Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Bats in the belfry


We've always watched the bats in the garden at dusk. It's my favourite time of day anyway, especially at this time of year when the swifts are up there calling too, it's so relaxing, as long as you don't get bitten by gnats. Some neighbors had a tree cut down a few years ago, and the bat numbers seemed to have dropped. I noticed some out there a few weeks ago, so tonight as the sun set Taylor and I sat ourselves down. The little blighters are living in our roof, hundreds of them! We saw the first one come out, and pretty soon we'd lost count. It's not strictly my roof, as I'm a ground floor maisonette. Some poor bugger up there has hundreds of critters scratching around next to their bedroom window. We could hear their squeaking and clicking down on the ground, so they must be able to hear it. It was a marvellous sight. Anyone know what kind they are likely to be?

On a slightly weird note, for the last 3 or 4 days I've been able to smell my Nan around me. She had a really distinctive smell, a mixture of vintage perfume, dry skin and stale smoke. I never really noticed it when she was alive, but often over the two years since she's been gone we've dug out some of her stuff that we moved here, like photos, and we've all remarked how much the smell coming off her belongings reminds us of her. It's a dusty smell, but not unpleasant. Anyway, out in the garden twice this week I've been surrounded by the smell. I know a pregnant woman has a sensitive sense of smell, but this is so strong. I called Taylor out to see if he could find it, but he couldn't. Then today I smelt it walking up to the school. It must be her. It makes me feel very happy and protected.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

If they're like the ones we've got in our belfry (much to my dismay), they'll be brown, long-eared ones which are one of the most common.