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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 licensing, the fact that so many bug/reptile companies have or are closing down. It’s been a great job for the last 40/45 years but it got busier and busier and there was only me doing it all. Who runs a business where they do all the buying, selling, advertising, social media, emails, manning the phone, feeding the animals, cleaning the animals? Lots of people asked if I was selling my business on and I said “who on earth would work this hard for so little”? 😂

Only a short post as I need to try the new blog out. Super Simon has worked very hard to keep my blog going so that I can stay in touch . I cannot believe the amazing support that I have received over the last few weeks. The messages have been truly heartwarming and so appreciated. Thank you to all my wonderful customers and friends from over the years.



Last posting day 😢


Very last parcel 😢




Comments

  1. MickCOctober 14, 2025

    Best of luck!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Steve MussonOctober 18, 2025

    Enjoy your retirement. It's been a pleasure dealing with you over the years and maybe see you at shows as a customer in the future

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VirginiaOctober 19, 2025

      Thanks so much Steve, you have been a super customer and I certainly hope to catch up with you at one of the bug shows.

      Delete

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