baked goods & bribery

OK, the plan is to take some tea & tasty treats to the flat clearers and persuade them to let me poke around the basement before they start clearing it. Fingers crossed!!

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The results of the food experiment are IN!

And it's pretty exciting!!
(Am I enjoying all this a bit too much??)

It's been five days and, as you can see, THERE IS INDEED SOMETHING EATING MY FOOD. It is official.

I took some closer photos of the more curious examples:

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called Mr Lyman, the new landlord, earlier, here is a fairly accurate transcript (be sure to admire my dazzling phone manner):

[phone rings twice]
ROBOTIC PRERECORDED LADY: You have reached the office of Lyman & Co. LLP. I'm afraid all our telephones are unavailable at the moment, please hold the line and you will be seen to as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
[loud classical violin music for about 30 seconds]
SIMPERING FEMALE VOICE: Good afternoon, Lyman & Co. chartered accountants. How may I help you?
ME: Hello, er. Can I speak to Mr. Lyman?
SIMPERING FEMALE VOICE: What's your name, please?
ME: Lucy McGrath.
SIMPERING FEMALE VOICE: And what is this regarding?
ME: I rent out the second floor of his uncle's house in Brighton, er, I mean the house his uncle used to own. I thought I should--
[phone rings a few times]
ME: ..oh.
MALE VOICE: Hello, Miss McGrath?
ME: Yes, is that Mr. Lyman?
LYMAN: I'm glad you got the letter we sent, is there a problem?
ME: Um, first of all, I wanted to express my deepest regret about Mr Kimball, I didn't have much contact with him, but he seemed like a very interesting gentleman..
LYMAN: oh.. well I appreciate your concern, but to be honest I had very little contact with my uncle myself. My mother -his sister- fell out with him shortly after I was born - we always thought the man was a little wrong in the head, if you know what I mean? You know he left his estate to, and I quote, [tone of disbelief] 'the pixie folk'?
ME: oh, uhh.. I thought he didn't leave an official will?
[pause]
LYMAN: [in tones reserved for small children or the mentally infirm] Er.. generally, we treat things that don't exist as being outside the realm of official documentation.
ME: [awkward giggle] Heh, of course, uh, I meant..
LYMAN: Listen, I'm very busy at the moment - old Kimball's left me with a stack of legal paperwork to sort out. Was there anything else?
ME: Oh, right. Actually, I've been having some problems with noises in the ceilings and walls, it's been going on for a couple of weeks now and I'm finding it hard to concentrate. I think it might be rodents of some kind..
LYMAN: Noises in the walls? It's an old house, it might just be the sound of the pipes settling. I'll have them looked at when I get the house surveyed. Like I say, I've got a lot to sort out right now but if you could be patient for another few days, I'll be sending the surveyors round to have a look.
ME: I'm pretty sure it's not pipes, I've been living here a while..
LYMAN: Perhaps not, but I'm sure you'd rather rule out all possibilities before jumping to conclusions?
ME: well, yes, I suppose...
LYMAN: Brilliant. I'll be in contact soon then, please don't hesitate to call if you have any queries. Have a good day, now.
ME: uh, right, er, you too.
[click and dial tone]

Since the new landlord doesn't seem to be taking me very seriously just yet, I called my parents, who have dealt with mice infestations in the family home up in Croydon. They suggested I start laying mouse traps and try and talk to a professional pest exterminator - apparently some people do free consultations and advice, which would be awesome.

In an effort to cheer myself up, I made CAKE!!!:

As you can see, I couldn't wait long enough to take a photo before tucking in!

It's not just cake that helps though, it made me feel so much better being able to talk to someone who understands the gravity of the problem and actually wants to help - that's why I really value the comments I get on this blog, as well - it's so uplifting just knowing I'm not alone, and that there are some friendly people around to offer some support. :) Thanks so much, I really appreciate your time.

/end cheese-fest..

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