On Saturday whilst working in my studio, my trusted dog Hector spotted a big tiger snake in the garden. It eventually crawled in under the timber step to my entrance. I believed it would have disappeared by Sunday morning, – it being a place of much noise and traffic. That said, the wooden step has always been a concern of mine, it being that sort of a place where snakes like to go.So when family and friends visited on Sunday I asked them to give me a hand to take the step apart. Much hammering and loud noises went on, mixed with laughter and every ones snakes stories, when by the removal of the second last board someone yelled out, – ” it is still there !!! “. Big jumps away from the place in question and total amazement stunned everyone. There in the corner, tucked away and all curled up was a tiger snake of very large proportions. Neighbours was called in for re-enforcement while waiting for the local snake catcher to come. Deep respect for a very skilled lady who picked up the unwanted guest only to discover that there were two !! Onlookers now had to give a helping hand as snake No. 2 also landed safely in the blue snake bag. Everyone gave a sigh of relieve and the day went on – until…… Hector gave that special bark again, which I now recognise as his ‘snake bark’ ! And would you believe it ! Tiger snake No. 3 had just made an appearance and this time I was on my own – only equipped with gumboots, my grandfather’s old shovel and mobile phone, the latter being used to call the snake catcher – again. This snake liked to play hide and seek – a game I wasn’t to keen on playing, but did ! And after much searching we found it and it too got safely tucked away in the blue snake bag. All 3 snakes now live somewhere far, far away from my garden – in the wild – where they belong. I think I will have to paint a snake painting or two ( or three ).
