Geckos

As I was sitting typing the last blog, something landed with a thwack on the floor beside me. It was a little gecko that had somehow fallen from the ceiling. I wondered if it was injured, but as soon as somebody came close it sped away to seek cover. There’s not many places I know of in England where such a thing would happen, but I really do think some pubs or restaurants should adopt the idea of having a few little geckos scuttling up the walls and ceilings. Admittedly one falling into your apple crumble might not be desirable, but this would be a rare event since the little reptiles are quite adept at pattering around upside down in search of small insects. I think it would add something to the dining experience to have these innocuous little darlings as part of the furniture. They have no running expense, are clean and would keep the place free of flies and biting insects. Perhaps our chilly climate might be an inhibiting factor, but inside would surely be warm enough? It won’t happen of course, the punters in our nature bereft isle would freak out at having some wildlife in such close proximity, running around shrieking and whacking them with anything they could lay their hands on. Wildlife! Good lord, the very thought! 

Contrarywise, everywhere we’ve been so far has been pleasantly decorated with these lovely little bug-eyed lizards that scurry around and add life and movement to the scene. We’ve spent many a happy spell counting how many adorn a particular wall space, and it’s interesting to watch them hunt tiny flies and whatnot. As with all such creatures, movement will attract them. If a prey item keeps still it is pretty safe, but as soon as it moves the gecko will move jerkily toward it. A game of cat and mouse ensues as the intended meal, sensing it is in danger, freezes for a while. The gecko likewise stops and waits. Sooner or later the bug has to continue its journey and then its fate is sealed. Fascinating. 

More than one bar we’ve reluctantly frequented has geckos as its theme, either in its name – Gecko Lounge/Bar – or having replicas affixed to the wall, much in the manner of the Guinness Toucans of yesteryear. I guess it goes to show that if you live in areas where wildlife is abundant and part of the fixtures, you accept it, adopt it and celebrate it. If, on the other hand, you live in a wildlife depressed zone, such as our beloved Britain, nature is something alien, something dangerous and something to be excluded. Time to change that and open a gecko bar I think, complete with a compliment of multi hued little lizards with innocent faces scuttling across the ceiling to enliven even the dullest day, especially if it causes elderly ladies to run around with skirts hitched screaming blue murder.