The Boys have arrived!!

They are here....I have finally got my boys....They are called Jack and Stan...or if you want to be posh Hellstorm Stanley Harris and Hellstorm Jack Harris..after all they are pedigree !!

Stan is the bigger one of the two but certainly more timid...although he still handles very well...Jack is the bravest and most relaxed one of the pair. So relaxed that on the car journey home he laid on his back feet in the air sound asleep....and then as soon as we got home and I put them in their new cage with a little scrambled egg he got stuck straight in...whereas Stan was a little more nervous and didn't eat much at all. Hopefully that will all change over the next few days or so.

I am hoping, all being well that I can enter them into their first show in May !!

This is Jack !!

And this is Stan

Danni and I took several photo's of the guys as they were charging about today but they were so quick 90 percent of them turned out blurred. Better luck next time !!

Catch Up

Had an enjoyable weekend. Can't say much about what happened on Saturday at the moment but lets just say it was very interesting and hopefully will result in a life changing experience. For those close to me you will know what I am talking about...and for those who aren't I'm sorry..all will be revealed hopefully later on this year.

Saturday was also Jordan's birthday..unfortunately we didn't get to see him as he was with his mother but he came over Sunday with Danni. We had a relaxing day..Jordan had his present, a portable DVD player from Harry and I and then he wanted to go to Ipswich to spend some of his birthday money. Danni bought him a couple of reading books of his choice, we had lunch out and then back for supper and birthday cake.

I am still waiting to hear if I can get the two rats that I have briefly spoke to the breeder about. It real torture having the cage all set up and having no bubs in there ..hehehehe. Looking forward to Saturday when I go down to the Rat Show in Dartford.

It's Here !!

My cage has arrived yeeaahhhhhh...now all I need is some ratties to go in it.

I am soooo looking forward to finally getting my ratties :)

To be honest having looked around at various cages and seeing that this particular model was reasonably expensive (I didn't pay a fortune for it as I bought it second hand off ebay) I was expecting a bit of the dogs gonads but I have to say I am a little disappointed with the design. Its a little flimsy - I think that's the only word I can find to describe it..the metals bend easily and I have to say having struggled to put it together (with the help of my dad - it was a bit like the krypton factor) I am not looking forward to actually pulling it to bits to clean the thing !!!

Some of the bits and pieces you can see I have actually made..much to the disgust of Harry as I always told him I didn't sew...the point is more that I can't sew..well I can but its awful but I sure the ratties wont critise my stitchwork!!

Research

Hi..sorry I have not posted for a few days...to be honest I haven't really had anything to say. I have been researching LOADS on rat keeping and I am quite excited at getting some now. I have been making hammocks and toys ready for when their cage arrives. Having researched loads and joined a rat forum I have decided against buying them from a pet shop....I know this will mean waiting a bit longer but the pro's of waiting out weigh the cons. Firstly it is very common for PS rats to have respiratory illness as well as other health issues, they also tend to come from rat farms..these kittens are not normally handled that much and so tend to be timid and a little harder to tame..also by buying from a pet shop it encourages this 'farming' trade. SOooo I have decided to get my rats from a breeder - if not I will go for rescue rats from a reputable rescue centre.

I have emailed a local breeder and am awaiting a response. Luckily she breeds English blues and Russian silvers - both these breeds have taken my fancy, although I like all rats :)...I am hopefully going to go to a rat show at Dartford on the 21st..this will give me a chance to meet like minded people as well as their rats, also a chance to speak with breeders and find out what showing is all about as from what I have read about it I quite fancy the idea of showing :)...We will see. I am just so looking forward to getting some boys !!!

The last few days Harry has not been feeling himself...he says he can't tell me what it is...yesterday he felt so fed up he didn't want to do anything and I can quite understand where he is coming from...I have felt a bit like that for the past few days..I have had no get up and go..the only thing I have really been interested in is researching. I am feeling really lazy now.

Harry is now picking his children up as it is their weekend to stay and I haven't done anything round the house!!..Never mind eh?? I guess i will lose my computer now for a day or so.. time for some scrapbooking then :)...O and I must really start to learn how to use my camera...I have been given an exercise to do by the chappy who will be taking us on the Big Cat Shoot in June !!

Race for Life

Well I've gone and done it...I've entered myself in the Cancer Research UK Race For Life around Nowton Park in June. Lets hope its a nice sunny day and my back is better by then !! I am sure it will be. If you want to sponsor me (and I really hope you do...even if its just 50 pence) please go to http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/KatrinaHarris and leave your online donations. Its for a great charity. Lots of people are affected by cancer as you well know. Its not just the patients themselves but invariably the ones left behind to pick up the pieces. I will be running in memory of my Brother- in - law Gordon. I never knew him that well but I am running (or possible walking hehehe) more for my husbands family..those who have had to cope with and after his death. My step daughter Danni will be joining me - I believe she is hoping to run in memory of her Grandfather (on her mothers side) and also my friend Katy will be staggering (oopppssss I mean running) with us too. Supporting us as always...keeping the seats warm will hopefully be Harry and Jordan :)

Back Pain

Goodness knows how Harry lives with constant back pain the way he does...I am only into day two of this and already it is getting me down. I thought when I first woke up this morning that by some miracle it had gone but when I came to make the bed I lent forward and SCREAMED!! Stupid thing is I can twist left and right, I can even stretch upwards (sort of) but as soon as I lean forward the pain is horrendous..and its surprising just how many tasks you do that requires you to lean forward. I am going to try and potter around the house today and get some jobs done as best I can. I have had to resort to shopping online at the big T...I hear you say 'well that's no great hardship' , however as much as I hate shopping, I also hate someone else picking out my fresh fruit and veg.

Of course if things get too bad with my back I can always resort back to my scrapping table...now that would be a shame...NOT !!!!

I HATE cars and cars HATE me !!

Well I have had a pooey and a nice day at the same time. It was nice coz I went to see Katy and we popped into town and had a quick look around. It was pooey because this morning whilst taking some washing out of the washing machine I tweaked a muscle in my back and then sneezed really hard straight after and it has been killing me all day...I have had to take pain killers all day just to get by...then when Katy and I got to town I went to move the car as I hadn't parked it quite in the white box and the bloomin thing would not start... the starter motor AGAIN playing up. Then when we decided to go back to the car after walking round town...(we went back to see if it would start) I couldn't find my car keys so we retraced our steps asking in all the shops..Katy looked in my bags...I looked in my bags..I was getting wound up as I am normally so clued up on locking the car and ensuring my keys are safe..we thought we would still go back to the car in case I had left them in there... as we were walking bag I felt complelled to glance in the plastic bag that we both checked and there they were...grrrrrr...we got back to the car and of course it started first time..I swear that car does it to wind me up!!!

I have just had an impulse buy on Ebay (not sure what Harry will say...actually I don't think he will mind)...I have bought a rat cage !!..Can't wait to get my rats now...the more I think about them the more I really want two !!

Family and Friends

Yesterday Harry and I had a lovely relaxing chilled out day together. We had a nice lay in...something we don't get very often, got up bathed and we went for a meal at the Duke of Malborough with Harry's two brothers and sis - in - laws, two sisters and mother. It was quite a pleasant lunch..although I still prefer the carvery at the Bunbury Arms. When we left there around 3 ish we decided to take a ride around. Harry wanted to look at a couple of old cars that are stood up for sale in the Bury area and I really didn't want to come back to this house too soon because it was such a lovely day and the sun was shining and this house is so dark and depressing...its built at the wrong angle..we hardly ever get much natural light in the living room. So we drove around H was checking out the cars and me? - well I was enjoying the scenery. When we got back home H wanted us both to sit down and watch the new James Bond DVD that I bought him. I told him on one condition that we watched it upstairs in the bedroom so when I couldn't stand watching it any longer I could get on with some scrapping hehehe...I actually ended up scrapping right through the film...I really don't like JB, too far fetched for my liking.
I managed to almost finish the exploding box that I started at the crop.
I wrote an email this morning to SI magazine..got a reply and apparently there measurements were wrong. Anyway although what I have managed to salvage is not completely true to and exploding box it works for me. I will get pictures up on here of my latest works just as soon as I get round to scanning them all!!

Right well I am going round to see Katy and her new cockatiel this afternoon so I guess I should get myself sorted out!!