – I had caught a mouse and had forgotten to check the traps. So here was the end of the life cycle in the shape of a tiny mouse. He was only an inch long but looked fully grown. I laid him to rest in the garden.
That got me thinking.
Over the years, the Manor has seen the demise of quite a few lifeforms of one shape or another. I did a little mental inventory of all that had been buried in various spots.
Dogs: at least 4.
Cats: at least one.
Mice: Hah! Quite a few.
Rats: None [they went out in the bin. Don’t like rats].
Guinea Pigs: 2.
Rabbits: 1.
Humans: Unknown.
Birds: Too many to count [all, I hasten to add, died either naturally or by act of nature].
Spiders: None. Don’t mind spiders, so they can live.
I think there may be a budgie or two also. I’m not sure about that.
All in all there is quite a lot down there for archeologists to ponder upon in the years to come?
I may even reserve a corner for myself…
They let Kids in Eire play with Frogs Spawn still?!??!?! Surely it’s a criminal offence to disturb the natural habit of any creature? Animal cruelty?! Sexualizing kids and thereby ruining their innocence about the reproductive system- one might almost call it ‘grooming’. Have you no shame? Have you been CRB checked (or whatever it is in Ireland)?
Concerned parents and nannying busybodies everywhere need answers!
This is a no-rules house [apart from my rules of course]. They can play with whatever they like.
Actually young Sir Fartzalott was playing with Penny when he turned to me with a very serious expression on the face –
“Grandad? I think you mad a mistake with Penny. I think she’s a boy.”
I asked what led to that conclusion.
“She has a little thing between her back legs!”
I wasn’t going to explain the precise anatomy of a bitch [not being a full expert myself] but pointed out that she had had puppies, which sort of proved the point. He seemed happy with that, though a little surprised. I assume he saw the human female version at some point which would explain things?
“a budge or two”?
Do they have to budge over because the garden is full?
How come that no matter how many times I read my shit, I fail to spot something that someone else will spot?