I spent last night paddling in fog shrouded backwaters narrowly avoiding crocodiles, snakes, rapids and creepy crawlies, deep in Africa's Heart of Darkness. Sadly it was only in my mind. As an avid reader of travel literature, I've been hooked by 'Facing the Congo', a brilliant account of paddling the Congo River in a hand built canoe.
My evening of sofa exploration had me curled up and shivering as fist sized beetles, electric catfish and whistling cockroaches the size of a baby's foot, coloured my imagination. ( Well I have actually stroked a cockroach that whistled, but that's a story for another time.)
On finishing a really squirmy passage where the author camps in the underbush full of snakes, ferocious bees, black flies that leave bleeding holes in exposed flesh and every other kind of predatory insect imaginable, I jumped up to make a cup of tea and gave the most almighty scream.
A scary beast was creeping towards me. Don't ask me why but somehow, after breaching two closed doors and a sleeping cat, a newt was heading purposefully across the carpet, heading towards the Turkish rug. Where the tiny creature came from is a complete mystery. There isn't even a pond in my garden and why it chose to brave the kitchen floor and start a journey across an expanse of carpet instead of a cosy night on the damp lawn is a real puzzle.
It can't have been brought in by the cat as he's not that gentle, and this little creature was completely unharmed. It's more than welcome. I'm wildlife friendly, but I want more warning next time. It took ten minutes before my heart stopped racing and I could repatriate it back to the garden.
15 comments:
What an amazing imagination you have. I think I would have freaked out if that newt had walked towards me!
Crystal xx
Sounds a fascinating book, Lampie. We sometimes have little frogs invading about this time of year, but newts are pretty special. It must have felt very at home to walk over to you.
Ha ha that brought your book to life didnt it! i've found them in the house Very strange i know..x
Good God I wish I hadn't read that. Not a fan of cockroaches and to think they whistle and can be stroked!! PS thanks v much for PM. Am slowly girding loins! (nearly wrote lions!)
Speaking as one who recently had to spend an evening with a large jar of them on the dresser wathcing me (having had to catch some of the ruddy things from the pit of mud at the bottom of the pond for Youngest to take to school) I can sympathise. They may be charming but not the sort of hting yu wnat inhabiting teh kitchen!
Perhaps Ken Livingston had called earlier. I used to keep a newt - I called him Tiny. Why did you call him Tiny? Because he's my..........newt!
Boom Boom!
Or not as the case may be. But clearly you have powers, Lampie, to summon spirits from the vasty deep, as Shakespeare has it. The newt was drawn out of the ether by the thrilling text and deposited on the carpet like some unused lumber. Glad you put it out in the garden, though the poor fellow has a long way to go.......
There you go the power of the mind . . . so be careful what you read.
Your story reminds me of when I found a lizard in the library. Perhaps books and these creatures ARE connected :))
Oh er! Imagination is ana mazing thing ! But then to see the newt how extraordinary!
I'm sorry i missed you this week I didn't know you were having a procedure, pleased it all went well, I take it was an stomach, throat investigation, I've had it done it's so unpleasant, gald you got through it!
A vivid imagination can be a blessing and a curse. Can't you whistle up something more warm blooded and kissable?
Very creepy! I'd have been completely freaked out to have summoned up a reptile. Careful what your dream about, please, or we'll be reading some scary blogs from you!
I hope you are feeling totally recovered today :)
I am also an avid reader of travel literature and losing myself to the text I can relate to your reaction to the dear little harmless newt who was just out for a walk.
We used to 'play' with the newts at my school in our lunchbreaks in the ponds - how on earth we a) didn't kill them and b) drown ourselves I have no idea. Since then I've always been fascinated by them. BUT maybe not when reading about horrid creepy-crawlies....
Nooooo, don't remotely want to think about nasty bugs and beasties..... I have wiped whole continents off my 'want to visit' map due to unpleasant insect life. Devastated to discover that Peru is home to the chicken-eating spider and another one that actually chases after you!
Never seen a newt though - and not sure I'd mind one of those. But you can keep the whistling cockroaches for sure!
No, no comfort at all, thank you!!!!!! I'd rather be skinny and wrinkly any day!
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