Before heading to Sicilly for a relaxing holiday we spent a few days at the barn to unload the van and plant the garden up. This year is one of those when the mouse population soars, then they get some disease, then the population decreases again. This is, apparently normal every 5-7 years.

As per normal, we had slightly overloaded our van leaving Chamonix so had arranged to borrow the van from the Auberge in the village to decant loads into to ferry our stuff up the piste. This is where we got the mouse news. Not only have the guys at the Auberge got holes in all their clothing, they told us that all the cats in the village are fat and bored. Bored of the same diet and also playing tennis with mice.

We were lucky. Yes there was some mouse activity inside the barn but we caught two and dispatched them both. We cleaned everything and sought their entry point. A hole was found in the floorboards upstairs and duly plugged. Bingo. We got off very lightly.

Off to Sicilly with a van full of toys.

On our return we found more activity indoors. All activity had ceased on our arrival but there were several dead critters to clear up. It would appear we trapped some inside the barn, maybe in an undiscovered nest. A second round of cleansing the barn and searching for a nest. The critters had raided the first aid store in the bathroom and made a lovely nest from bandages and dressings. Since then all quiet on the mouse front. Boom.

Since then we have been cutting grass, weeding and walking our local walks from the door.