Zoology is ever in a state of flux. A couple of moths months back I listed and pictured all the (known) vertebrate residents of the M des Gs. Well, things have changed.
Nippy the Hamster has joined the Choir Invisible, requiescat in pace. He was quickly replaced with Poppy the Hamster, who joins us from a house wherein hamsters, we learn, are often surplus to requirement. She’s a real cutie. We haven’t noticed an increase in activity from Zippy the Hamster who lives next door, but we suspect that the Old Boy might have some lead in his pencil, so the pair are kept apart.
Two More Guinea Pigs have joined the throng. Honestly, we didn’t mean this to happen. But, well, it was like this. A lady knocked on the door the other day, from the church across the road. Apparently these guinea pigs were found loose in the church grounds. Freelance lawnmowers, perhaps? We volunteered to house them until their rightful owners turned up. Several days have passed. You’d think their owners might have noticed…
It seems that the M des Gs now has a reputation as a kind of animal sanctuary. After all, we were offered Zippy for £5, including accoutrements, in a pet-shop closing-down sale.
The shop owner phoned us specially. “Well, there’s always room for one more, chez Gee,” I said.
“I know,” she replied. “That’s why I phoned you first.”
Now the four-year-old from next door is forever leaning over the wall, fascinated by the chickens, guinea pigs and Beelzebun Demon Bunny of DOOM. Really, we should sell tickets.
I thought your punchline was going to be that you have now adopted the 4-year-old from next door.
Oh no, please… no…
You need really big cages for them. And possibly a licence from the EU.
Four-year-olds? Tell me about it. When ours were four I tried to abandon them outside the monkey house at Colchester Zoo. To no avail, alas . :)
I was wondering if any of all the (known) vertebrate residents of the M des Gs have musical talents?
One of my overseas musical chums has a chicken called Custard who is a rap star. Seriously.
Here is Custard rapping on Ember-Assed