a very big rat

"MLB" wrote in message ...

On Mon, 09 Sep 2013 20:18:46 -0500, MaryL wrote:

"MLB" wrote in message ...

Many years ago, my uncle owned several movie theaters and they had a
downtown rat problem. People would take food with them to eat while
watching the movies and that attracted the rats. One morning while
waiting for a transfer bus to go to work, a rat as large as a big cat
ran across the downtown street. My uncle would not permit popcorn and
ice cream or drinks in his theaters. He asked me once if I ever thought
I felt a cat during the show and I said I did. He said that was a rat
maot a cat. MLB

~~~~~~~
Oh, yuck! I think that would be the last time I would ever set foot in
that theater.

MaryL

Actually, his theaters were the cleanest because he restricted the food.
The others did not. Eating establishments also had the problem and
probably still do. I suspect the problem is world wide. MLB

~~~~~~~
You're probably right. I just never heard of rats moving past a person's
legs during a movie in a theater. That's ironic, given the care he took to
avoid food.

MaryL

MLB wrote:

On Mon, 09 Sep 2013 20:08:19 +0000, Bastette wrote:

Christina Websell wrote:


"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
On 9/7/2013 5:48 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Joy" wrote in message
...
"Christina Websell" wrote in
message ...

I really, really wanted to throw this dead rat over into my
neighbour's pristine blockpaved, no leaf will go there yard as a
sort of revenge for their bullying stuff over the wall and
exceeding the law about pruning my tree and making me spend 1400
to get a drop kerb in But, even though I picked the rat up by the
tail and I had every intention of doing it, I just couldn't
because I knew it was wrong. So I
didn't.
good girlie, eh?

Tweed

Congratulations for taking the high road. Not an easy thing to do
under the circumstances.

Joy

I'm quite proud of myself but if they do anything bad in the next
few days,
I still have the rat.

I sympathize with the neighbor situation, I really do. But where on
earth would you be storing the dead rat?! I know your neighbors
have been really troublesome for some time. But I cannot figure out
where I'd store a dead rat to make a point...

I can.
Joke.
Boyfriend only does small rats and the huge rat deceased on the path
he assures me is "nothing to do with him"
But what if he catches a small one that's been poisoned and eats it?

This is what worries me. It's definitely a danger. Would the neighbors
who use poison be willing to listen to you if you went over and
explained that you're worried about Boyfie catching and eating a
poisoned small rat or mouse? I guess it depends on their finances. I'm
sure rat poison is much cheaper than terriers.
MLB
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
IMHO if it is the same people who have given her trouble over the
driveway, etc, they are probably trying to poison Boyfie. I don't trust
them. IMHO she should inform her little Boyfriend that he is now a
"housecar" and keep him safely inside/ He would adjust!MLB

No, she said these people were a "few houses down". The nasty neighbors
are right next door.

--
Joyce

What I look forward to, is continued immaturity, followed by death.
-- Dave Barry

MaryL wrote:



"MLB" wrote in message ...

Many years ago, my uncle owned several movie theaters and they had a
downtown rat problem. People would take food with them to eat while
watching the movies and that attracted the rats. One morning while
waiting for a transfer bus to go to work, a rat as large as a big cat ran
across the downtown street. My uncle would not permit popcorn and ice
cream or drinks in his theaters. He asked me once if I ever thought I
felt a cat during the show and I said I did. He said that was a rat maot
a cat. MLB

~~~~~~~
Oh, yuck! I think that would be the last time I would ever set foot in that
theater.

I had the same reaction, right down to the "Oh, yuck!" shudder

--
Joyce

What I look forward to, is continued immaturity, followed by death.
-- Dave Barry

MLB wrote:

On Mon, 09 Sep 2013 20:18:46 -0500, MaryL wrote:

"MLB" wrote in message ...

Many years ago, my uncle owned several movie theaters and they had a
downtown rat problem. People would take food with them to eat while
watching the movies and that attracted the rats. One morning while
waiting for a transfer bus to go to work, a rat as large as a big cat
ran across the downtown street. My uncle would not permit popcorn and
ice cream or drinks in his theaters. He asked me once if I ever thought
I felt a cat during the show and I said I did. He said that was a rat
maot a cat. MLB

~~~~~~~
Oh, yuck! I think that would be the last time I would ever set foot in
that theater.

MaryL

Actually, his theaters were the cleanest because he restricted the food.
The others did not. Eating establishments also had the problem and
probably still do. I suspect the problem is world wide. MLB

Well, maybe not worldwide. I have not had the pleasure of seeing big
rats in a movie theater. And food is definitely sold in every theater
I've ever been to. That's where they make most of their money. Your
uncle must have struggled with that one.

--
Joyce

What I look forward to, is continued immaturity, followed by death.
-- Dave Barry

MaryL wrote:



"MLB" wrote in message ...

On Mon, 09 Sep 2013 20:18:46 -0500, MaryL wrote:

"MLB" wrote in message ...

Many years ago, my uncle owned several movie theaters and they had a
downtown rat problem. People would take food with them to eat while
watching the movies and that attracted the rats. One morning while
waiting for a transfer bus to go to work, a rat as large as a big cat
ran across the downtown street. My uncle would not permit popcorn and
ice cream or drinks in his theaters. He asked me once if I ever thought
I felt a cat during the show and I said I did. He said that was a rat
maot a cat. MLB

~~~~~~~
Oh, yuck! I think that would be the last time I would ever set foot in
that theater.

MaryL

Actually, his theaters were the cleanest because he restricted the food.
The others did not. Eating establishments also had the problem and
probably still do. I suspect the problem is world wide. MLB

~~~~~~~
You're probably right. I just never heard of rats moving past a person's
legs during a movie in a theater. That's ironic, given the care he took to
avoid food.

I have a feeling that rats brushing by patrons' legs was what *caused*
him to ban the food.

--
Joyce

What I look forward to, is continued immaturity, followed by death.
-- Dave Barry

"MLB" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 09 Sep 2013 20:08:19 +0000, Bastette wrote:

Christina Websell wrote:


"jmcquown" wrote in message
...
On 9/7/2013 5:48 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Joy" wrote in message
...
"Christina Websell" wrote in
message ...

I really, really wanted to throw this dead rat over into my
neighbour's pristine blockpaved, no leaf will go there yard as a
sort of revenge for their bullying stuff over the wall and
exceeding the law about pruning my tree and making me spend 1400
to get a drop kerb in But, even though I picked the rat up by the
tail and I had every intention of doing it, I just couldn't
because I knew it was wrong. So I
didn't.
good girlie, eh?

Tweed

Congratulations for taking the high road. Not an easy thing to do
under the circumstances.

Joy

I'm quite proud of myself but if they do anything bad in the next
few days,
I still have the rat.

I sympathize with the neighbor situation, I really do. But where on
earth would you be storing the dead rat?! I know your neighbors
have been really troublesome for some time. But I cannot figure out
where I'd store a dead rat to make a point...

I can.
Joke.
Boyfriend only does small rats and the huge rat deceased on the path
he assures me is "nothing to do with him"
But what if he catches a small one that's been poisoned and eats it?

This is what worries me. It's definitely a danger. Would the neighbors
who use poison be willing to listen to you if you went over and
explained that you're worried about Boyfie catching and eating a
poisoned small rat or mouse? I guess it depends on their finances. I'm
sure rat poison is much cheaper than terriers.
MLB
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
IMHO if it is the same people who have given her trouble over the
driveway, etc, they are probably trying to poison Boyfie. I don't trust
them. IMHO she should inform her little Boyfriend that he is now a
"housecar" and keep him safely inside/ He would adjust!MLB

No, it's not the same people, it's another neighbour who keep chickens.
Even though the next door neighbours I've had trouble with and I do not get
along in any way now, I doubt they would stoop so far as poisoning
Boyfriend - even if they had ever seen him or connected him with me which I
doubt. Their fence is so high and their garden so barren that he has no
interest in going there. They cannot see into my back garden and as Boyfie
never goes in and out of the front door even if they saw him on the street
they wouldn't know he was mine even if he went down my side path and jumped
over my gate - anyone's cat could do that.
I'm not going to make him into a house cat, he would absolutely hate it.
Remember how I had to leave my back door open 24/7 for over two years so he
could make a quick escape when I first got him? He would panic if the door
was shut.
He's not like that now because he trusts me but even now, if I have a
visitor (except Simon or June) he cannot bear to stay in the house.
I wouldn't like to put him through the anxiety of a closed door when he is
so obviously afraid of what the doorbell brings.

Tweed

"Mishi" wrote in message
...
Man, I hope they aren't using poison! Can you talk to them and ask them?
Maybe it was something else that killed the rat. One of my online friend
just lost a cat to rat poison - her landlord put out poison to control the
rats, and her cat ate one. The poison has also killed all the squirrels in
the neighborhood too. There are non toxic rat control baits out there, but
not sure if they use them in the UK. (The rats eat the bait, the bait swells
up and starves the rat to death)

I do not feel able to approach the neighbour in question. We were friends
for many years and used to eat together once a month.. One day the wife rang
up and said "can you leave it for this month?" I said "Yes, of course" and
she did the same the next month, so not being paranoid I assumed they were
busy, which is fine. When I heard nothing the next month I went round with
my bottle of wine to find they were out.
So, I never went round again, therefore things are a bit delicate. As far
as I know I didn't do anything to upset them except maybe it was the
cookbook I bought them for a Christmas present, only because it had
woodpigeon, duck and pheasant recipes in (they shoot) and absolutely not
because I thought she couldn't cook.

Ah well, their loss, but so much nicer to have an explanation if that was
the offence - I could have explained that I thought the book would be very
useful.

Brits can be easily offended my implied criticism.
But one day I had my worse meal ever there. Macaroni cheese on top of
rice..

Tweed

"Bastette" wrote in message
...
MaryL wrote:



"MLB" wrote in message ...

On Mon, 09 Sep 2013 20:18:46 -0500, MaryL wrote:

"MLB" wrote in message ...

Many years ago, my uncle owned several movie theaters and they had a
downtown rat problem. People would take food with them to eat while
watching the movies and that attracted the rats. One morning while
waiting for a transfer bus to go to work, a rat as large as a big cat
ran across the downtown street. My uncle would not permit popcorn and
ice cream or drinks in his theaters. He asked me once if I ever
thought
I felt a cat during the show and I said I did. He said that was a rat
maot a cat. MLB

~~~~~~~
Oh, yuck! I think that would be the last time I would ever set foot in
that theater.

MaryL

Actually, his theaters were the cleanest because he restricted the food.
The others did not. Eating establishments also had the problem and
probably still do. I suspect the problem is world wide. MLB

~~~~~~~
You're probably right. I just never heard of rats moving past a
person's
legs during a movie in a theater. That's ironic, given the care he took
to
avoid food.

I have a feeling that rats brushing by patrons' legs was what *caused*
him to ban the food.

Rats are opportunists and they are very intelligent too. I used to try and
catch them with snaptraps but after I got one the others used to throw up
earth to set them off and then eat the bait when it was safely disarmed.
I kind of don't like having to control them, but it's the law here, if you
have rats you are obliged to control them in some way and poison is out for
me after seeing one die very badly.
The least I can do is ensure they die in an instant and that's where the
terriers come in.

It costs far less than poison too as the terrier men like to exercise their
fierce terriers on rats - and most people can't stomach the rat hunt. I
can. I prefer to help with it rather than use poison.
It's not like I want to do it, but I have to and I know that my method is
best, they live not one second or get away, not dying around other people's
gardens like this one I posted about did.
This was probably not my rat.
Well, yes, she might have been one of the baby ones that Boyfie missed
catching last year.
but more likely Stan's one.

Tweed

"Mishi" wrote in message
...
Man, I hope they aren't using poison! Can you talk to them and ask them?
Maybe it was something else that killed the rat. One of my online friend
just lost a cat to rat poison - her landlord put out poison to control the
rats, and her cat ate one. The poison has also killed all the squirrels in
the neighborhood too. There are non toxic rat control baits out there, but
not sure if they use them in the UK. (The rats eat the bait, the bait swells
up and starves the rat to death
--------

I tried that bait once but it didn't work and I don't want them to starve to
death anyway.
I prefer my method. Quick nip in the neck by the terriers and away to
rattie RB.
No starving involved and no poison either. Gone in a flash.

"Judith Latham" wrote in message
...
In article , Christina Websell
wrote:

"Mishi" wrote in message
... Man, I
hope they aren't using poison! Can you talk to them and ask them? Maybe
it was something else that killed the rat. One of my online friend just
lost a cat to rat poison - her landlord put out poison to control the
rats, and her cat ate one. The poison has also killed all the squirrels
in the neighborhood too. There are non toxic rat control baits out
there, but not sure if they use them in the UK. (The rats eat the bait,
the bait swells up and starves the rat to death)

I do not feel able to approach the neighbour in question. We were
friends for many years and used to eat together once a month.. One day
the wife rang up and said "can you leave it for this month?" I said
"Yes, of course" and she did the same the next month, so not being
paranoid I assumed they were busy, which is fine. When I heard nothing
the next month I went round with my bottle of wine to find they were
out. So, I never went round again, therefore things are a bit delicate.
As far as I know I didn't do anything to upset them except maybe it was
the cookbook I bought them for a Christmas present, only because it had
woodpigeon, duck and pheasant recipes in (they shoot) and absolutely
not because I thought she couldn't cook.

Ah well, their loss, but so much nicer to have an explanation if that
was the offence - I could have explained that I thought the book would
be very useful.

Brits can be easily offended my implied criticism.
But one day I had my worse meal ever there. Macaroni cheese on top of
rice..

Tweed

That reminds me of the comedian Reginald D. Hunter who is from the USA. He
often talks about us Brits and how we confuse him. For example how a man
out with his friends and speaking to someone else will say something
insulting about his friends such as "I'm with that bunch of idiots."
(polite version) and the one this reminded me of was when he complimented
man abut the jacket he was wearing and the man looked at him suspiciously
wondering if he was being insulted. So Reginald said "No subtitles, I'm
American." When I hear Americans talking about this side of the British
culture I realise just how weird we can be to outsiders.

Judith
Yes, they don't understand us, but we don't understand them either.