PASS ME THE FOX REPELLENT BAG SPRAY, ROBIN

Here in Europe we are having a major heat wave. Temperatures in the UK have hit a record 100F (38C), the Alps are apparently crumbling because the permafrost that holds them together is melting, forest fires are raging, the train rails are buckling because of the heat, and the Evian aquifers must surely be running dry.

I also read the other day that Mars is now visible with the naked eye from your back garden (if you know where to look, I can't tell if it's a plane or the Red Planet myself), and I am now starting to wonder if there is a monster over- heated asteroid coming our way, or is that just my paranoia and the steaming heat. Or maybe I've seen too many Bruce Willis movies.

The cats have taken to disappearing entirely into the garden undergrowth and not emerging until nighttime, and then only when they are really hungry. Not much change there then. Our old boy has also discovered the benefits of a nice large electric fan and flops in front of it (whether it's on or not - sadly he's not all that bright) and lies there with a blissful expression on his face. Feeling cool is clearly all in the mind. Especially when you're wearing a fur coat. The large girly just stays under the bushes, or spread-eagles herself on the shady bits of the grass - even nicer when it's just been watered. Myself - I have to fight the cat for the coolest spot in front of the fan, though if I could fit into the undergrowth I'd give that a whirl, I can tell you. At least we humans can have the option of a cold shower, I suppose.

Even here in sleepy Southern England the wild life has adapted to the sultry conditions. The foxes have cottoned on that they have no need to raise a sweat by running around after rabbits and other moving prey. They just have to come down from the fields at night and wait until each street in rotation has its dustbin (garbage) collection, and then just go round and help themselves to the lovely smelly contents of the plastic bags put out overnight awaiting the early morning refuse collectors. The results of their nocturnal feasts are then left strewed up the street for all the world to see what tea bags, snacks, or loo-paper, their neighbours are using.

Thus enters the saving grace of the animal repellent bag spray, which hopefully sends Mr. and Mrs.Foxy and the kids back to their natural organic diet. It's also better than letting your neighbours know you use cake mix. Or cheap cat food. Or eat Pot Noodle. And also saving you the chore of having to get out there and pick it all up again, put it in another rubbish bag, save it for a week (to develop a real humdinger of a pong), and put it out for the refuse collection..etc.etc

The modern cycle of nature - humans, plastic refuse bag, scavengers, pavement , plastic refuse bag, landfill….and so it goes.

Big and coolCool Cat

© Thelma Mitchell 2003