The last few days have thrown us some challenges and concerns. 

Firstly, the big white male cat had a fight with another cat (we think) on Wednesday morning while we were at home having morning tea. He limped back inside and after peeing all over the kitchen floor, limped into his basket. We could see several deep gashes on his front legs and smaller cuts around his face. 

He spent the next 24 hours pretty much in this spot. We kept checking to make sure he was still alive. We also let his owner know, but Mick insisted it was no use going to the vet. Perhaps he knew my French was not up to it. 

Luckily he has improved significantly and has started to eat and purr again, but he is still limping badly. 

Next problem…….

You’ve guessed it, we had another leak. 

On Thursday morning there was no heating so Mick and I both got down into the cellar to explore and we found a pipe spurting water from another rodent-made hole. So Mick phoned Bob, now known as “Plumb Bob” (so named by our daughter Brydie). He said he would come around today, Saturday to fix the problem. 

In the meantime, Mick and I started to explore some measures to prevent this happening again. We went out to buy some traps but only found tiny pathetic ones. We found some Vicks Vapour rub that he applied liberally to the pipes and we bought the closest thing we could to steel wool to plug any holes. 

In the middle of all this drama, we did have a highlight because our two new author friends were back at their apartment and we invited them around for dinner. Mick was cooking duck breasts with orange sauce. We had a fabulous night and were surprised that when they left it was almost midnight. 😴

This morning, Plumb Bob arrived as he promised, nice and early. 

He is a really great person and while he fixed our issue we shared loads more stories and another coffee. He helped Mick prime all the heaters again. 

He and Mick plugged up a hole in the house with some of that expandable foam in the hope that might be the only way the animal/s has/have access to the pipes.  They were helped by the “girls”.

After double checking the pressure was right in the heater before he left, Plumb Bob bid us  farewell and happily took a dozen eggs and €50. 

Mick was down that hole in a flash to cover all the pipes with a plastic cover and vapour rub.

Mick had been at it for about 10 minutes when I heard him start to swear, which was very unusual for him 😳. He had found another rodent-eaten pipe that was leaking. I called Plumb Bob immediately, who was only just back home, and he turned around and came straight back up our windy road. 

So in total, three pipes nibbled by ? something?

I asked Google for help, and we have now placed a bowl of water in the cellar, hoping whatever it is/ they are will drink that and not eat the pipes. We will buy some BIG traps tomorrow at the markets and hope that we have enough time before there is any more gnawing and gnashing. 

There was not nearly as much chatting the second time Plumb Bob was here this morning – it was all about getting the job done. 

After Plumb Bob left with yet another well-earned €50, Mick was back down that hole and spent a good 45 minutes applying covers to the pipes,  vapour rub everywhere and steel wool where he could. 

These rodents will at least have very clear sinuses, but hopefully no access to the pipes. 

Fingers crossed we are going to be able to outsmart these rodents before we leave.