Seems that I have wrongfully accused the mongoose of digging up the bank. Now it appears that it is a couple of common house rats. They were digging in some dirt that they had already dislodged from the bank just beside the patio. I could go right up close to them and they weren't even bothered. Even when I put the cat right beside them, they just carried on as they were. The darn cat didn't do anything either, even though the night before she killed one and brought it into the house to play with. We got an old bucket and covered them and put baking soda on top of them and the soil. By this morning the bucket was upset, the rats and the holes they dug were gone. Just a pile of dirt. Who knows where they went. We put some bread and a banana salted with baking soda with them as well. That was also gone. Hopefully, they ate the baking soda and are now dead.
 |
| They look something like this. Quite small. Just a little bigger than mice. |
 |
| They burrow and make a real mess. |
On a happier note, it seems to be glow worm season.
 |
| Shine little glow-worm, glimmer, glimmer |
 |
| Not so attractive in the light |
I have also discovered some wonderful tomatoes that are called Goraka Takali. Goraka is a sour spice similar to tamarind used in making curries.
 |
| This is goraka when it is first picked from the tree. |
 |
| It is then dried and becomes this black sticky substance. |
Takali is the Sinhalese word for tomato.
 |
| Here are the tomatoes. You can see why they call them goraka takali. The ones that look like roma tomatoes are the regular ones that are not very good. The tiny ones are cherry tomatoes that we grew ourselves from seed. We are going to try growing the goraka takali as well. |
