On Friday night just as I was dropping off to sleep I heard such a banging and crashing coming from the kitchen. Knew the cats, even if they'd jumped on the worktops or something, wouldn't make quite so much noise and didn't think any self respecting burglar would either! My husband is deaf without his hearing aids so it was obviously up to me so I went downstairs and realised something was trying to get in through the cat flap - we have one with a panel which slots into place on the inside to prevent the cats going out at night - and I feared whatever it was might break through that as it is only plastic. I went into the conservatory from where I could see the backdoor and turned a light on and lo and behold it was a badger doing his/her utmost to get in! Eventually it lumbered off when I shone the light on it and on Saturday morning we found the outside part of the cat flap was demolished!! Dear little souls eh?!! Cats meanwhile were sitting blinking in thier chosen sleeping places and wondering what was going on.
So yesterday we had to purchase and fit a new cat flap and last night I barricaded the outside of the back door with the little folding table we have outside for taking our cups of tea and coffee - don't want him/her creating a habit of visiting do we? Fingers crossed Mr or Mrs Brock will find some other entertainment in future.
Pictures from Google
What did those of you who watched the Channel 4 programme about the 50's house think of it? I don't know where they got their information from but although many of those things might have been available I doubt if many people had kitchens like that. I know my childhood at Grandfather's was not typical but I did visit friends whose homes were fairly normal and I don't remember their mothers having such modern kitchens at all. Did you notice that the adverts were all American too?!
Oh, I forgot about that programme - I'll watch it later on OD.
ReplyDeleteI'd be very concerned about a badger being able to get into my house too! Good luck in keeping it out.
Yes it was from one extreme to another wasn't it...but the worktops with the metal trim brought back memories of my Grandma's kitchen (as did the twin tub) I still have her pale blue late 50s/early 60s Kenwood mixer that I use regularly!
ReplyDeleteHer surname was 'badger based' so your post did make me smile!
SNAP- we must have been adding comments at exactly the same time!
ReplyDeleteThat was a facinating story about the badger! I have to say though Jane I do love them!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the programme but if that photo is anything to go by, I would be very happy with a '50's kitchen now!! :)
Vivienne x
Lots of incredulous coments here, too. Husband's family were much more affluent then mine but they didn't have a fitted kitchen until 1960 when they moved to a new house - ours, in a variety of houses during the 50's as we moved frequently, mainly consisted of gas cooker, kitchen cabinet (never called a larder which was a cold cupboard) and large scrubbed table. We had our first fridge (gas powered) in 1963 and our bread was always delivered freshly made from a local baker. We had an enormous mangle and single tub washing machine - my mother did progress to twin tub in 1975 but never had an automatic machine. However, sheets, towels, work clothes and shirts all went to the laundry weekly. I didn't really recognise the 50's of the programme.
ReplyDeleteGlad the badger didn't get in - we had a squirrel in once and it caused havoc!
It WAS a very sparkly kitchen wasn't it, and not indicative what people had, more a "dream" kitchen. However, I did really like the explanation of Teflon and the proving of how it works.
ReplyDeleteI cannot begin to imagine the noise a badger can make trying to get in through a catflap Jane, a cat makes enough noise!
what a shock to have a badger come a callin'
ReplyDelete50's kitchen equalled pot sink with clip on metal drainer with stretchy cord with curtains over orange box shelves beneath. Gas boiler and wringer for laundry, coke boiler for hot water, kitchen cabinet with drop down front for work top plus a table, a couple of chairs and a high chair - oh and a gas cooker. That was in a brand new early 50's house! My Dad eventually built a cupboard with sliding doors from hardboard covered with sticky back plastic thanks to Barry Bucknell's DIY TV programme and magazines. I think we then had a fridge and some wall units so the cabinet had to go! Mum didn't have a fitted kitchen until I'd left home in the 70's. She used to take the washing to a local laundrette in the later 60's until we got a top loader washing machine - mum always thought automatics were a waste of hot water, and she was always adding items to her wash if they need less time! I'll stop there ... thanks goodness for a 2012 kitchen I say.
ReplyDeleteHope the badger hasn't got into yours - they are lovely - in the right place.
I love badgers but I'd be terrified if one was besieging my house! Fancy it wanting to get in in the first place.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have badgers here but I imagine the raccoons who traipse through the gardens in the wee hours of the morning would do just the same and quite as much damage!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't like a panicked badger indoors, they're not exactly light-weight.In the 1950s I was living in an 18' caravan so the kitchen was about 4' x 2', no mod cons at all. How life has changed.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever forget to put out the badger buffet they will probably break the door down - I don't have a cat flap, but they have made their own badger flap through the fence.
ReplyDeleteOh goodness, imagine if you'd got up in the morning and found a badger in the kitchen!
ReplyDeleteBlimey Mr Badger!
ReplyDeleteI didn't catch the 1950's programme....now you've got me intrigued. These things seldom are completely accurate - more like through rose tinted glasses I'm thinking.
Nina xxx
Oh! My
ReplyDeleteI know it is serious but it was funny to read about. Badger indeed.
I wonder if that badger was desperately hungry Jane and smelled the cat's food or something? It is certainly odd behaviour and how lucky you scared it off! After your post I made a special point of watching the programme and found parts of it really interesting. Like Cathy, the teflon info was enjoyed here too. I don't remember a kitchen like that but then I didn't live in a 1950'S house as big as that so that's perhaps why!
ReplyDeleteThat must have been pretty scary Jane. Badgers are powerful animals!
ReplyDeleteWe always lock the cat flap at dusk (we have one with locks which you slide across, much stronger) but one night a neighbouring cat tried to break in! So now we put our large kitchen bin in front of the cat-flap so Bobbi cannot see out and nothing can see in. It's been all quiet since ...
Jeanne
x
I can't believe the audacity of that badger. Can you imagine if it had got in but then couldn't get back out again?
ReplyDeleteI rarely watch TV these days but I do wish I'd seen your programme!
Hope you are fully restored now x
Wow a badger! glad he didn't get inside. They remind me of our wombats. They are like little bulldozers and go over or under all obstacles. I'd love to see a badger.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Naughty badger! I think I would have preferred that to a fox though. The foxes around here are a blimmin' nuisance!x
ReplyDeleteHi, Jane! For me it`s just impossible to imagine! A badger in a cat flap! Hope he/she will never back. They all are nice, but outside :o)
ReplyDeleteDidn`t saw your programm, but in Moscow in 70-80 I never saw a kitchen like on the picture. I mean that all the furniture was stand alone, but it was in Russia :o) don`t know what about the other countries.
P.S. The purple flowers in my last post are Bellflowers (full botanical name Campanula Patula)
Some information at Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Campanula_patula :o)
Have a very nice day
love
Natasha
Scary badger, trying to break in to you house....the poor cats would have had a shock if he'd suddenly burst into their quiet kitchen!
ReplyDeleteI missed the 50's house but might catch it later, hope so, i love programmes like that!
Have a good weekend.
Helen x
We have to barricade our back door each night but not for a badger, this is to stop the unnuetered local tom from leaving his very smelly droplet on the door sill.
ReplyDeleteWe have 4 female cats and although they are all nuetered he obviously thinks he might have a bit of fun with them. lol
Briony
x
Oh my goodness a Badger!
ReplyDeleteHi Jane, funny little creatures, but probably a little on the wild side!
ReplyDeleteWe will be in your part of the uk very soon, we are arriving on the 22nd june, travelling all over! Anyway email me if you would like to catch up, :) Renata