Can you spot him?This is Toad. Also known as Norman.
Norman lives under the wheelie bin. Luckily for him, he chose the recycling bin where nothing too heavy is ever thrown in, thereby reducing the risk of an amphibian* heart attack.
On the nights before bin collections, I carefully manoeuvre the wheelie over Norman. I would hate to squash him. Could you imagine the sound? As the bin has to go up on the road, Norman is left exposed but sensibly he hops under a nearby bush until his roof returns. My mother is all for picking him up (shudder) and putting him somewhere more toadish but I worry the dogs would get him. Or he'd be homesick.
I have one other slight worry. Say Norman were to somehow end up in the wheelie bin. Surely I could be fined for failing to comply with the correct toad recycling procedure. Maybe they are 'garden waste' or perhaps even 'general household'. I tell you it's a minefield.
* I had to look that up. I thought they were reptiles but toads and frogs reproduce in water which makes them amphibian. Maybe I should get Norm a little paddling pool. Perhaps a washing up bowl. Otherwise he's never going to see any hot toad action.
Update: I've just realised I've written about a toad. Under my wheelie bin. I mean, how small can one's life become? Stay tuned for tales of the spider in my bathroom...:-)
32 comments:
The Terrible Title Pun police are going to be visiting your blog any minute, Ms Lane.
Queenie -Hmmm - may well look into a job as headline writer for The Sun:-)
' ello, 'ello. What's going on here then? ;-)
Don't start me off on the subject of recycling bins. Yesterday on the doorstep was left by the local council a dark green "Waste Food Only" bin inside was a smaller grey bin for "Kitchen" waste. Sweet Jesus, what a "waste" of money!
The Green bin has been used to store my paint brushes in. The little grey bin would a make a great home for Norman It's very retro.
In order to get any hot toad action Norman needs to change his name--I'm thinking old bachelor who's content to hide out under his bin except on collection days. How lucky for Norm that he's taken up with the kind Lane--toadally.
Every so often we have little toads in the garden. I've had to pick them up and it's only the thought that Grumps might eat them that gives me the courage to do so.
lol and yay for Norman! - or it could be NormA? After all, how do you sex a toad? They love dark, damp places... bless and it's toad-ally chameleon-d itself, hasn't it?
You have a toad under your wheelie bin while I have a frog under my duvet. We all have crosses to bear.
P.S. Love the new header to your blog.
He may like a little water feature, why don't you arrange something like that nearby? You could change the water regularly, just like the dog's.
Toads are garden waste, most def. Please tell him he's under the wrong bin and to hoppit. :) xo
Ah, poor Norm! I'm all for installing a water feature. Don't you have spare bucket somewhere? I could lend you mine, we're not using it for cleaning anyhow. ;)
What a great toad! Nothing wrong with writing about toads and wheelie bins, Lane - says the person who actually did blog about a spider!
:-))X
I know it's a toad and not a frog but have you considered kissing him?
Who knows what he might turn into?
I don't wish to upset anyone but all the Normans I've known have been total looneys starting with Norman Wisdom. Is this why Norman is so called? We need to be told.
Small but fascinating. just the way we like 'em..
A toad and a wheelie bin are not ordinary or extra-ordinary per se.It's the observers
mind (and her ability to turn it into a story) that transcends the mundane.
Yes, but you make writing about a toad under a wheelie bin funny and entertaining. Get on with the book!
Look at his leaf plate with a worm ready for his tea. Bless.
I wouldn't try moving him. He looks like he knows his rights.
Aren't you one toad short of the requisite number for "any hot toad action"?
He looks most happy bless him.
I'm sure Norman is very hoppy living there - which is strange because it's not a leap year.
Love the camouflage thing he's - or she's - got going on. And a toad under the bin is a huge improvement on the slugs we've got crawling all over the walls now that the rains have come in earnest down here.
Don't worry that Norm isn't seeing any hot action. He'll be sneaking off every now and then for a quick one-nighter.
You do know it brings good luck when a toad chooses your place to live!
xxPat
but i love toad under the wheelie bin stories! or any stories about the natural world co-existing with the urban world. i love that.
Tom Foolery - Glad to see you're making good use of your green bin.
Bins do seem to be multiplying don't they
Faye - I agreed. If Norm wants to up his image he definitely needs a cooler name. What about Jethro Gibbs? (although poor Gibbs has had a lot of heart ache too:-)
Debs - you're very brave to pick one up. I really couldn't. Although I suppose if Peg was after it...
Debs R - could well be NormA. In which case I shall respect her right to be alone - or change her mind:-)
Dumdad - and aren't you glad it's that way round! :-) (and thanks re. the header)
Nora - I make sure it's always damp there but make put out a container too. Good idea.
DJ - I think you're right but maybe he chose the recycling bin because he liked the pretty blue colour:-)
Babaloo - thanks for the offer. I think I have one - no several - buckets that I'm not using for cleaning either:-)
Amanda - I like spider stories. They usually make me feel I'm not alone in my 'scardycatness' of them:-)
Felix - eurgh. The thought. Mind you it depends on who he would turn into...:-)
DOT - now you mention it, that's true. Norman Bates? And that Norman Fat Boy from down your way, changed his name from Quentin to Norman because he thought it cool/kitsch. Yes, very odd.
SueG - thanks Sue. That's nice.
Felix - and thank you too. That's very reassuring:-)
Chris S - thanks. And I will. I am:-)
Fia - I love his leaf plate too. Since this photo was taken he's acquired a few more plates. Platters even. I think he's well set up:-)
Troy - this may be a problem. Maybe he hops off to the local toady club for his 'action':-)
Helen - he does doesn't he:-)
Jean - I'm not the only one who loves a corny pun then:-)
Liane - yuk - toads over slugs anytime. Those trails ...
PatP - Maybe he hops off to a leaf dancing club?
and yay, good luck. Well I'm very glad he's set up camp then:-)
Laurie - I'm glad to hear that. And I likewise, have loved the stories of bears, birds, turkeys and any other creatures you care to tell us about.
I love snippets about the weird things in our daily lives - now, I'm not saying Norman is weird. It's lovely that you look after him so carefully. I do hope you carry on blogging again, Lane - You write so well.
x
Poppy has asked me to tell you that she once licked a toad and her mum nearly had to take her to the vet because of the strange behaviour that was then displayed. Pop says please don't let the dogs lick Norman - they might paw at their mouths a lot and keep licking and trying to gag.
Norman is gorgeous.
I emptied a tin of baked beans yesterday; they made a squelchy, vaccumous sound which is what I imagine Norman might sound like if you squashed him. Sorry.
Oh I love any kind of amphibian. No problem picking them up either. We have the most beautiful newts in our garden - there is a pond nearby. Just lovely. Glad you are so protective of Norm - don't change his name, it's divine!
Just catching up Lane and have had quite a laugh not only with the post but with the comments. There is certainly no way I could compete with everyone so I shall just hop off back to my own blog to read some more....
Hello, pardon the intrusion, but the echoes of this toad celebration here rippled out into the cybersphere and lured me here hopping along as fast as my toady little legs could carry me... and I read with great apprehension about imagining the sound of a toad being run over by the bin, and of proper toad re-cycling procedures, oh dear oh dear, my heart was thumping...
I can only invite you to come take a look at my portrait, and then you will understand all... it is here :
http://magiclanternshowen.blogspot.com/2010/03/batrachian-rhapsody.html
Very best regards,
Mr Toad
I'm sure there's a children's book lurking in there somewhere :o)
We don't have a wheelie bin for harbouring wildlife, but have frogs aplenty in our horrible excuse of a pond. (That's our reason for not getting rid of it!)
OMG. You said "hot toad action". I may never sleep again.
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