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Rush, rush, rush.......

Rush, rush, rush - I have been out and about so much this week that I don't know where to start with all the jobs that have piled up! I began replying to emails at 6.30 this morning but there are many more to go. Lot of the emails need me to check things in the bug house, like measuring spiders and counting exact numbers of stock. I have just returned from walking the dog so I will get out to the bug house after my cup of tea. I had a lovely day yesterday, my sister and I went on a coach trip up to Harrods (annual trip arranged by a local school to raise funds). It was mostly looking around but if we win the lottery, shopping there would be great fun.

All is well in the bug house. I am really enjoying getting things sorted out before Christmas. The idea is to sell as much as possible now and not restock anything until after the festive period. Sales are going well and as soon as something is sold I can clean and reuse the cage. I didn't realise quite how overstocked I was, I purchased far too many animals in October. I just can't help getting carried away at the bug shows. The next show is not until the end of January but I'm looking forward to it. The Ashford spider show is in a lovely venue and it is always well organised. It is the just before my birthday so we may even make a weekend of it. I am absolutely delighted to say that a reptile dealer friend of mine took all my surplus stick insects this week. Obviously they were at a very cheap price but I just couldn't cope with them, they were eating so much bramble that I was out collecting it two or three times a week and filling up some cages every day. I must not let myself get into such a pickle again. I adore stick insects but their popularity has decreased hugely and I cannot spend all that time on something that makes so little money. I intend to use the statistics that are readily available to me on my new website. They show me in black and white the bugs that actually sell as opposed to those that just become long term pets! I will be focussing more on spiders, scorpions, millipedes, cockroaches, beetles etc. The bugs that can be left for a few days with minimum care have to be the way forward. I never stop working these days, I must get a better work / home balance. It was lovely having a day off yesterday but I am inundated with jobs today and I also have a busy weekend ahead of me. Christmas is just around the corner and although the Asda Christmas advert has caused controversy, I think it is spot on! (the one showing 'mum' doing everything in preparation for Christmas)

My new iPhone arrived on Tuesday. I haven't had much time to look at it yet but it seems amazing. I haven't got a case for it so I haven't taken it out of the house. My hubby has ordered me a 'super tough' case from Amazon. The advert shows the phone being thrown up and down the street, I won't be doing that but I am not the most genteel of people so I need a 'proper' case. I also wanted one that clips to my belt. I wear jeans when I'm working and it is good to always have my phone to hand. The new case has a belt clip but I am a bit concerned that the iPhone is much larger than my old Nokia and my waist isn't that big. Oh well, when it arrives we will see. I don't fancy putting the phone in my pocket, two of my relatives have gone to the toilet and had their phone drop into the loo. That would certainly mean spending more than a penny!

I seem to have got carried away here, my cup of tea was finished long ago and I really need to get out and make a start on the cleaning, feeding regime in the bug house. I was thinking of having an open day before Christmas and inviting people over to look at and hopefully buy some things. I have checked my diary and realised that the only Saturday that I have free before Christmas is the last Saturday 22nd December. Would anyone be interested? When I was in London I had very successful, regular open afternoons on a Saturday but I have never been able to re-create them here. The public transport links are poor but we are not too far from junction 3 of the M40 and junction 8/9 of the M4. It is just a thought at the moment so if you are interested please let me know. I would probably call it a 'spider and scorpion' day as they are animals that I can easily get out for looking at but of course I could have other pre-ordered goods packed and ready for collection. I probably wouldn't allow children as the bug house is not that big and I would certainly have to cover the decking by my back door with something non slippery. I don't want anyone slipping over on it, when damp it is like a skating rink. My two little great-nieces, four and six, were over this week and pointed out that my bug house is not as great as I say because it doesn't have a sofa or TV! Sadly there is no room for a sofa or TV and any escaped cockroaches would love a nice, warm electrical item like a telly to live in.

Right I am now off to the end of the garden!


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