THERE STILL SEEM TO BE...

... problems with Blogger Dashboard and I'm only managing to get on here via a very convoluted route.
Apologies in advance if things go pear-shaped again!
Well, not much to report today so far. Christina's been round to use our internet - apparently the connection at her place is dodgy to say the least and she had some work stuff to send out this morning,so needed to use ours.
I've been out to Heighley Gate on an extremely unpleasant mission. Last night I was digging around in the cleaning cupboard when I came across the tell-tale signs of a MOUSE! I can't tell you how shocked and disgusted I am. I would win the World Cup for cleaning and household duties - but we've got a mouse. So I've been out to buy traps today. I felt like hiding my head in shame and hoped that nobody recognised me when I had to go and pay for the things!
How can we have a mouse when we've got the pups? Helen (who was here when I made the discovery) thinks it (they???) may have come up the drainpipe when the house was empty while we were away. Whatever - I can't bear the thought of it.
My problem is that I can't bear them alive - but neither can I bear them dead. There's absolutely no way I could go near the cupboard if I thought there was a dead mouse in there. At least if it's alive it's got a fighting chance of running away when I open the door. In fact I've started banging on the door as a warning before I actually open it!!
Charles got everything out of the cupboard last night and gave it a really good clean. During the process he obviously took out all the cleaning products and, to my surprise, it transpired that we actually have enough stuff to last for the best part of a year (maybe TWO) without needing to purchase any more. Why have I got eight all purpose cleaning sprays, six antibacs, five spray polishes and endless supplies of bleach, oven, carpet, shower, hob, microwave, kitchen and bathroom cleaners? When am I going to do all this cleaning, I already do it every day. Maybe I should set up a cleaning business - I cetainly wouldn't have any start-up costs!
So, back to the mouse. (You'll notice that I'm using the singular, rather than the far more likely plural, noun. That's because one mouse is devastating, but more than one is unthinkable.) I'm going to let Charles set the traps because I have this feeling that if I try and do it a) I'll end up trapping bits of my own anatomy and b) if I put it in place there will be a mouse poised ready and waiting to jump into the trap and I'll have to bear witness to the whole sordid scenario.
Right - so now you know our horrid little secret. I wasn't going to tell anyone and swore Helen and Bill to secrecy, but knowing Bill he'd use it as a blackmail opportunity at a later date, so I've decided to head that possibility off at the pass and come clean!