Saw a squirrel or other small creature, went off to investigate?Maybe they saw something they wanted a closer look at?
No rodent activity? Perhaps an animal wants the bark for a nice cozy nest.The night before last I went to bed early. It was ferociously windy here (but nothing out of the normal, we're on top of a very big hill so it's often a bit breezy). The dog has been a bit unwell, so instead of coming upstairs with me, she cuddled under her blanket on the sofa. Both these things account for why I had half an ear open and wasn't sleeping well.
About 11.30, when I'd been asleep for about an hour, I was woken by a weird kind of scraping bump. It sounded a bit like the dog digging in her bed, but odd. I didn't really think too much about it, until I went downstairs at 2am for a wee, when I found some birch bark (which lives on the beam in my living room, that runs across the ceiling) had fallen down and one piece was on the floor underneath, with another piece a couple of yards away.
I couldn't fathom out how it had come down. It's securely balanced across the beam, which is about six inches wide, it's never come down before, and there were no draughts blowing. Another piece is still up there. I can only imagine that a rogue gust of wind somehow swirled around the living room (disturbing absolutely nothing else) and blew these bits of bark down.
There've been one or two odd things happening here lately, nothing big, just mislocated items mostly, so I'm wondering if there's something up.
I've got a terrier. There are, I can unequivocally state, no rodents on the premises.No rodent activity? Perhaps an animal wants the bark for a nice cozy nest.
I've got a terrier. There are, I can unequivocally state, no rodents on the premises.
I'm really not in favour of the rodent theory, simply because the dog would...ahem...'bark' the place down if she saw a rat or mouse within a hundred yards of her (trust me, I've seen her with squirrels). And to get to the bark and knock it off, they would have had to run past a Hungarian tea set (don't ask, just...don't) on the beam too.Eventually, maybe, but I reckon you have/have had one. Hence the bark.
maximus otter
Could woodlice have done it?I'm really not in favour of the rodent theory, simply because the dog would...ahem...'bark' the place down if she saw a rat or mouse within a hundred yards of her (trust me, I've seen her with squirrels). And to get to the bark and knock it off, they would have had to run past a Hungarian tea set (don't ask, just...don't) on the beam too.
Oddly enough, no woodlice in the house either! The bark has been up there for over a year without moving a ...well, muscle. If it was woodlice, then they were very patient.Could woodlice have done it?
I reckon your dog did it. Her bark is worse than her bite.Oddly enough, no woodlice in the house either! The bark has been up there for over a year without moving a ...well, muscle. If it was woodlice, then they were very patient.
Any, er, 'banging' upstairs stairs?Oddly enough, no woodlice in the house either! The bark has been up there for over a year without moving a ...well, muscle. If it was woodlice, then they were very patient.
I think this is probably the most likely explanation. There was no banging (of any kind!) above, I was in bed asleep. But it was windy and I'd had the heating on for an hour or so during the day, so perhaps the air had just dried out sufficiently to unsettle the bark (which, being birch bark is quite light and flimsy, although not so light as to fall easily, as I said, it's been up there a while).Could the bark have twisted and fallen because of changes in humidity and temperature over the past few days?
woodlice? Do you mean those tiny grey things? Pushing wood aroundCould woodlice have done it?
Well, I'm not an expert on woodlouse, but I would think it's possible that they could dislodge small bits of bark.woodlice? Do you mean those tiny grey things? Pushing wood around
It wasn't those cupboard tenants causing chaos trying to break out was it?I think this is probably the most likely explanation. There was no banging (of any kind!) above, I was in bed asleep. But it was windy and I'd had the heating on for an hour or so during the day, so perhaps the air had just dried out sufficiently to unsettle the bark (which, being birch bark is quite light and flimsy, although not so light as to fall easily, as I said, it's been up there a while).
I don't think it's supernatural, just one of those odd things (like the time the board fell out of the ceiling - similar thing).
If it was, Words Will Be Had...It wasn't those cupboard tenants causing chaos trying to break out was it?
Was in your neck of the woods last week for a night away. Before we went I was idly walking Streetview on Talbot Road in Whitchurch and came across a pair of semis named Talbot Villas (no. 43/45?). Strange upper storey decoration on the front elevation which seems incongruous, unless it's what is leftover from modernisation. Any clues Floyd?Well, I'm not an expert on woodlouse, but I would think it's possible that they could dislodge small bits of bark.
I've noticed those myself Pete.Was in your neck of the woods last week for a night away. Before we went I was idly walking Streetview on Talbot Road in Whitchurch and came across a pair of semis named Talbot Villas (no. 43/45?). Strange upper storey decoration on the front elevation which seems incongruous, unless it's what is leftover from modernisation. Any clues Floyd?
Bit further down from you at Hawkstone hotel and spa.I've noticed those myself Pete.
Yes, not really what I'd class as 'villas'.
I shall endeavour to find out.
Where did you stay?
No. 43 sold for £232,000 in 2021.Was in your neck of the woods last week for a night away. Before we went I was idly walking Streetview on Talbot Road in Whitchurch and came across a pair of semis named Talbot Villas (no. 43/45?). Strange upper storey decoration on the front elevation which seems incongruous, unless it's what is leftover from modernisation. Any clues Floyd?
Is the Hungarian tea set fragile? . . . you might want to move it . . .I don't think it's supernatural, just one of those odd things (like the time the board fell out of the ceiling - similar thing).