Please allow me to set the scene.......
It's 9.50 am - I was rudely awakened from a deep sleep by a set of ladders being hoisted up against my bedroom window sill. Ten minutes to ten and "not up yet" I here you say, "what a lazy so and so"!!! I'm not really lazy - I work nights therefore it's still the middle of the night as far as I'm concerned. As much as my window cleaner and his young grandson (the apprentice) are lovely guys - they do have a tendency to shout across the gardens AT each other and more often than not I get wakened.
I lay there, hoping to drift right back to sleep but that was just not happening. I could just make out the sun's rays through the little gaps in window blinds, I told myself 'it's a lovely day - we've not had many of them so far this year, just get up and enjoy it. You can always have a wee nap later in the day'.
Not being a morning person - all non morning people will know exactly where I'm coming from. Down the stairs I shuffled in my dressing gown and slippers. Finally I made my way into the kitchen - as is usual for me on a sunny day - I sit on the back step and have my caffeine/nicotine fix. I call this step my contemplation step - most of my gardening plans are made here! It's at this point cats usually appear, I give them a whistle to let them know it's snack time, they didn't come - just then the dog made a quick dash up the path to the side of the house. I could here the bells on their collars ringing and as it was rather frantic sounding, my first thoughts - Is it a bird? Is it a mouse? Please don't let it be alive - no live prey - I'm not awake enough yet!

This is the mess that greeted me as I peered round the corner - what the heck!! What are they cats up to!!! I began clapping my hands loudly trying stop the cats wrecking everything in their path - their attention was just not being attracted!! They were far too busy having fun!
I ran back into the house to get some of their wee treats - rattle the box - that always gets their attention. That wasn't working either. By this time the dog had got in on the act and has running back and forth along the path. Just what have they got?
There is no way this is a mouse or a bird - I would have seen/heard signs - I usually do!
As I was about to go in to put something a bit more practical on my feet, slippers are no good for rooting around in the borders! I noticed that one of my Harts Tongue ferns had started to heave up and down at a constant rate of knots, then it dawned on me - what other animal could possibly be underground like this?
Much like Sherlock Holmes, I deduced there is only one creature that could be wreaking such havoc in my garden.....A mole!
his pussy cat brothers have kindly provided, if only he could get at it.
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A fern lifted right from bed |
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Where did it go Mummy? |
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He's under here yells Titch! |
Enough was enough - I was not going to have my garden ruined by a mole, 2 cats and 1 dog. I should add that my other cat Chip - who can only be described as a scardy cat, was now tucked up in the kitchen eating his biscuit treats! Staying well away from the unfolding drama a few feet away!
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another hole further along the bed |
With the water was pumping down the holes, I imagine the mole was by this time in a right panic, I stopped for a few seconds to see what would happen next......
Right before my very eyes a little hole began appearing, as you can see from the picture above - then low and behold, like a game of peek a boo! His little snout appeared......
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Peek a boo! |
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Where are those pesky cats? |
I don't know who's knickers were in more of a knot, mine, the cats or the dogs. Still attempting to keep the cats and the dog away from the mole, (I had to give up taking pictures by this point) I need to allow him to make his escape. He popped right back down the hole from whence he came, water by this time was gently spraying over the boys - the poor wee thing scuttled around underground for a while, then he resurfaced near the front path - freedom was within his reach. Can he see enough to make out the wide open field just yonder - I hope so, he waddled right out down the path, crossed the road and into the field beyond! Phew!! What a relief! I'm pleased Mr Mole has never returned to the garden, he's probably told every mole in the vicinity that there is a crazy pyjama wearing, water bearing, screaming banshee living here!
Later in the day, once the garden had a chance to dry out a bit - all the plants were firmed back into their spots - you would never have know there was a kerfuffle hours earlier!
Have you ever had a 'Dressing Gown' moment in your garden?
Just how glad am I that most of the neighbours are out at work during the day - I'm sure I would have been the talking point for most of the village if anyone saw me!
I hope my tale made you smile :)