Halloween is almost here

Halloween is almost here. It's so great, bugs, bats, rats, snakes and spiders in all the shops, restaurants, garden centres, kid's attractions, everywhere!. I know the aim is to scare everyone but I love it, I am obviously more than a bit weird as these are truly the animals I like best. I would happily take a lie detector test to prove this, I know I would pass with flying colours but please don't sign me up for the Jeremy Kyle show! We are having a big family party tomorrow and as I have my nephew's kids today (half term) we will be making a "feely box". I have some good ideas that but I can't tell you just in case I give the game away (in reality I think it is very unlikely that any members of my family will read this blog). We will be visiting Pets At Home for some of the items required!

My Apple Mac computer has arrived, my hubby has set it up on the dining room table and I really need to concentrate and learn how to use it this weekend (far scarier than Halloween). It will clearly take me a lot longer than a weekend but I will give it my best shot. Everything seems to be brain taxing and costly at the moment and changing constantly (if you read my blog regularly you will know how much I hate change). I test drove a car on Monday as mine is old and falling to bits. I still can't make up my mind, the car is a Skoda Yeti and it's very nice but it's boring black (I like bright colours) and it's so much money. It didn't help that I couldn't concentrate as just before the test drive I got stung by an Assassin bug (yes, I know it has happened before and I should be more careful). This time it was just so painful, the bug was attached to my thumb so I assume I got a lot more venom injected. It was localised pain but didn't make driving or decision making easy. I got little sympathy from my hubby, we are complete opposites. I panic at everything but it would take an earthquake to get him excited (actually I recall an earthquake years ago when we were in Zante, I was panic stricken, everyone in the hotel was screaming and even then he was calm).

Now to the bugs - Have you been following me on Facebook? Aren't I doing well with my pictures? You may have noticed all my scorpions with babies shots, having moaned and moaned about my obviously pregnant scorpions not producing any young they seem to have gone mad. I have babies of several species and I'm delighted. I am learning all the time but I am clearly getting there. I bought some new houses for them yesterday and hopefully next week I will find time to get them better set up and more visible (rather than tucked away under my stick insect tanks). I did see a nice cabinet in a shop window yesterday, it was perfect but it was also £399. A little more than my budget would stretch to but we do have a lot of charity shops and second hand furniture dealers in High Wycombe. I need something enclosed as it will only fit next to the outer door, which is the coldest part of my bug room. It will need additional heating. Talking of heating, my hubby has come up with a plan to attach some of the heat mats under the shelves rather than on top. Now that the weather is colder, the thermostats are coming on far more and the mats are drying out sections of my boxes, this is sure to damage the eggs of certain soil laying bugs. All seems to be going well, I wasn't sure if any heat would get through but it is and the mats are also giving out a slight heat below the shelves. The main problem has been keeping them in position! My poor hubby has tried every method of 'sticking' the heat mats but every time at least one has fallen off so last night he sliced up bits of wood and screwed the pieces into the shelf and therefore trapped the mats in position. I will update you next week on whether it has worked or not.

It seems a rather strange time of the year for things to be breeding but they are and I was pleased to see yesterday that my Six Spotted Fishing spider is carrying around an egg sac. One of my Madagascar Fishing spiders has also laid an egg sac but she has build an elaborately webbed cave and suspended the egg sac from the ceiling. It looks great and I did try to photograph it in the week but it was too dark. I will try again but it's especially difficult as her tank is very heavy and perched on top of a shelving unit. I'm not sure if I can lift it down or whether I should as I don't want to upset the mum. It could make a great Halloween photo but probably only if I were a better photographer!

I am slowly adding more care info to the new site and as I do I am noticing more errors. I really appreciate the people who have called me and helped to sort out both mistakes that I have made and also things that have needed fixing/altering by my, wonderful, patient web guy. If anyone needs a new website for their business I would thoroughly recommend Simon(HappyGinny).

Well I had loads more to say but with three kids plonked in front of the telly and a dog that needs walking, I had better get a move on. I was going to tell you about my plans for possibly doing children's parties but it will have to wait until next week.

For now all I can say is HAPPY HALLOWEEN, hope it's a scream!