Hello..

We've just returned from the most amazing weekend.  I'll post about that tomorrow when all the photos are uploaded.  In the meantime I thought I'd introduce you to the newest members of the gang.

This is Pebble.  He was a new addition to the household earlier in the year.  The kiddie had wanted a tortoise since we visited Stapeley Water Gardens back in February I think it was.  I knew they were costly little chaps as you can't just shove one in your suitcase and bring it back as a holiday souvenir any more.
But still she was keen so we decided if she could save the money for one she could have one.  To be totally honest I didn't relish the prospect of another pet in the household and I thought after a few weeks of saving she'd have gone off the idea altogether. 
I'll give credit where it's due, she saved for a lot longer than I expected.  But in the end it seemed like a unreachable goal for her, so she asked if she could get a different pet with the money she had saved so far.  Thinking on my feet for the cheapest and easiest pet I suggest a stick insect!!

 Meet Twiggy!
The local pet shop didn't have the common-or-garden stick insects that multiply as quick as blink and eat privet.  Oh no!  They had wood nymph stick insects which only eat bramble leaves and look like a spikey twig.
Twiggy cam home with us on the Saturday afternoon complete with his vivarium and some blackberry twigs.  His tank was a bit on the small side so, it being half term, kiddie and I went in search of a new home.  To Planters Garden Centre and their pet department we trundled.  And there in the corner....

...three little Hermanns tortoises!

I don't know about the kiddie but I was in love.  They are so cute stomping around like little tanks. We retired to the cafe for lunch and a ponder of the whole situation.  A bit of discreet texting to OH later and we had put a deposit down on the smallest tort in the enclosure.  :o)  (We did also buy a bigger viv for the Twig.)
Thus ensued a frantic few days of trying to track down all the missing bits for his enclosure before OH and kiddie went to pick him up the following Saturday.

He is two years old and is now about the size of a small person's fist.  He sleeps indoors at night but in the daytime - weather permitting - he either goes in his own secure enclosure or roams around the garden when we're at home to kep an eye on him.

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