Roland
on Um Zayd wa Atheer (Uganda), 07/Nov/2009 13:34, 34 days ago
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If you were a 6 year old or a parent in the early 1980s you may remember Roland Rat. He was a television celebrity and a passion of Atheer's. Roland's small body, clad in tight blue trousers and a striped rugby shirt, was dwarfed by an over-large head and face. Never the less, there was something cheeky and endearing about him. It wasn't so much the television programme that Atheer was taken with, it was more the look-a-like cuddly toy. Roland was an important part of our family for a while. Where Atheer went his friend went too, only separated by school, the bath or the washing machine. I even knitted Atheer a Roland sweater. That was also loved and admired by other Roland Rat fans.You may wonder why I am thinking about Roland in Uganda. On the other hand you may have guessed. Fearing to be left out a rat has moved in, to take up residence with me, the bats and the roof space residents. It started off discreetly with the occasional dropping giving me warning of the tenancy. Something may have scuttled passed, seen out of the corner of my eye, an almost 'sorry to intrude' attitude. Now Roland is obviously becoming more settled, more 'used' as a Ugandan would say and has decided to move about more freely and leave more evidence of his presence. His bold dashes across the room are more unsettling. This past week he has put in 3 audacious appearances and has now outstayed his welcome that did not exist in the first place.My carton of long life milk, once opened, has a poly bag (Waitrose, of course) put over the top to keep insects out. I never suspected that rats liked milk. Having made my early morning cup of tea I reached out for the milk, lifted off the bag and there was Roland, nose down into the opening. I managed a ssilent scream, the bag and milk thrown across the 'kitchen'. The poly bag is now closed with pegs. There are too few luxuries here. I cannot for go my early mornng cup of tea too.Roland's Saturday morning dance with the broom should have given me an opportunity to deal the fatal blow. Coward that I am, he would disgust me more squashed than alive. Having said that he has now pushed his luck too far and he has to go, anyway possible. At about 6pm each evening I drop down my mosquito net onto the bed. Last night, as the light was fading, with no electricity I did as I always do, unfurled the net and there was a sleeping Roland. Disturbed, he indignantly scuttled off. I have told him that he has to go. Only problem is there is no advice in the Volunteers' Handbook on how to do it.PS I have laughed out loud to day. I have been listening to the Archers on the Internet. Lillian is in Costa Rica and has faced a cockroach as big as a labrador and says there is no need to go on Safari. Creatures visit you at home. Lillian would not fare well in Uganda!