The Mighty Perseids, a snake, bats and a cockroach

Fourteen Years ago I was lucky enough to view the Perseid meteor shower from an amazing location, and one that is very dear to me. It was from my Aunt Stella’s backyard in a village called Kokkinotrimithia (The red village) in South Cyprus. Right now I am lucky enough to be here again in the very spot where I showed my family the spectacular display of celestial fireworks all those years ago. Only thing is, this year I’ve been hampered by several mishaps.

Last night was a stunning clear night, so I managed to coach eveyone  to go outside to see the stars fall from the sky at 12.30 am. So we sat there on our chairs for 40 odd minutes, with me telling my son, aunt and cousin, whilst trying to keep Aries the dog quiet from barking and waking the neighbours that we should be seeing one a minute. Seeing 3 made me wonder if I had got the dates right, of course I knew I had but something must have been stopping these meteors from raining down on us.

So tonight on the first attempt to go outside after two minutes of standing and gazing up, son by the hand to keep him from freaking out, we hear a tzzzzzz. Then a branch wobbling. Alex seeing a snake the day before being shown one by my aunt recognised the sound. Me being one for not being fond of things that go tzzzzz in the night decided to make a run for it. On the second attempt I decided to put my son to bed and as we are heading for Limassol beach in the morning and on occupying the bathroom whilst giving him a shower realised what Alex was screaming at. A cockroach had come in through the window and decided to make a run for us. We decided there was no escape from trying to runaway from the cockroach and I was left with no altenative but to flatten the pesky critter. Thinking after several whacks with the bottom of my shoe it was a gonner, a few more screams from Alex to say there was another cockroach running around made me realise the blinking thing wasn’t dead, even though it was severly splatted and had to go through the process of giving it a severe whacking all over again, at which point I woke my cousin who was not impressed and I looked a total wimp for not being abale to get rid of a dead cockroach. Eurgh!

Attempt 3 will see if I am lucky, but there is a piece of cake and a coffee calling me from the kitchen and astronomers need to keep there energy up so I’m off to eat a piece of custard pie before I start the scenario all over again. Oh, and the bats? They tried to stop us before around dusk rom getting back to the house after a shopping trip in the village, one just missing my head, although they were rather cute though! Pesky critters 4 astronomers 0.