Amsterdam – The Netherlands [no not Holland: Holland is not a country] Old houses divided into one apartment per floor; usually three to four stacked on top of each other. The floors are made of thick floorboards about two to three cm. In between a ceiling and a floor is a gap about thirty cm high, the perfect space for mice to nest and roam. I’m used to having mice keeping me awake at night when they’re looking for food in the kitchen, trying to climb into the bin hoping to find some leftovers. Mice don’t bother me at all, they’re kinda cute and come with living in old houses in Amsterdam: you share…
It’s bad habit of people that draws them but if you take proper necessary precautions it shouldn’t be a problem nor become a problem. You don’t leave food on the counter because that’s just like setting the table for them to have an enjoyable meal at some restaurant. So you adjust and put food away in containers and make sure everything is clean. You can tell where they have been because they always use the same route to get to the source or go back to where their nest is. Along that route you’ll find stains where they had to climb and rub their bellies and near the source it’s most likely that you’ll find droppings.
I would catch them in mouse-friendly traps and put them outside in the grass the next morning. I don’t see the point in killing these cute furry creatures. It’s people that create a mice problem by feeding them and instead of taking responsibility and hide the food, they choose to kill them. I’ve seen the same with pigeons in Amsterdam and foxes in London. Pigeons in Amsterdam are gassed while on the other hand some idiot at Dam Square sells bread crumbs to the tourists so they can take pictures. Garbage is left in streets of London which attracts foxes, these creatures don’t know any better, it’s people that should!
London – United Kingdom There’s mice in this old Victorian house and I still keep all my food in containers and make sure everything is clean. They come out at night and at times while I watch TV one is trying to cross the room and I see it from the corner of my eye. It happened four times in an hour the other day. I turn it into a game: whenever I see the mouse move on the carpet, I wait for it to come closer and when it’s close enough I’d say: ksssh, ksssh and off it goes like Speedy Gonzales ‘Arriba Arriba!’: too funny… Friday last week, I was watching TV when I saw something move from the corner of my eye.
It was fast and the size of a mouse so I automatically said ‘ksssh, ksssh’ expecting the mouse to immediately move the opposite direction. So when it didn’t I was alarmed instantly and saw it move in the same direction still. I couldn’t quite see what it was but it was fast and big, just not as solid as a mouse would be so I had a quick look and I then realized to my absolute horror that it wasn’t a cute furry mouse but a huge spider. The ones that I really really really don’t like, the ones that I don’t want to run around on the carpet while I’m always walking around bare feet. The ones that are aggressive and nasty…
I don’t kill it although I’m very much tempted, instead I put a glass on top of it and wait until someone takes it out for me and dumps it far far away from the front door. These spiders always seem to come in pairs and people don’t believe me when I tell them. The biggest one, a female and a smaller one, the male. So ever since Friday I was expecting to find the male but it never showed and I almost started to feel relieved. Then yesterday, while I was sorting out the laundry in the bathroom, I saw something move near my bare feet, there it was, the male. He had me totally cornered and I didn’t dare to move.
Don’t ask me how but I managed to get away after a while without him noticing and I came back with a glass to trap him. That’s two times in four days… According to Indonesian beliefs spiders are supposed to bring luck but I’d rather have two furry mice in my home than one of these vicious creepy crawlers!
[Amsterdam, Apr. 2004] Underneath the birdcage: aren’t they cute? 
Will you walk into my parlour?’ said the Spider to the Fly,
‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve a many curious things to shew when you are there.’
Oh no, no,’ said the little Fly, ‘to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.’
‘I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?’ said the Spider to the Fly.
‘There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in!’
Oh no, no,’ said the little Fly, ‘for I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!’
Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, ‘ Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I ‘ve always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome — will you please to take a slice?’
‘Oh no, no,’ said the little Fly, ‘kind Sir, that cannot be,
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!’
‘Sweet creature!’ said the Spider, ‘you’re witty and you’re wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I’ve a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.’
‘I thank you, gentle sir,’ she said, ‘for what you ‘re pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.’
The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
‘Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple — there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!’
Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue —
Thinking only of her crested head — poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour — but she ne’er came out again!
And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.
~Mary Howitt, 1821
