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Back by popular demand


Back by popular demand. I have had some really nice emails pointing out that people understand but really miss my weekly blog or weekly whinge as I call it! Anyhow I have decided to keep going but at a slower pace. I aim to write a monthly blog (monthly moan perhaps?J) I'm also thinking of putting it on my Facebook page and then it could be more interactive. I had an email this week from one of my customers suggesting that I might like to have 'guest bloggers'. I'm not sure I totally understand so feel free to tell me if I have got completely the wrong end of the stick. If anyone wants to write their own blog about their life and bug keeping I would be quite happy to put it on the website.

I have of course been very busy with the bugs since last writing. I have many new creatures in my bug room. Last week I had a lot of new stick insects come in. Some are now showing for sale on the website and others I will be keeping for breeding (and some I haven’t had time to put on the site yet). There are some very interesting ones that I have not seen before and some that I just haven't kept for a long time. Many moons ago most of my business was stick insects and I probably had up to 20 species breeding at a time. These days I only keep a few of the more exciting ones like the beautiful Jungle Nymphs. I don't have the time to look after them all (constantly collecting leaves and cleaning out) and I don't have the space for all the cages.

Although I visit several bug shows around the country each year I very rarely have tables at them anymore but I will be exhibiting and selling my little animals at a show next month. I will put details on my site nearer the time. I generally go to the shows to buy in new stock and of course chat to everyone. It is great to meet old and new friends and plenty of people that I have only communicated with by email or phone. I have decided to take part in this show as it falls at a good time, just before the school holidays when things tend to slow down in my work. I am also planning a week away so less animals to look after sounds like a good idea.

Whilst writing this blog I have the door open to my bug room and it was feeling hotter than ever. The heating is all on timers or thermostats so I have just been to investigate. I am horrified! The tube heaters that my husband fitted just a few months ago supposedly have their own thermostats but I have just discovered that they were all boiling hot. I have switched them off and will check to make sure this time. I can’t believe it, no wonder the bug room has been so hot the last few days, it is really hot and sunny outside but it didn’t seem to cool down when I opened the doors, now I know why! Goodness knows how much it will have been costing in electricity. We have just changed energy suppliers because our bills are a fortune L

What has happened to all the Stag beetles this year? I haven’t seen a single one, not even a squished one. I truly adore Stag beetles, they take me back to my childhood when I used to rescue them on the path as I walked to school. Sadly, they are far scarcer these days but I do hope they are still common in some areas? Everyone knows that I love snakes and really enjoy seeing them in the wild. It seems like a good year for Grass snakes as lots of people have sent me photos of snakes in their garden or ones that they have come across when out walking their dogs. I haven’t seen any but I live in hope of one day attracting them to my wildlife garden (I would probably settle for a slow worm). I do however have Bumble bees in my nesting box (I watch them on a screen from the camera in the box and they are fascinating), newts galore, frogs, hedgehogs, wood mice etc. All I need now is a night vision camera set up in the garden (I will put it on hubby’s list). I’m not sure if we have any bats in our bat boxes as I can’t reach and I can’t find the remote control to view them.

Anyway, better get on as I am off to Luxembourg for the weekend to visit my niece (special family occasion). I’m sure it will be lovely when I get there but as my hubby is in Spain and our daughter is in Tenerife, I have had to rope in an army of helpers with all the animals and now I find myself panicking about my garden as I haven’t arranged anyone to water it (sorry but I’m hoping the forecast is wrong and there is rain sometime at the weekend).

Yes, my life is busy as

Comments

  1. michael connachanAugust 15, 2017

    You're very busy by the sound of things, I've never had any business dealings with you as yet, but I've heard lots of great comments regarding your breeding successes, especially with tarantulas, I'm a member on Arachnoboards, I'm from Dundee, Scotland.
    It would be a pleasure to do business with you in the future, wishing you well and hoping you see some of the wonderful creatures you have missed this year.

    ReplyDelete

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