Referral to social services!

[OddsocksParticipant]

Nana wrote:

Unfortunately, if rats can get in, they will keep on getting in, as they follow the scent trails previous visitors have left, and until the route is blocked, the problem will continue. Sometimes just closing a hole is not enough, as the newcomers will gnaw at it until they get through – we had that when the terrace we lived in was invaded – it took a long time to clear and several court orders to gain entry to the houses where people swore they did not have rats. They do such a lot of damage.

Thanks for the info and your concern! What a dreadful situation! They have such potential for causing serious damage to me and my flat- its good for my motivation to hear your example of that! I have been busy doing the things the first pest control man said, like stuffing holes with wire wool along with filler, which are meant to be difficult for them to chew through, although I am very aware that this is a victorian house which may have other gaps. On the alert for any new signs, and would act on them.

[OddsocksParticipant]

chaosqueen wrote:

Yeah! Your efforts have been recognized! How much work would it take form you so they can get to the walls? Keep your eyes peeled for signs of rats. Personally I have had no experience with them but of what others wrote it can take a bit to be rid of them for good. Fingers crossed that you can don#t see them anymore!

Its so kind of you and others to be so concerned for me and my rat problem!! I wont go on about it again! Yes, good motivation to clear the floor near the walls! I’m fortunate that I could afford to pay another pest control person if rats appear before I have done that.

[OddsocksParticipant]

bluesyjay wrote:

dear Oddsocks

sending you all of my empathy with the stress of all these people coming in and checking and “judging” your house

it seems like a lot of us are not thinking straight these days

I am at a low point so have a hard time participating but will try for all my 2 cents are worth

Very kind to send this long and thoughtful reply when you are at a low point. Thank you!

It makes such a difference knowing understanding people are sending me good wishes! And wisdom ie picking up on the importance of not removing any poison.

Geronimino was a very lucky mouse! They can look really sweet- I know exactly how you mean (and also how horrid their damage can be, particularly when it is things you value so much).

Yes, empathy and understanding arent necessarily part of a pest controllers person spec! And things can happen in life as prompts, in this case added need to declutter. And how it can be useful to see things in a lighter way. I do- replies have feel a bit apologetic about the grumbling!

No more posting about rats!

[kaizenParticipant]

To quote a wise and compassionate person:

Oddsocks wrote:

You can never be taking up too much space here!! Obviously, there isnt a limit and also its voluntary for other people what they read! People do read them, but they dont have to!

And of course we talk about ourselves [and our rats or mice or mould or …], not the weather [except when one has roof or drain issues and it’s pouring!]!

Brackets inserted by moi.

This is exactly the place to grumble & post about our rats, Oddsocks!

Grumble on! :lol:

[chaosqueenParticipant]

Oh. Lets talk about them as long as they are here! :lol: Lets just get rid of them for good.

[OddsocksParticipant]

chaosqueen wrote:

Oh. Lets talk about them as long as they are here! :lol: Lets just get rid of them for good.

Keeping everything crossed and touching wood, no sign for several weeks.

Mind you, yesterday a mouse scuttled across my living room floor! But they arent quite so risky, and I have what works well as a mouse trap (sorry, one that kills them). They look rather sweet and they are small!

So not as alarming as rats. I wont need to post about them!

[chaosqueenParticipant]

Go squish ’em. You’d leave them alone if they stayed outside. Right? They had their chance

[OddsocksParticipant]

chaosqueen wrote:

Go squish ’em. You’d leave them alone if they stayed outside. Right? They had their chance

– liked that!

[OddsocksParticipant]

This link is interesting in itself, but also as it describes the scheme that I may be lucky enough to take part in. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-41949044” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-41949044 Could be handy to mention in other places, eg to another Council could consider it!

Its also great that you dont need to be a council tenant, which would be a logical thing as its funded by the Council. They have had the 50% cuts from Government funding, after they had already had cuts.

Having said that, there isnt actually funding received yet from the Council to Mind, who run it.

I dont think I will learn much in the group- I know it all already! And giving/receiving support from this site! Although of course I can do/get that in an actual group. And it allows more conversation.

[OddsocksParticipant]

As part of a story about hoarding, there is:

‘Several organisations in Scotland have been piloting new approaches to helping hoarders, including the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Perth and Kinross Council.’ So its not just Croydon Council!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-43856444?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c7z3nepe8qkt/hoarding&link_location=live-reporting-story” class=”bbcode_url”>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-43856444?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c7z3nepe8qkt/hoarding&link_location=live-reporting-story

This was about a conference which was organised by Life-Pod https://life-pod.co.uk/” class=”bbcode_url”>https://life-pod.co.uk/ Not heard of them before. They do ‘hands on’ work with hoarders at home. (Plus other things).

There’s some info about what happened at the conference on another site, which is interesting http://www.apdo.co.uk/hoarding-conference-edinburgh-oct2018/” class=”bbcode_url”>http://www.apdo.co.uk/hoarding-conference-edinburgh-oct2018/

Randy Frost (key figure in helping hoarders) had a key messages that should put the voice of the hoarder first!

(Technical advice please- is it possible to include a url without it all being visible? Handy for ones this long!)

[kaizenParticipant]

Hi Oddsocks,

As a general rule of thumb, you can usually erase everything in a link back to & including the “?”

But, not quite all the time.

The last part of the first “link” as you quoted it gives information on how you got to the site.

Because part of that answer is “not quite all the time” (& I’m not sure I could list all the exceptions; an example of an exception is a link to a youtube video), you can check the link by pasting it somewhere, erasing the last part, then clicking on it to check that you still go to the chosen url.

So your first link would become:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-43856444

Glad to hear when more support of hoarders is being thought about & planned!

[kaizenParticipant]

And I’m not sure why this site “shortened” the middle of that link when I posted my response, but it probably works to click on it, just maybe not to do a direct cut & paste. Messy!

To get it shorter still, you can go to https://bitly.com/

which shortened it for me to https://bbc.in/2I3Sq6G

[OddsocksParticipant]

kaizen wrote:

Hi Oddsocks,

Thank you so much for the advice in both posts! Things I didnt know at all! Having shorter tidier links is good- it can put me off posting a really long url from the perspective of people trying to read the text.

(PS that’s the first time I have tried smilies….!)

[chaosqueenParticipant]

Smileys rock! Well done!

[Author]

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