Dawn sentinel – a monkey in the tree outside the house
Last year this website was hacked. We have no idea who and why, but we do know that it was annoying and complicated by the fact that we had not gotten around to backing everything up.
Dealing with opportunistic marauders in the cyberworld is not unlike living in the bush with Jake and his troop. Jake is the leader of a vervet monkey band, that range around our house. Early in the morning, they move into the trees right next to the house, waiting for an opportunity to present itself.
We love to sit outside on the verandah with our wake-up coffee, drinking in the smells and sounds of the freshly minted day, keeping a eye on Jake and friends in case they think we are too sleepy to notice their surreptitious casing of the joint.
Last January, Jake spotted an opening. He slipped in through the partially open door and, upon seeing Pat, didn’t bolt, but boldly dashed to the kitchen counter and grabbed the remains of a fruit cake. Pat started yelling and took chase, and Jake scarpered, clutching the cake to his chest. His retreat was made somewhat erratic by the fact that he was now three-limbed and determined not to lose his prize. His precipitous ascent took him past a wasps nest which disturbed the residents, who decided to attack…..Pat!
All our doors have screens on them, we are getting to be great shots with water guns and we are now constantly running background strategy on how to deter Jake & co. We are viewing the hackers in a similar manner with added security and constant vigilance. Just a pity the hacker is out of water gun range.
