Skip to main content

Out of time!

Out of time! I know it is the story of my life. I have so much to say and no time to say it. I have a lot of running around to do today and intended to write my blog (or at least start it) yesterday but I ended up babysitting and doing various tasks with my nephew's kids. My husband, son and daughter all set off before the crack of dawn this morning (daughter's 21st birthday present, a day of racing sports cars) so I have no help.

The AES show was good, lots of familiar faces to catch up with. I spent quite a bit but was very proud of myself as I stuck to the shopping list and didn't buy any new 'leaf eating' bugs. The range of tarantulas at the show was quite disappointing but it was after all an 'insect' show. There were lots of set specimens, they look beautiful but I have no interest in dead bugs, they must be much easier to look after though! I bought some more beetle larvae but I think that has to be it now until the new year. My bug room is truly heaving and I need to concentrate on the animals that I have and stop getting new ones. There were some lovely children's exhibits on the first floor of the exhibition. One little girl was adorable and had obviously worked hard on her silkmoth project. I took a couple of photos of her, with her display. She proudly offered me one of her giant caterpillars to hold. It's not fair why doesn't anyone in my family share my passion!

I have again had several visitors this week, it's definitely the way to go. It is really nice to show people my collection and spend a bit of time chatting (me chat? never). It also 'makes' me clear up before each visit, I don't like to work in a mess and I have to tidy up before people call as there is limited space in my bug room. I think estate agents would call it 'cosy'. Tuesday of this week was one of the busiest days of my life. I was going to give a step by step account of the day but it would take too long. Due to all the new animals that I purchased on Saturday, I had a deluge of orders, email enquiries and phone calls. I was in the middle of packing orders when a customer arrived to pick up his order unexpectedly (my fault for not organising a time). I was in such a flap that he ended up offering to help and went off to collect some bramble for me. It comes to something when I'm sending my customers off on errands!

Anyway must go and get ready for the day, open the bugs (spray cages, pull curtains, etc), walk the dog, check on mother in-law and then get out. I cannot believe it but I am yet again having problems with Vodafone. I assume it is the same mast down as before (intermittent signal for weeks in the summer), when the link goes I am receiving no calls or texts at all on my iPhone. It's a nightmare so I will have to visit our nearest Vodafone store today. I am getting nowhere on the phone as I only ever reach a foreign call centre. I have asked to be put through to the UK but it seems they cannot do this. I hate Vodafone! (I still have at least a year to go on the contract). Will try harder with my blog next week - honest.

Last thing, I nearly forgot, I was so pleased to get my Christmas cards organised early this year. I spent ages setting up the 'shoot' and sent off for the cards to be printed. They arrived this week and were such rubbish that I have received a full refund from the company. There were a number of reasons but now I need to start all over again. I could cry!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A surreal week indeed!

A surreal week indeed! I sent off my last orders on Monday and the remainder of my bugs will be leaving me on Friday. So many people are congratulating me on my retirement but I prefer the good luck messages. I didn’t think I would ever retire but it all became too much, not just for me but my family too. Our home was taken over by my work. The bug room was my domain but the rest of the house had gradually filled up with ‘stuff’, plastic boxes, cardboard boxes, tanks etc. and I never ever had any time. Whatever task I was doing, I was always thinking of the next job on the list. People keep asking what I am going to do with my time now. In the short term I will be clearing everything out, especially the loft which is full to the brim. I’m a bit of a hoarder so that really doesn’t help 😄 Lack of time was indeed the main factor for finishing my business but there was also the constant “I only want a female tarantula” 😤, leaving Europe was a big blow, Covid, the animal welfare licensin...
3 comments
Read more

My biggest announcement ever!

My biggest announcement ever! It is with a heavy heart that I am informing everyone of my impending retirement as “The Bug Lady”. I have been running my business for approximately 45 years so it has been pretty good J Things change over the years, I was one of the only bug dealers in the early days and possibly the only woman but these days, every man and his dog is selling tarantulas and “proper bugs” seem to have fallen out of favour. I have been cutting down on stock for some time and had hoped to keep going without the tarantulas but it hasn’t worked out. I expect to fully retire by the end of this year but a lot depends on my wonderful customers (you!) as I need to sell off a large number of little creatures. I still have 24 species of tarantula (multiple numbers of most), millipedes, cockroaches, isopods, scorpions, slugs etc. Do take a look on my website, once they are gone, they are gone! If you want to help me, please spread the word to all your bug mad friends. I have lots of...
7 comments
Read more

Getting there!

Getting there! My plans for retirement are going pretty well, I cannot believe all the wonderful messages that I have received over the last few weeks, many of them have had me in tears. It is very emotional to give up my little friends after a lifetime of keeping them and my human friends too but the time is right so I will keep plodding on until everything has gone. I won’t be changing my phone number and I hope to keep my email address, therefore, those who want to, can stay in touch. I had planned for a big sale on September 1st but orders are still going strong so an all-out clearance sale doesn’t sound such a great idea. I have decided instead to reduce items individually but I do keep changing my mind J It is really difficult to retire over a period of time, I couldn’t make the decision and then stop, like most people are able to. I can’t set a date in the future because I simply don’t know when sales will dry up. The idea of an open day sadly became unworkable, I just don’t hav...
1 comment
Read more