the invasion

I wish I had a photo to show...
We've been invaded!

It seems they lay dormant for a month, or just let us settle in before making their move. Which they did with precision and determination: Bermudian ants.
They can be seen everywhere on the island: thin lines on walls and paths that are alive. Lines of ants walking to and fro, long lines that seem to originate in infinity and also end there. Where do all these ants come from?
There are less than 70,000 people on the island, but there must be billions of ants.

I had seen them, and admired their order. I remember sitting in a car showroom, while a sales assistance gave me this very amusing quote (small cars, BIG prices). There was a line of ants running down the side of the wall, following a corner in the wall, running along the skirting, disappearing behind the office plant, reappearing further on, and moving who-knows-where. And I thought, I'm glad they are not in MY house. So much for new-comer's ignorance.

And they cannot be beaten. We sprayed the lines and points of entry, but it seems that for every ant that dies, there are 100 waiting to come and explore our house.

We were of course forewarned: don't leave food around, they will find it etc. Funny thing is, there are NO ants anywhere near the food. They are in my study, behind cardboard boxes. Or on the living room floor, taking an interest in the computer keyboard -- yes I had to brush one persistent critter off just before typing this.

So when you think about the Burton-Schnülls in Bermuda, don't envy us for having a pink sand beach. Rejoice in the fact that British ants are nowhere near as persistent, organised, and numerous than their Bermudian counterpart.