At the moment Switzerland is melting under average daily temperatures of 30°C. OK, I know, so is everywhere else in Europe and from what I hear even the States. We do what we can to keep temperatures pleasant inside. Mr. Swiss is an expert. Me being English originally, I amwas used to opening all the windows, not closing doors and making sure that a nice cool draught blows though the home. This is wrong says Mr. Swiss. Blinds down, windows and door closed; this way temperatures stay cooler in the home. Generally I am convinced what I say is right, but in this case credit given where credit due. Mr. Swiss is right. Through his Swiss system, inside we have pleasant temperatures. I would add for the benefit of my American viewers, we do not possess an AC. We checked on what this machine would cost, but found it very expensive and the electricity consumption would make the whole thing twice as expensive. Europe is not ready for this yet, so we do what we can without an AC.
Towards evening, when things cool down a little bit, all windows and blinds are opened causing a light cooling breeze to enter our apartment. Where is this leading to, you might think? Yesterday around nine in the evening Mr. Swiss opened all windows, including our bedroom window to ensure that temperatures during the night were pleasant.
This morning after breakfast, we did our usual cleaning through routine: making beds and cleaning floors. Afterwards blinds and curtains were closed: it was then that I saw it. It was dark, but not too dark to notice a large shape on the bedroom floor next to the window. I blamed the cats, thinking they had left something where they should not (although this generally does not happen). It was then that this dark shape moved, slowly, climbing up the side of the window. I took a closer look and then called Mr. Swiss.
“There is a toad in the bedroom!”
Mr. Swiss came to the bedroom and decided to give the toad a push. It moved. A decision was made to return the toad to the garden from where it originated. As usual in our household, Mr. Swiss had to wait for permission from me. My first reaction was to fetch my DSLR camera, for an exact close-up of the toad. It is not every day you have a toad in the bedroom. Admittedly it was not the first toad to enter, but usually I find them in the kitchen next to the open window, sweet little nobbly toads that have entered from the garden. This time it was a monster mega toad, probably holding the size record for all toads in our area.
After the photo session, Mr. Swiss was allowed to open the window and he even did a voluntary hop into freedom. Did he wave a webbed foot as he left? I do not think so, but it was the visit of the Summer.
Presenting Mr. Toad
Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss 