creepy crawlies

I went into our bedroom at midday, only to be surprised by a scrabbling noise somewhere near our corner shrine. Behold, a lizard! I'm used to the small, almost-translucent house-lizards, but the larger more colourful ones that spend their life clinging to walls live and direct in the bedroom is another matter. Like the mama surprised by Jerry, I jumped onto the bed and called for Margaret, our cleaner. The lizard sought protection from my screams by jumping into my cupboard and nestling amongst the shoes. Margaret came with dustpan and brush and dispatched (without injury or death). Quite how the thing got into our bedroom I know not.

After nearly three years, I'm still always shocked by the sheer size of cockroaches - although I'm no longer too scared to chase and smash one over the head with a brush. Fear of the scale of African insects and lizardry is something I don't think I'll ever get used.