Well it's the 21st today but sadly not of March

Well it's the 21st today but sadly not of March, yes I am obsessed with better weather in the Spring time. The weather has been horribly wet but not too cold most of the week here. I have had lots of parcels to get off, I couldn't do any posting on Wednesday as we drove to Swindon to pick up new puppy. Her name is Teddi and she is a Eurasier (I know nobody has heard of them). She is absolutely adorable, very laid back and happy until she is left! We haven't had much sleep the last couple of nights due to her howling downstairs. March 21st is also significant as the day that our kitchen is being fitted. We had a top floor put on our bungalow several years ago and the kitchen was left in a grotty state, it was already pretty grotty when we moved in. We are delighted to at last have got things sorted (not least finances) and the end is in sight. We will be putting up a barrier to stop Teddi getting into the new kitchen, we have already discovered that she likes to chew everything.

The bugs are going strong, I have bought in some new stock this week and next week I am expecting lots of larger spiders and various bugs and beasties. I need to have a sort out over the weekend to make room for everything. We also have our burglar alarm being fitted this weekend. I think Teddi will have to come out to the bug house with me. I'm not sure what she will make of it out there. There are always escaped crickets on the floor so I'm sure she will enjoy chasing them. The rest of the family are working so it will just be me and Teddi, I can't expect the alarm guys to work with a puppy running around and I can't take her anywhere yet as she needs her inoculations first. Georgie and I are taking her to the vets today for her first jab. I know she will squeal! (Teddi that is, not Georgie).

I discovered one of my Vinegaroons dead this week. I was really upset, she looked gravid and I have never bred Vinegaroons. I decided to do my own mini post mortem as she looked perfect and I couldn't see any reason for her to die. I'm no vet but she did look like there were babies in her abdomen and she didn't look like she had been dead long. I very stupidly decided to see if she smelt dead - what a mistake! I think I was right, she probably died that night, she didn't smell dead, she just stunk of vinegar. The smell permeated up my nostrils and I thought I had poisoned myself. It was awful, my nose was burning and I was in a real panic. Once I had calmed down I was fine but I've learnt my lesson ' never sniff a Vinegaroon, alive or dead'. I still have no idea why she died, I have had this before with a Giant Vinegaroon. She was definitely gravid and looked fit to burst but rather than having lots of babies she simply died one day. I have some more Vinegaroons coming in at the end of the month and I will be talking to someone who has successfully bred these fascinating bugs.

I had a couple of people call and collect their orders last Saturday. One of them even brought me a lovely of bottle of wine because I had allowed her to call at short notice. Too short as it turned out as I had completely forgotten to pack the stick insects when she arrived. I was so embarrassed but she was very sweet about it. Several people have asked when I will be having an open afternoon again. I don't really know what to say. Lots of people want to come and visit me but it is never at the same time! The open afternoons just didn't work, most people who said they wanted to come either couldn't make it that day or simply didn't turn up and then I was left twiddling my thumbs. The final straw came when a couple turned up from miles away, they spent ages looking at all the spiders and then went away with nothing. Keeping the business as purely postal means I don't need to clear up, have accurate labels, set up the notebook and set aside Saturdays, when I could be doing other things. We also live in a cul-de-sac and parking is limited. Having said all that I will probably sort something out when the weather improves as it is very nice to meet people face to face and I do have some great customers. I think 'I simply don't know' sums it up when people ask about open afternoons.