We set off early this National Ant Day heading to the woods and carrying our essential supplies: a gold crown and a jam jar. It was cold and damp, barely light yet, but Wilson assured me that 'it's the early anteater that catches the ant' which is apparently a traditional Costa Rican proverb(!)
We looked under all the rotting tree trunks and other likely places, but without success. 'Of course, National Ant Day is always a lot warmer in Costa Rica,' he remarked. 'It's so cold in your country that the ants are probably still hibernating.'
It appears that Wilson's Mum, Mrs Vermilingua, was crowned Ant Queen three successive years when she was a child, a feat which no anteater in Costa Rica has ever equalled, before or since.
W was determined to be Ant King this year… all he had to do was find an ant. But sadly it was not to be. 'We'll have much better luck next year' he pronounced, confidently. What a brave little soldier!
We've just arrived home and I'm about to make some hot chocolate to warm us up. I might slip a little Ant Gin into it...
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