Waking up in a riad (a traditional Moroccan house) I found long lines of ants on the floor going into the toilet. When I told Janet, my French hostess, she replied with a smile and a shrug, “It’s OK. They live here. We all live together.”
There was a time when I would not hesitate to slam down on cockroaches, spiders and ants that invaded my space. But as I age I find myself not so quick on the hand. Janet’s words have stayed with me. I pick up spiders with a tissue paper and shake them out of the house. Other times I watch them scurry across the floor and disappear into their own hiding place. As long as they don’t bother me, I don’t bother with them.
To get rid of aphids on plant leaves, my Australian brother-in-law recommends a spray mixture of piss, garlic and water. Just the thought (smell) of this cocktail deters invasion of the most annoying kind.
