It was in the middle of the night, and I was woken by what sounded, in the middle of the night anyway, like an air raid.
I got out of bed to investigate, and discovered that the thunderous sound came from a cupboard in my kitchenette. I very tentatively opened the door, and the mystery was solved.
It is the cupboard that Crunchie my tortoise hibernates in. For those who are acquainted with him will know that I go through this every October. Here's why.
I tend to forget of is existence when he hibernates as he vanishes into the cupboard for 6 months of every year, until the BIG SLEEP ends.
This is what greeted me when I opened that cupboard door. He must have been trying to break out and when I opened the door he rolled out, enter Crunchie for the summer! He landed on his back as you see.
FOOD AND WATER. That was his first quest once I had righted him. He wasn't waiting til morning! So he is back into the swing of summer and consciousness since May, stalking me for food and water as he always did. He still remembered where the fridge is and what is in it, where the front door is so it would appear that his memory is in top form.....
Ah yes, and lets not forget the clown of the family. He hates me with a vengeance at present because 2 weeks ago I clipped his nails, they were hooking on everything. He has the blood of an elephant running through his veins and forgets nothing for a very long time. I go near him and he backs away as though I were a serial bird murderer. My husband has to put him to bed each night in the cage he sleeps in. That used to me my job, but when Widget sees (I think he has eyes in the back of his head too) me coming, he runs under the bed as if his life depended on it and simply waits me out. If my husband is not available to do the honours, it is an exhausting game of cat and mouse which positively frays my nerves whilst operating on a very short wick.
I did take advantage of the situation though, so clipped his wings while he still hates me. I can't do more damage now can I?
Above he is hanging from one leg on one of the 3 rods that keep his tray in place. He climbs up and down the legs and being the acrobat he is......
No, the picture is not upside down, his head is facing the floor and he is hanging onto the rod with both legs now. Showoff.
Who knows what goes on in his little stubborn feathered head, or what goes on in Crunchie's pre-historic head, one thing is certain, they are as bright as little buttons and I would say there is a LOT going on inside there!
