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Another week of my new website

Another week of getting to grips with my new website. I am definitely getting there, I am writing down less and less questions to ask my web guy and husband. I am finding lots of problems with delivery addresses though. I can change home addresses on the site but I have no access to the delivery address. I simply print the address onto a label and unless I notice something odd, it gets sent off in the post. I have had people putting their address in the wrong order, leaving out vital information and one person even put their email address in the 'first line of the address' box. My web guy had to sort that one out for me but I do feel I cannot keep bothering him. I'm sure he has a lot of other customers. It's amazing what the website statistics can show (not that I understand them all). My web guy says that 25% of my customers are placing orders via their smart phone. Isn't that amazing! He is going to set up a smart phone app to make ordering easier. I have no idea what it is or how it works but it sounds brilliant, so I'm happy to pay for it. I love the product reviews, thanks so much to the people who have taken the time to review a product. I have five waiting to be approved by me in my emails this morning. I promise not to do a Gloria (those of you who watch Coronation Street will know what I mean). I will not be filling in the review forms myself, they are all genuine.

All is well in the bug house, still massively overcrowded since buying in so much stock at the two bug exhibitions last month. I am now looking to clear some stock before Christmas. I will obviously need to spend time in the bug house over the festive period but I don't want to be out there for several hours every day! I have reduced the price of a lot of animals, especially stick insects and some of the spiders that I have had for a while. I will be getting very little in now until the new year. If there is something that you really want, I would suggest getting it ASAP, as things run out they will not be replaced. Sales have been good this week, long may it continue. Sad to see that Comets has gone under this week, money is still tight, even if we are told the recession is over. I may do some more extra special offers as I did in the summer. These offers were very cheap but only lasted 24 hours. They certainly grabbed people's attention. I 'think' I know how to set up dated special offers on the new site. I will have a proper look when I get the time. My paperwork pile has got completely out of hand lately due to spending so much time in the bug house. I will be up at the Discover Dogs exhibition at Earls Court tomorrow and Sunday morning I will be watching my great-nephew get his "cub of the year" award but I intend to knuckle down and get on with some paperwork on Sunday afternoon (no family roast dinner this week). I didn't get time to do the photos for my Christmas card as planned on Tuesday but I may have a go tomorrow evening. My nephew's three kids are keen to 'help' and they are having a sleep over here so they are expecting some sort of activity. I thought watching telly sounded good but they weren't impressed by that suggestion. Last year's Christmas card was fun but it took ages. Trying to get a young dog to sit still and be covered in bugs was difficult to say the least. I have several ideas for this year's card and I have bought some props but working with three enthusiastic kids, one manic dog and lots of creatures that come alive after dark could be tricky!

Nothing to do with bugs but I was delighted this week to discover that my bat box (a birthday present from hubby) has been in use (droppings on the ledge underneath). I was so excited but I don't know much about bats, is there still a bat in there? Will it hibernate in there? The box is fairly exposed won't it freeze? I certainly need to consult my friend Google but feel free to enlighten me. I love bats, I just seem to love the animals that most people have nightmares about. It isn't deliberate, I'm sure I was born loving bats, snakes, spiders and all. I blame my mum, she was pretty bonkers too!

I'm sure I had other things to say but they will have to wait until next week. I really need to go and clear up the bug house. There is no posting to do over the weekend so I want to tidy up a bit. I hate working in a mess, I wish my bug house were twice the size but I wouldn't be able to afford to heat it!


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