Christmas is approaching fast
Christmas is approaching fast. Last Sunday I spent most of the afternoon trying to set up the bugs for my Christmas card photo shoot. Oh, it wasn't easy on my own but I did it and the cards have been ordered, so fingers crossed they look ok. I showed my daughter the pictures on the computer and they made her laugh so that's got to be good. I can't go for technically brilliant so funny will do fine. I bought a pretty cuddly toy from Tesco and dressed him up with various bugs and spiders. Nobody would behave and I ended up with them everywhere. The stick insects wanted to climb over each other and I had to make sure that the Mexican Red Knee spider didn't devour any of my little friends. The giant millipede that was acting as a scarf, decided to disgrace himself and it wasn't easy to clean off on a white fluffy toy (I won't be able to give him to one of the kids for Christmas now!). Last year was just as chaotic. I used corn flour (it was out of date in the kitchen cupboard) as snow and all the poor bugs got covered in it. I spent ages washing it off afterwards but my Chile Beauty spider, who was the 'star' of last years card still had a dusting of flour for months.
Yesterday, I had a nice day off and visited Harrods with my sister. We went on a coach that was organised by a local school, to raise funds. It was fun but it would have been even better if I could afford to actually shop there. I don't think I am ever going to get rich by breeding bugs. We looked around the pet department but sadly they only had furry pets. I know I've said it before but I will say it again just in case anyone doesn't know that I got my very first stick insects from Harrods, when I was about seven years old. We had a good time but Thursday is generally a busy day for posting so all the orders will have to be held over until next week. Monday will be even more manic than usual. I have lots of emails to reply to from yesterday so please be patient, I will be responding to them all today.
There are only a few weeks until Christmas and really not that many posting days left. I have decided this week, that I have a ridiculous amount of bugs and spiders to care for and I really must stop buying in new animals until after the festive season is over. If there is something that you especially want, you would be wise to buy it now as things will sell out and not be replaced. I have had a few people ask if I can hold orders until nearer Christmas but I really can't. I need to cut back so I cannot hold onto anything. Please order early, there is only one of me and I won't be able to post out everything at the last minute. Last year was crazy, I had far too many last minute orders so I have decided that I probably won't post in the Christmas week at all. My last posting day will most likely be Thursday the week before.
The bugs are all thriving in the bug house, the heaters have been working hard this week due to several frosty days. I'm pleased to report that there have been no casualties in the post (the heat packs work extremely well) and the postal service seems to be running smoothly. I haven't had a delayed parcel reported to me in absolutely ages. It's quite strange really, I wonder if Royal Mail are doing something different with Special Delivery because I really can't remember a single delayed item for months.
I have just realised that I forgot my Trinidad Olive spiders! I put them together to hopefully mate yesterday. The male hid and the female stayed in her burrow so I thought I would leave them 'until later' but I didn't mean to leave them all night! The male is obviously mature as he has mating hooks but I cannot be sure if the female is fully adult, I just hope she is ---- panic over, he survived the night. I checked him over, still eight legs intact, phew.
Quick update on the dog show last weekend - we only went to 'look' but I don't think I can survive without a dog for much longer so we are now looking at getting a puppy in the new year. There were so many different breeds but we were really taken by the Eurasier dogs (you may need to Google it, there aren't many around).