RIP Reggie

Okay ... there is nothing spiritual in this post ... if you want something edifying try the post below!

I really hate bugs ... and in particular in Korea ... I hate these centipedes. They like houses ... In my first week here, I was washing dishes and saw something out of the corner of my eye on my shoulder. It was one of these. They run fast and it shot off. My lovely neighbor Isobel came to get it for me but it was in hiding. A week later I was in the shower (pre lasik days) and I stepped back and felt something under my foot. "What"s that?" I thought. Lifted my foot up and watched as something long wriggly and dark headed for the plug hole.

So here is the sad sordid story of an epic battle and murder most foul that occurred in this very apartment last night.

Two weeks ago a big one of these charged at me from the sink and took off … My neighbor Buffie came to get it and it had gone. Last week while playing my guitar I saw it shoot along past my bathroom door and around behind my tibetan chest. Not good for my sanity … I named him Houdini. His disappearing act has been outstanding.

Onto the story ...

Poor Reggie is DEAD. I would like to think that it was Houdini, but Reggie looked a little larger (although by the time I was finished, he didn't look large at all …) … I came in last night and he was sitting around in my sink. After a shriek and a little arm flapping, I ran for my flyspray, only to realise that I no longer have any! So what to do … I knew at any minute Reggie was going to make a run for it … so I splashed him down into the plug area … and he ran people … he RAN … he just shook off the water and ran … so I splashed him again … another deluge … and then a third one …

Reggie was fighting for his life … it was not pretty … but I knew … this would be a duel to the death … I turned on the tap and let a deluge of hot water fill the plug hole … but still he fought … spinning around and around trying to run up the sides ... at this point I am seriously freaking … thinking this is it. It’s like the movie Halloween. He just won't die. It was time to get out the big guns …

I left the hot water from the tap pouring into the sink … I got a pot and filled it … I put it on the stove to boil … and then when it was bubbling, gurgling and steaming I poured it (while the tap was still running) into the plug hole … Poor Reggie … but by then I was convinced he would come back from the dead and be downright vicious … so … I boiled another pot … and when I was done with that, I left the plug jammed in … just in case he arose from the dead … My cleaner will be dealing with the body today! Take a moments silence and remember him. He fought bravely.