In the past my husband has found her in a plastic gabage bin we keep the wild bird seed in. He just assumed the lid had trapped her inside. We both didn't think too much about it and just put a bag of horse poo (which we put into compost bin occasionally)on top to dissuade her.
Went out to pop some non-recyclables into a garbage bin outside last week, part of my list of things that has to be done before market opens in the morning, so was on automatic pilot. Thank god I had already had a strong coffee. Opened the bin and found Millie, flat as a tack. It was a hot and steamy morning so she was fairly cooking in there and I thought she was dead. Her eyes were open and glazed Got such a shock and put lid lid back on the bin and spun around in circles twice deciding what to do. My husband had left, before I woke, for a meeting in town, and I quite wrongly jumped to the conclusion that he had found her dead outside somewhere and put her in the bin. Phoned him up mid-meeting and gave him what for for such callous treatment of Millie. After initial bewilderment he explained that he hadn't put Millie in the bin and asked me if I was sure she was dead. Of course I was sure and hung up. Still feeling quite indignant and somewhat upset, I went outside to bury her. Picked her up and put her in an old towel and then felt some movement. Holy sh..t she was still alive. Almost dropped her in my haste to get her some water. Put her on the ground to find a bowl for the water but by the time I got back she was gone. I was convinced that was the last I would see of her. Husband arrived home at lunch-time still non-plussed when I explained that she wasn't dead, but had toddled off by herself to quite probably die and would he please stop laughing at me.
At about dusk that evening, Millie's distinct walk/waddle/thud was heard as she headed around the deck to the door near the kitchen where she usually waits for her bread. I'm sure she didn't understand what all the excitement was about. She ate her bread and toddled off. I put a brick on top of the bin, just in case.
Next afternoon, husband was outside on the deck potting some seedlings when he heard the bag of horsepoo rustling. He peeked in, thinking it was probably a mouse, and lo and behold, there was Millie greeting him with a sleepy look. She then promptly shut her eyes again and went back to sleep, not at all worried about being disturbed. Checked the bag next two mornings and yep, there was Millie asleep. Feeling quite sorry for her I insisted we go and buy her a possum house, despite the fact that we have a property full of hollow logs, trees and numerous potential hidey-holes for her to choose from. So it's sitting there in all it's glory, next to the horsepoo bag, waiting for her presence. Been a week now, but she still insists in sleeping in the bag. Husband laughs every time he walks past it. Might take a while to live this one down.
