Where to start? What a busy time.

Where to start? What a busy time. My husband has been away all week, only returning yesterday so I have had 'everything' to do, work, home, running family around etc. Yesterday was eventful, my website went down in the morning, there was a major problem with the server. Thankfully I had already sorted out the orders and invoices for posting. I always send out the despatched notices from my site before taking the parcels to the post office (I like to check all the addresses match up, can you imagine sending bugs and spiders to the wrong address? I can, it's the stuff of my nightmares). Yesterday I didn't realise that the problem was only partly fixed, when I looked later, the orders had returned to processing mode so I had to start again.

Thankfully the guy who looks after my site is brilliant, I had only told him this the day before and then look what happens! Actually I had a long conversation with him about using my site to better advantage. The site is capable of so many things but sadly I'm not, most of you will know by now that I am hopeless with technology. If it isn't living and breathing I simply haven't got a clue. Simon as usual was super and very patient, he has made the 'special offers' section more eye catching. I hadn't realised that it was even there. I asked if it were possible to have a 'Guest Book' and he has set one up. It is on the information bar, left side, under care sheets (I haven't had a chance to look at it yet). The thing that I was most pleased about was I will now be able to accept payment by direct bank transfer (not set up yet as I need to enter my bank details and didn't want to muck anything up while hubby was away). This is certainly going to make things easier for those people who don't want to pay by PayPal or card. I pay most of my bills directly into bank accounts these days, once set up it is simple, free and instant (even for me). I cannot accept cheques anymore, people use it as a way to hold orders when they don't have the money, more than 50% of people didn't send any payment even after several reminders. Lastly, Simon has set up an email checker when people open an account with me. This has become really necessary as I cannot believe the number of people who enter their email address incorrectly. Once the email address has been entered I cannot change it and all emails sent from my website will bounce.

I had so many things that I wanted to write this week but I am running out of time and the blog is going to be ridiculously long if I keep going so I will carry on next week with all my news. I just have to mention the reason for my hurry is that I received a large amount of beautiful 'female' tarantulas yesterday and I have a second lot coming today. I mentioned recently that a breeder was giving up and selling his collection to me. Until they arrived I didn't really know what to expect but they are simply lovely. It is such a shame when people have to give up their collection. I am sometimes contacted when a relationship has broken down and the person has to move to a place where no spiders are allowed (often back home!). The spiders are mostly adults or near adults so they need larger containers, the bug house is looking fit to burst and I still have the second lot to house today. I haven't put any on the website yet because I am not sure how to price them, it will obviously take awhile. I would love people to come and see them but I have run out of time this week and the following two Saturday's I will be out at family occasions. Some of the spiders that I have are Ephebopus murinus, Aphonopelma sp. "Malinche", Brachypelma albopilosum, Ceratogyrus marshalii, Homoeomma sp blue, Brachypelma smithi, Brachypelma boehmei.

I don't think anyone would have lost any sleep over it but the giant seagulls that I enjoyed feeding while on the cruise were the Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis). Google is amazing, how did I ever live without it!