ECHO 18/11/05

Dormice nesting in the attic above the bed, immediately overhead. Scrabbling and scratching. Knawing at the rafters. Amplified through the ceiling and by the total 4am silence everywhere else. Turn over, try to ignore them in the hope they will go away. No chance. Hibernation is soon to come for these creatures and they are busy busy busy building their desired home for the forthcoming Winter months. So the noise is not only loud but erratic, unpredictable, and of such variety that it is impossible to ignore. Like a rodent variation of Chinese water torture. So you wait. Listening in the dark. As dawn comes slowly and very coldly the creatures begin to slow down and quieten to nothing. Then that is it. They are up there now sleeping, hearts slowed until Spring.