It has been four consecutive days since I have seen an ant in the kitchen. It appears that my efforts have paid off. I am never more sadistic when I am around ants and cockroaches. After I decided that I couldn't stand them any more, I bought ant poison and scattered them around the kitchen and the living room. In order that they will not be able to resist it, I also specially prepared a bowl of sugar solution which I carefully dripped on the poison. As for the cockroaches, I shoved some poison under the cupboard where they resided, so that they would be faced with it every day until they succumb to temptation.

When I saw some dying ants later I felt a twinge of guilt, but I suppose not a very big twinge.