Hectic weekend again

This weekend our beautiful Napkin turned 18, whoop whoop. She celebrated in style by having 2 nights out with different groups of friends. Needless to say she is still in bed sleeping it off. Our son Peanut also decided to have a "boys night in" on Saturday. I can't remember the last time our house was so full. The doorbell was going off every 10 mins (perhaps a slight exaggeration but at least every 12!).

Why is it that teenagers all come round to 1 persons house to get ready. Surely getting ready at home means you have more space and don't have to fight over the bathroom. Napkin had 6 people here getting ready on Saturday night and 8 on Sunday night (2 of which had showers here). Add to this Peanut's mates (10 of them at one point) all trying to use the bathroom.

Then we had the crashers, Peanut had 2 mates staying over, and Napkin had 3 on Saturday and 1 last night. There were heaps of (well some) people invading the kitchen looking for breakfast/cups of tea/someone to talk to as others were still asleep. Don't get me wrong I'm glad their friends are comfortable enough to join us but it does lead to more chaos which I'm supposed to be reducing!

Our snake eggs all turned out to be infertile, but our chosen expert, Jodie from "East Coast Exotics" tells us that it was like a trial run and she should lay more eggs in 4 - 5 weeks. According to the book rat snakes can lay anything from 5 to 40+ eggs in a single clutch. I hope Robin's is a small clutch.

Finished reading 2 more books this weekend. You want to do what? by Karen Sullivan, a book about parenting dilemmas - excellent read. Also, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, a book Holly loaned me about daring to be different. It's only 192 pages long so I read it in a morning, it's a quirky little story and most enjoyable.

Quick Post

Babes' rat snake has laid eggs (we thought they were both boys hence they were called Batman & Robin) Have filmed an egg being laid for Babes as he is working. I am not putting my hand in to retrieve them to put them in the incubator, so when Babes comes home I will get them moved and try to upload the film and/or some photos.

Our Jenga

Our Jenga looking every bit the Scottish Wildcat. This was her last night defying Babes attempts to get her to come in for the night. She loves to stay out all night in the summer.

I'm Melting.....

I've melted 12lbs off (in total not this week) and my week is not up till Tuesday. Am so chuffed with myself, almost my first stone. No1 on my 101 list lose weight.

Watched a movie today called 11.14 what a pile of trash. Concept sounded great, all these strangers lives interacting at 11.14 p.m only it was mega pants. Was supposed to be a thriller, but we were laughing at it thinking, is it meant to be funny? Trailer looked good so added it to my lovefilm rental list. Won't be recommending it to anyone that's for sure.

More 101 progress:
No42. Put all my Cd's on to computer. This is well underway, everything up to N is on and should be able to get the rest on before the end of the week. Think I might sell some of them once they're all on, get some extra pennies and free up some storage space.

No25. Drink only water for a month. Going well 5days down 26 to go.

Been waiting for 3 of the cats to come in for the night but am getting knackered so will try one last time , and if they don't come in they can stay out all night. No sign so that's it I'm off to bed and they can sleep in the rabbits hutch (the rabbits died before Xmas) Bloody dirty stop outs.

OMG I don't believe it!!

Just been looking over my past posts checking up on some stuff and I realise I haven't posted about our new beastie. What can I say, another poor abandoned pup. Why do people do that it makes me so crazy GGGRRRRR.

Anyway needless to say the saps stepped in and we have provided a loving if somewhat chaotic home to Jay (name may change as he doesn't seem to answer to it anyway, and really it's far too normal for us) He is about 4 months old (or thought to be), cute as a button and fits in well at the zoo. Brings you his empty bowl when he thinks it's time to eat (which would be every hour given the chance). Do you like him?

More 101 in progress

No25. Drink only water for a month - I have failed this task before but am attempting again this month so 1 day down 30 to go.

No.37 Learn to blog - I am going to mark this as completed now, as I no longer need to call on shopaholly every time I want to do stuff. You may have noticed I even updated my layout (new lists) without her help. Simple stuff I know but I was completely useless before.

No54. Get my puppy to stop chewing things - This is another one completed as Hamish is a changed dog (well as far as destroying stuff goes) I blogged before about how it came about so I won't bore you again but well done Hamish. (see above photo of our clever boy)

No90. Donate 101,000 grains of rice - I love this challenge I am up to 90,600 grains and learning about famous paintings at the same time. I can now spot a Franz Marc or Edgar Degas a mile off (as they say)

Keeping my vet in practice.....

At least that's what it feels like lately. In the last month I have been to the vet 8 times and I'm not yet finished for the month.

Between the cats and the dogs we've had 3 health checks, 5 injections and the purchase of the summer flea treatments for the cats (we always get them done during the summer as that's when they're most likely to pick them up) I am back next week with the dogs for weight checks before I can pick up their summer flea treatments, and another 2 vaccinations (1 dog,1 cat). It's a good job there are no more boosters due until August.

Ah well the joys of having a zoo I suppose!!

Kitten sadness

Poor Tila has aborted her kittens. The vet said these things happen sometimes and gave her an injection of antibiotics to make sure she doesn't get an infection. We have to wait a couple of weeks and have her rechecked to see if any kittens have survived but it is unlikely. It could have been very nasty for her but thankfully she seems to have recovered and seems happy and contented again.

Exclusive *Tila Tequila* pregnant!!

At least our little Tila is. Didn't even know the little toot had been in season and now we're expecting new kittens in about 3/4 weeks. She's got at least 4 in there the vet reckons.

Holly (shopaholly) has bet me £100 that I will keep at least 1 but probably 2 of the kittens. Am determined to prove her wrong but I think it more likely she will win. Must be strong, must not fall for the teeny weeny cutie pies that are so soft and furry and no one could possibly love them and look after them as well as me!!!!!!!!! (Enough - No More Animals)

Am in grave danger of turning into nutty old cat lady (ok I'm 3/4 way there but don't own dodgy old lady shopping trolley unlike some I could mention)

Anyway will keep you updated and post photo's as available but here is a pre pregnant Tila to keep you going.

More 101 stuff

No.45 -Eat dinner at the table every night - I have marked this as completed as we have been doing it for about 2 months now. The only time we don't is if we have made the decision to eat in the living room so as to watch a movie together and even then only if we're having pizza or the like.
No.16 -Start a £2 box was completed back in September 2008 but since I have raided it and not restarted it I have put this back to waiting to achieve.

This means I have only completed 10 of my 101 goals, although another 23 are in progress. No.54 - Get my puppy to stop chewing things is nearly completed.

He nearly went back to the pound a couple of months back when we came home after being out for an hour to find the room trashed. He had pulled out all the bags of sand, forest base and parrot bark from under the animal vivariums and ripped them to bits sending the contents all over the floor. Not to mention the mess from everything else he had attempted to chew. The room looked like a bomb had exploded.

He has very discerning palate and has eaten 2 DVD remotes, a hands free house phone, a foot stool, a ceramic pig Mouse made me for Mother's day, a candle, a diary, numerous pens and pencils, a homework jotter, my favourite blouse, another one of my handbags, rented DVD (thankfully only the box and they were very understanding), hamster food, prescription drugs (followed by a frantic call to the vets surgery).

Anyway I'm sure you get the picture, we seriously thought he would have to go back and went to see them about returning him (in floods of tears). Very nice lady at the pound suggested we get a cage for him. We were not keen but willing to try anything rather than give up on him. (he is so loving).
Anyway £80 later Hamish has a cage, lined with blankets and a quilt, which he gets shut in when we go out. The rest of the time the cage door is open and the dogs can wander in and out at their leisure. Sometimes all 3 of them at once which is highly amusing. It has been brilliant and after the first couple of times he settled no bother. He 's happy, we're kinda happy (still wish we didn't need it) but most importantly we have been 6 weeks with only one bad chewing experience. If he makes it 2 months without chewing I will consider this a completed task.

Aww aint it cute...........

Last night the rabbits joined the mad house so as to protect them from being scared at the fireworks. They were in the kitchen for the night (lino floor incase of mishaps) and were quite contented hopping about the floor and eating their greens. The kittens were fascinated by them and kept nosing about at the rabbit food to see if it was worth them having a nibble too.

So during the evening we go into the kitchen to find not only the rabbit and the kitten sharing a drink but one of the dogs as well. If only we'd had the camcorder charged might have made £250 on "You've been framed"

Sudden trip to a secret destination may be on the cards, my brother has just called with a secret travel plan (sounds very 007ish doesn't it) but it's just that I can't blog it incase the wrong person reads it. All will be revealed tomorrow.

Saw Journey to the Centre of the Earth (Brendan Fraser Version) today, good family type yarn. Sometimes it's nice to watch a movie that doesn't challenge you.

R.I.P Tai

Sorry I've not been blogging but our beautiful Bearded Dragon Tai was ill and needed a lot of care and attention. Sadly it was to no avail and our little lady died yesterday.

She was our first exotic pet. She had been badly treated before we got her and after she had been initially nursed back to health by our exotic supplier Jodie we took her on as a rescue. She blossomed and began to lay eggs again. A sure sign that her calcium levels were back up and she was thriving. We were absolutely delighted, she loved a cuddle and a bath, and to run about the floor with the other beardies.

Unfortunately in her last cycle she became egg bound and this sadly led to her death. We had sought advice from our vet and Jodie and tried everything. She died in Babes arms (her favourite cuddling place) and she will be very sadly missed.

30 days hath September.....

I am so glad they're past. September was good and bad. Some goals completed, but some that should have been started have not been. I am very annoyed that I have not started my exercise routines properly.
So October goals -

1. Start exercise routines
2. Drink only water for a month
3. Have 5 No spending days
4. Set up Menu Planning and stick to it
5. Loose at least 8lbs

Not been to great at keeping blogs up to date either. Will ensure I blog everyday, even if just a couple of lines.

Quick update on Horny Cat, She sneaked out today thanks to the dogs. However returned in the afternoon all happy so she has obviously had her fancy tickled!!!!!! Now have to wait 3 weeks to ensure no pregnancy. Damn beast!

Horny Cat!!!..........

My damn cat is in season. We have never had this before as all our cats have been "done". Because Napkin is doing animal care at college, we discussed it with our vet, and decided to leave Mischief (she is so aptly named) to see if she could have kittens. This was to enable Napkin to see the whole process and help her with her studies.

For the last 3 nights Mischief has refused to come in ( I hate my cats being out over night). Today she has not even come in for food. Instead she is languishing around on my neighbours drive showing off her wears and howling to invite prospective "callers" round for a Visit!

What a bloody hussey. Is this normal? Or is she, as I suspect, just a out and out tramp. Over the summer months she would repeat this kind of behaviour but it only lasted a day before some tom would be round seeing to her and she would calm down. She has obviously been round all the local lads and is now seeking visitors from further afield.(hence the irritating wailing)

I don't think my poor neighbours can stand much more of this, let alone us. As soon as I get her in she's grounded. The vet will be called and an appointment made.