Life Of A Tortoise

Edublog award nominations

2011-11-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

This is a little different from my usual blog, I am part of the #ukedchat community on twitter in my other life as a teacher. The Edublog are asking for nominations for awards and I am glad of the chance to leap in and say what @ukedchat has done for me, it's welcoming and incredibly helpful, supportive community, where anyone can leap in at any time but with scheduled meet ups at 8pm every Thursday. It offers the chance of a staff room chat, combined with sharing resources, importantly I also feel it offers CPD in an easy format. With LAs cutting costs there are not as many training opportunities certainly within my county, ukedchat enables me to keep more up to date with developments, helps improve my IT knowledge which I can then take back to my class and share with other teachers. I have found colleagues can be quite dismissive of twitter and reluctant to use it, but for me it has made the world of difference to my teaching.

I would like to nominate

#ukedchat for best twitter hashtag

@ukedchat for best educational use of a social network and best individual tweeter

http://ukedchat.wikispaces.com/ for best educational wiki

baby galapagos

2011-10-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

Following on from the last ever so cute photos, here is baby tortoise, mummy tortoise is 85 and 3000 times bigger than the baby, bit like when my daughter was born!

Full story here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2046104/Down-Baby-tortoise-hatches-3-000-times-smaller-mother.html

"One shell of a shock"

2011-10-06T03:18:00.000-07:00

I have pinched the headline of the poor tortoise who has survived a car crash - full story here http://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/9288721.One_shell_of_a_shock/

new arrivals

2011-10-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

if you excuse the link to the paper, these pictures are amazing, the bay tortoise were placed there for anyone wondering if they really do climb like Tiddles the tortoise on Peppa Pig

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2042669/On-head-son-Baby-tortoise-riding-high-sunbathes-mothers-head.html

Better than a piggyback

2011-10-02T01:41:00.000-07:00

Lightening

2011-08-22T11:57:00.000-07:00

Recent weather forecasts have worried me greatly, if lightening strikes me will I be ok? I have to look after my shell, I don't wish to be homeless. I asked my good friend google who detailed damage to turtles (other wise known as water tortoise) for that reason I shall shelter inside when lightening threatens.

Love video

2011-02-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

Spotted on the moron test on ze ipod

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgQ-Kt7Uk8

Growing up

2011-02-26T23:34:00.000-08:00

I have been pictured earlier in my log cabin, it was my very own center parcs for a while

I have grown so much one day I got stuck in the window, a stone was placed there, now I am so big I can only just get through the door so we are awaiting a very impressive enclousre with beach house with chimney and balcony area, pictures of course will follow

I'm coming out!

2009-11-24T11:50:00.000-08:00

I'm a secret Benidorm fan, "Are you ready to come out?" When he replied yes his mum thought he was gay, oh classic moment!

Anyway Iam now drinking more, spending a few hours awake every few days, for anyone wondering where I am - I'll be out soon :o)

Happy Birthday tooooo meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

2009-10-17T14:21:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday, an exciting fun packed non stop day,non stop sleeping but what do you expect I'm a tortoise and it''s oh so cold I am getting put in the bath every other day but that is about it for my activity levels...

M25 tortoise madness

2009-09-19T14:04:00.000-07:00

What are the chances of a tortoise dodging cars on a slip road to the M25?

http://news.uk.msn.com/uk/article.aspx?cp-documentid=149785318

and how did he get there?

100 days to go

2009-09-16T14:22:00.001-07:00

Apparently there are 100 days until Christmas, personally I have tried slowing down already this weather is rather confusing though, thought i was getting ready to part time hibernate then she shoves me outside in the sun, maybe my internal calendar is not weather dependent...

I have started eating the winter pansies already, they looked so nice, now they look like nibbled remains but we have a lovely collection of weeds growing in the dining room, my Christmas dinner?

Impressive vet

2009-08-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

When I need a vet I hope it's one like this one :o)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1209653/You-Vet-shells-B-Q-drill-save-life-tiny-tortoise.html

help

2009-08-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

Sad news

2009-07-23T13:43:00.000-07:00

Such a sad story
http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=148730145

Hope the girl recovers & they find the guilty party, RIP my chinese relative

Yum

2009-07-02T15:13:00.000-07:00

This is one momentous occasion, owner was putting washing out yesterday when she heard a strange noise, it was me eating a baby slug, yum, she thought it was horrible but what does she know? I suspect she was mortified more by the noise I made for ages afterwards how content I am now!

I may need a room

2009-06-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

I am appreciating now how Susan Boyle must have felt, this week I have been in Practical Reptile keeping magazine AND also my fine blog has been identified for it's individual writing style, bascially a computer company will send me a fancy touch screen computer for 4 weeks, i write about it at the end of the 4 weeks if I am the most read reviewer I win the fancy computer, if I don't win they send me a little netbook for taking part, how good is that? I just need to put my little claw print on the line and my ASUS ET1602 will come flying at me apparently, oh the joy of a new toy! I can't put much about it here but I can link to my review blog. All I need now is a kind person who advertises country cottages for tortoise in Practical reptile keeping to offer me a holiday home, for those who know I have a log cabin well the one in the advert looks even better than that.

Liking this weather, sun, weeds, water, this is the life, may not need the room in the Priory just yet...

Still looking

2009-05-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Torches at the ready, wellies on, join me for the search party? http://lifeofatortoise.blogspot.com/2009/05/granny-is-that-you.html

Managed to catch up with Blue Peter, they race different types of tortoise by putting them in a circle & seeing which one reaches the edge of the circle, made from lettuce leaves by the look of it, owner was surprised this is what happens at Oxford uni??? Then the winner got to race the Blue Peter tortoise Shelly in narrow wooden race lanes, the tortoises were NOT impressed, owner wasn't, I wasn't, then one was carried a bit down the race track & declared the winner, great, make tortoise look like a toy, encourage a whole era of badly informed tortoise keepers...

Granny - is that you?

2009-05-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

I wonder if the wonders of technology and the lovely people who read my blog could help me search for any long lost relatives of either me or any other tortoise. There is a prize for the eldest tortoise found, he he I thought, I'll just rewrite my blog and claim to be a 200 year old rare never heard of before miniature tortoise (well poodles can be mini!) but if you are going to claim this rather exciting status, then proof is required, not just a pic of you & your birthday cake with zillions of candles on, more info is here http://www.pethouseclub.com/blog.aspx?id=238

A day filled with excitement, there were 2 tortoise on Blue Peter this morning, sadly turned off before the race, hmmm Blue Peter, I still hold them responsible for the loss of many tortoise, remember the advice to put your tort in the airing cupboard to keep them warm??? Sadly a death sentence :o(

My next installment will tell the story of the day I was mistaken for a girl... I just need time to come to terms with the incident...

Lost or stolen?

2009-05-02T03:15:00.000-07:00

I came across this story, reminded me of the recent lottery ticket news story, by finding something doesn't mean it's yours. I think the behaviour is shocking, no attempt to find the owner??? It's not like you see a tortoise wandering the streets every day.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hTP0lrpIT-u-Eq_UNh5gufdpk4Og

Not to mention taking a tortoise home with you, I presume not many households have a spare UV bulb in the cupboard.

Bargain of the day

2009-04-27T01:26:00.001-07:00

Owner does pride herself on shopping around, here she will share bargain of the year, save 50p on the magazine mentioned in the previous post, go on you know you want to see the picture mentioned, this way it can be delivered to your door for £2.50 imagine what I could have done with that 50p, half a pack of dandelion seeds!

http://www.practicalreptilekeeping.co.uk/

For my fellow twits follow them here

http://twitter.com/ReptileMagazine

May I also take this oppurtunity to compain about the weather after my garden area was all tideied up (again) for me yesterday it rains today, destined for a day under my lamp with a few dandelions

Shocking really...

2009-04-25T06:35:00.000-07:00

The owner returned from her shopping trip with a first edition of Practical Reptile keeping, she kept it from me initially, strangely enough at the side of the microwave until she got some peace and quiet, one of the little people is also doing a project for school about reptiles, ever keen for pictures but this magazine will stay intact. There is loads of information in it about tortoise, what more could anyone want? Owner had a flick through in the shop, if it had said to keep tortoise in glass tanks she would have been mortified, but no, KEEP YOUR TORTOISE IN A TORTOISE TABLE SET UP, let us breathe in an open air environment, hurrah, I hope the message reaches some of the mean people who let my relatives live in condensation filled tanks.

The real shock of the magazine was the pictures, lots of high quality pictures, stories about a trip to the Galapogos islands, but.... I can hardly type there were some erm, mating pictures, no everyone should this picture owner referred to it as tortoise porn but I think she is exagerrating, the tortoise just looks very happy, I presume copyright & all that I can't include it, but everyone should see it, absolute classic!

Go & buy Practical Reptile keeping now!

Wow!

2009-04-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

The owners have returned... all wearing the same glasses, thought optician appointment wasn't until tomorrow, chatter concludes they have been to see monsters vs aliens, they weren't even gone that long, needle poked in eye, amazing! yeah sounds it... flying balls into your face, they seem impressed, doesn't sound so good to me but they brought back a dandelion with them, I think they feel guilty for the influx of popcorn they have consumed.

They had another home in visiting the cinema, the new tv would seem smaller when they returned, but no it still looks gigantic! Impressive picture quality, looks more coloured in than the last one, deeper colours they say they spent last night flicking between normal football and football in HD, they were admiring the patterns on the grass, never mind the grass, where are the dandelions!!!

A new arrival

2009-04-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

i wish they would keep me better informed of what is going on, the morning started bright and early (too early if you ask me) the netire room turned into a building site whilst a new creation was built, a phonecall "30 minutes" panic followed, could they build the creation before the 30 minute deadline.... I am sure you are on the edge of your seats, I was on the edge of my shell, but no they didn't make it, this massive box arrived, great I thought, one way of changing the flooring = cover it all in cardboard boxes! I decided to snooze whilst Mrs Owner left the building, by the time she returned there was a big difference, out with the little tv in with the, the, how do I describe it, an almighty moving picture sat on the new creation, I say sat but they keep calling it a stand, a bit more shuffling around with the conclusion that actually it's still rather big for the room, should have invested wsely in Romaine lettuce instead I think

One tracked mind

2009-04-13T04:47:00.000-07:00

News has got out... the locals know about my habit, a collection of children called with dandelions for me, very kind, but I can't eat that many in one day, I am tiny, little worried that they have picked my future days food too, hmmm, apparently dandelions are not for sale in the local shop nor do they keep well in the freezer, it is a worry, I am off back into the garden just thought you may like to see todays picture and share my concerns

In at number 2

2009-04-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

Oh the dleights of twitter, I have been featured in pet bloggers, how I blushed myself out of my shell and back in again, little old me, well not so old...

It's a busy tile round here, school holidays I believe, some days there are loads of people here - I counted 4, other days they vanish, but life is good I have dandelions, not a great pic, what I can do, just can't get the staff, she blames my light, I blame her photography skills!

Surprise...

2009-04-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight I have been twittering after a day in the garden (fasciinating film of me running round on grass to follow) I have been conversing with a published author & didn't know it! He is @Jessicastrust on twitter http://twitter.com/jessicastrust

His website http://www.jessicastrust.org.uk/

And his book, if I had published a book I'd be twittering every minute about it! http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1905264283?ie=UTF8&tag=jessistrust-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1905264283

Truly inspirational in my opinion, to try & change things for others after such an immnese loss for him, their children and everyone...

kindness

2009-04-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

I have been so touched by everyones kindness as I have tried to collect votes, the kindness of everyone has been heart warming, with only 93 minutes of voting left, I may not win but I have met loads of great people and wonderful animals and been to a apwpawty when I have no paws! Thank you to everyone.

One last time -

Go to link below, click on blue VOTE tab, then put part 2 in search box, click to search, thumbnail result should be Barclaycard waterslide part 2, last couple of days to vote, you can vote everyday, we would so love to win! Thank you x
http://www.youtube.com/barclaycardcreate

sympathy vote

2009-04-03T15:10:00.000-07:00

Do I blog about it I thought, my traumatic (for me) day today, Mrs owner seemed to get confused she went to a play at school, then came home & wrapped presents, I wanted to shout it's not Christmas! Then after I am snoozing the number of children in the house more than doubles, oh my, they moved my entire tortoise village to another room (for safety & noise they said) I was feeling sorry for me, then made myself laugh if I blog about it does it look like I am after the sympathy vote given I have waffled on ever so slightly recently about votes!

Go to link below, click on blue VOTE tab, then put part 2 in search box, click to search, thumbnail result should be Barclaycard waterslide part 2, last couple of days to vote, you can vote everyday, we would so love to win! Thank you x http://www.youtube.com/barclaycardcreate

TV changed my life

2009-04-02T02:59:00.001-07:00

Before todays revelation, if you voted yesterday/day before/never PLEASE vote again today

Click on the blue vote tab thenPut part 2 in search box then click search,the thumbnail that returns will be the one "Barclaycard waterslide part 2" click to watch, Make sure your volume is up, watch, enjoy, click the green thumbs up below & munch on popcorn!

Come back everyday to vote please. http://www.youtube.com/barclaycardcreate it's only until Sunday!!!

For those of you who watched the Apprentice with me, well it was life changing, thank you, my meal times have taken on a whole new dimension, owner says she is charging £60 per head though if anyone is interested in her catering skills = bargain!

Shy!

2009-04-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

Today i am about to reveal myself! The anxiety is setting in, will you all stilll love me when you see what lies beneath my hard shell?

Firstly - I stll need your help, last few days then I will never mention green thumbs again...

Help the lettuce fund, we'd love to win & it would set me up with lettuce for ages - the film can be seen on the link below,

Click on the blue vote tab then

Put part 2 in search box then click search,

the thumbnail that returns will be the one "Barclaycard waterslide part 2" click to watch, Make sure your volume is up, watch, enjoy, click the green thumbs up below & munch on popcorn!

Come back everyday to vote please.

http://www.youtube.com/barclaycardcreate

Now for the picture, this is inside my shell, please be kind with comments, it has taken so much to reveal myself to everyone x

Help the Lettuce fund!

2009-03-31T00:52:00.000-07:00

I am coming to terms with being edited out, owner has promised she'll put a film up of me soon, oh I hope it is soon I am even willing to fill the void on the This Morning Sofa, if @Schofe acts fast then if I leave now I'll be there for September...

Help the lettuce fund, we'd love to win & it would set me up with lettuce for ages - the film can be seen on the link below,

Click on the blue vote tab then

Put part 2 in search box then click search,

the thumbnail that returns will be the one "Barclaycard waterslide part 2" click to watch, Make sure your volume is up, watch, enjoy, click the green thumbs up below & munch on popcorn!

Come back everyday to vote please.

http://www.youtube.com/barclaycardcreate

HELP!

2009-03-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

I mentioned my acting career, I was so busy filming but my shots haven't been used, I am trying to come to terms with it...

The final film can be seen below (Grandad Tortoise is in it)

Put part 2 in search box then click search, the thumbnail that returns will be the one "Barclaycard waterslide part 2" Make sure your volume is up, watch, enjoy, click the green thumbs up below & munch on popcorn!

Come back everyday to vote please.

http://www.youtube.com/barclaycardcreate

My new career

2009-03-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

I have a new career plan, in case my acting career doesn't take off... you've head of a cat burgalar, well I am the tortoise burgalar, I have been practicing climbing out of windows, it was another of those moments where they reach for the camera, I have been living here nearly a year and they still proclaim cute a lot of times, yes you've guessed it there is a picture, it will go down in history as the day i couldn't be bothered to use the door.

Face it... and pancake day

2009-02-24T11:52:00.000-08:00

Somebody who shall remain nameless (for now) wanted to see me, I hope the pic below will help with that...

I heard a lot of talk today about pancake tortoises, if you don't know what I mean imagine a rather squashed looking tortoise & ta-dah you have seen one. I thought they were heading for the frying pan, ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh huge sign of relief when I realised that the tortoise is named AFTER the pancake, that makes sense now :o)

My owner isn't very happy today, she has an operation tomorrow, nothing major but still enough to worry her, I may be a bit quiet for a few hours tomorrow if she takes my net book, how else will I type in her absence? It's a worry...

Also if you haven't voted there is still time left

http://www.lgloop.com/images/2819 register with email, click on activation link & voila!

Speak soon no doubt

HELP I AM UNDER ATTACK!

2009-02-22T06:14:00.000-08:00

Sucy a scary experience today, I had to hide in my shell until danger had passed, it took ages. I was biting away at this huge Romaine lettuce leaf when I was plunged into darkness, my head shot back into my shell & I waited for danger to pass & I waited & waited... then at long last there was light at the end of my shell, the threat had been moved, at this point I felt a bit silly because it was my lettuce leaf that had fallen on me, yes really, there are pics to prove it... she grabbed the camera whilst waiting to see if I moved, like I would move when I thought the sky had fallen in.

Worry ye not, after this attack she has chopped my leaf up so I can eat safely, huge sigh of relief all round :O)

My night out with ...

2009-02-20T06:41:00.001-08:00

I met the Queen, how very exciting, I feel such a lucky tortoise, she didn't speak so much but it was still nice to meet her, managed to sneak a pic :o)

Twitter

2009-02-16T13:31:00.000-08:00

I HAVE ARRIVED!!!

http://twitter.com/TobyTortoise

I am completely up to date & running with the height of technology, well maybe not running, but I have followers, people happy to stroll along and follow me, the excitement is just too much, I need to rest, it's too much, I will tuck myself in after supper, oh the comfort of my own bed.

Night x

Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-14T14:34:00.000-08:00

Shall I compare thee to a lettuce leaf?

Here's a picture of my valentines rose (not exactly mine but they submitted the photo to a competition so I am sure they aren't too shy about it, make their day and vote!)

http://www.lgloop.com/images/2907

Feel free to spread the word, the more the merrier

A day in the studio

2009-02-10T14:56:00.000-08:00

I flew in for a photo session, ready for some amazing art gallery no doubt.

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T12:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year

Sorry I couldn't stay awake until midnight, let's hope 2009 is a good year.

Before I go for lunch I shall share my resolution plans with you, I want to be a model, I will be a model, I'll enclose a picture from a life drawing class, impressive!

Merry Christmas everyone

2008-12-25T14:01:00.000-08:00

Whilst the world goes crazy in the shops, my food has been growing for the last few weeks, lovingly placed by the radiator and by the window in daytime so i had a lovely selection of weeds, it took me hours to eat but it was lovely and I didn't need gravy. perfect day a morning in the bath (because I am clever and can drink through my legs :oP )an exquisite lunch, there was even a present fo rme under the tree, the excitment I nearly jumped out of my shell, asleep by 5pm, all tucked in.

Happy Christmas :o)

Just in case anyone is worried about me having a beard, the effects were put on after the photo wa staken, after 6 months later, I didn't come to any harm, I didn't wear a Santa hat either

My own holiday home

2008-12-15T13:58:00.000-08:00

It was meant to be for Christmas but... I look so cute I got it the same day it was bought, my very own woodland lodge... it terrified me, seriously I walked around for hours trying to avoid it, then... it was bedtime, my beloved cardboard box was GONE imagine my distress, so she went & got it again, in time I have come to love my new home, it even has a window, just took a bit of getting used to. As I grow the door may need to be widened, how offensive is that??? Wide, me?

Pics to follow...

Happy Birthday me

2008-10-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

How much excitement can I handle??? It's my birthday today I AM 2, I got cards which of course are put up for me to see and a present AND a cake, guess how many candles there were... 2 yellow due to them not knowing for sure I am a boy, to find out for sure they'd need to have me x-rayed but they think that's a bit mean just to satisfy curiousity, I'll stick with Mr for now

A picture of my grand cake, from Marks & Spencers no expense spared! No I didn't eat any, and it was past my bedtime at 5.30pm when they lit the candles.

Wordle

2008-06-26T14:44:00.001-07:00

Pansy

2008-06-25T15:42:00.001-07:00

An update

2008-06-16T14:27:00.000-07:00

My outdoor garden is developing well, I favour eating the dandelions but as yet I outstrip supply, apparently more seeds are on the way - I hope they grow fast.

More exciting news, I got told off, oh I felt so naughty & a little embarrassed, I had a poo in my bedroom. My toilet habits leave a lot to be desired. On Saturday when I was in the bath I had an almighty weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, it jetted across the bath - I was so proud - they were astonished by the way I bring my head in & propel the wee out! Oh & followed by a poo, they talked about what else I could do for hat trick? What more could I do?

I am in love with Heather, she is lovely, I like to cuddle up to her, occasionally under her & the other day I actually climbed all over her so I could eat a pansy flower, it was a purple one. I may add another photo, do you think I have grown?

I have been enjoying the hotter weather, a nice chance to explore & munch away for a few hours oh & spend time with Heather of course.

Pics will have to wait for another day...

Gym'll fix it

2008-04-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

I was walking today on my express little legs, I tried the wooden floor too, a bit like skating apparently, I thought I'd need wheels to skate. I was put back into my village when trying to dig into the carpet, well if I don't try I will never know. On my walk I came across these dumbells, I could impress everyone with my muscley arms...

Name calling

2008-04-24T13:56:00.000-07:00

Another sunny day, well I was out in th egarden & discovered these amazing leaves, I sat chomping them in the sun, perect, then the name calling started, I just kept hearing it, really there is no need to call me a Pansy

A letter for me

2008-04-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

It's exciting AND It's true, I got a letter addressed to Mr/Mrs Tortoise, it was even in an envelope, how exciting, I have been trying to read it, I figured following the words with my feet would help, well I don't have fingers and my claws are quite sharp

Party eve

2008-04-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Today apparently is birthday party eve, tomorrow more of the little people arrive for a party, all I can say is I hope it's not at my nap time, or if it is that they are quiet, I'm sure they will be...

Well today, I have been rock climbing whilst they marvelled at my agility, the little people have been home more & it's lovely to listen to them talk to me, I get to find out all sorts, they also ask questions, I am talking back in shell language. I thought I'd make it outside today, but no, maybe tomorrow, the grass has been cut so I should be easier to find, I love hide & seek.

For those following my bowel movements, yes it happened today, then I sat in it, they seem to complain, they just have no idea of how to live.

Shocking, no pictures today, I know, I feel abandoned too.

As my secretary writes I am burrowing down, tucking myself in for the night with my duvet, well hemp.

Betrayed

2008-04-14T14:32:00.000-07:00

I got up full of energy at 8.15, yes I like these quarter past an hour type times, I wondered if I could tempt them away from the zoo but no, I got my food incredibly early, I bet she makes me walk more on other days for that, it was virtually breakfast in bed! They said bye to me so many times I wondered if they'd change their minds & take me with them, but no, off they went to my day of quiet, I munched on some lettuce, thought of being on Jeremy Kyle with episode titles like "I need to come out of my shell!" "Which tortoise is my father?" Slept between munching on lettuce. They got back years, OK hours later moaning about being tired, honestly all they did was walk around & look at a few animals. There was a a giant tortoise living with some smaller ones, apparently like the one they looked into buying until they realised how big they grow! Lucky for me I guess unless there was another owner waiting with a two floored tortoise village for me maybe with a lift for my lazy days?

The most shocking news of today, no pictures were taken of me, they have a photo of gorillas, tigers, lions a million monkeys, sea lions, other tortoise but none of me. I have enclosed a picture of "The others"

A picture of the giant tortoise, apparently not as cute as me :o) http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2971154920012351361XpRRGS?vhost=outdoors

They can be so fussy

2008-04-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

The scary ghost

My plastic smelling friend

You wouldn't believe the time I got up this morning - 9.16 and it's not even a food day, I came out of my house doorway, that always gets them, makes it look like I have a gigantic shell on my back! I wanted the warmth of my sun lamp, clever thing, doesn't move like the real sun but provides light & warmth, what more could I ask for? So she went out on her own, the others went out later, then they came back so I had a walk round, need to keep them entertained. I now look at them when they talk to me, they are so easy to impress, they spent ages today talking about whether I had ears & if so where are they, honestly the questions they come up with. Thankfully I have googled some info for them
"EARS
Although these may not be obvious, tortoises do have ears. Look along outside of-the neck on each side of the head; there should be two dark circular markings. These should be smooth - any lumps or swellings could indicate an ear abscess." from http://www.britishcheloniagroup.org.uk/caresheets/advice.htm so that should answer that one, who ever heard of a tortoise with no ears?????

I had a great time climbing over my rocks, all of them, I walked & walked, I had a wee as well, they marvelled at my movement beforehand, honestly can I have no privacy? So given my wee was in my village, they had a great idea to put me on the carpet (due to be replaced soon) It was lovely they all lay down to talk to me, I walked & walked, I met a friend, don't know what that was, smelt a bit like plastic. I walked a bit more, then suddenly a shout "The poo is coming out!" She thought they were joking until someone else said "Really it's coming out, do something!" So I flew back into my village so my poo is there should I decide to eat it, highly unlikely I think but the thought is there. I was glad to get back in there really, didn't like to say but I think their carpet is haunted wherever I walked I was being followed by this dark ghost like creature they kept talking about the cute shadow so maybe they are used to the ghost? Look carefully at the pics, you can see the scary ghost, kind of tortoiseish shaped. So much to learn about these people. I went to bed a bit earlier tonight, had to after my expedition & the poo.

Before my secretary finishes for the night, you will never ever guess where they are going tomorrow, I could hardly believe my ears (because I DO have ears) the zoo, they have me at home to watch all day & they decide to spend their time watching some bigger things wandering round and pay to see them, crazy! Bad news too they want more pets namely a flamingo and a giraffe have been mentioned well as long as they don't want to share my village.

Bath day

2008-04-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

Well today didn't go as expected, I woke up about 10.15 which is kind of early for me, I crawled out from under the side of my house instead of using the door, well doors are so predictable. I sat in the sun rays for a short time then went on a walk, I went through the tunnel, over the rocks (I became a little attached to one particular rock for a while) I walked here & there, no food to be found, I kept hearing mention of bath but no water appeared. I had a short sleep in the midday sun then when I woke I shortly flew over to my bath. I know what you are thinking tortoise do not fly, but she says I do & I sure do move fast to get to my bath, no legs used, I do appear to fly, maybe that is why she thinks I am so amazing! I spent about 30 minutes in the bath, walking around, like most people probably do, then I flew back to my stone, the big one on the corner where I waved my legs around to make a snow tortoise kind of shape, then I nibbled on some lettuce, that smore my kind of thing. Oh there were some of those seedling things she has been growing, nice to have a bit of variety. Whilst she waved a paintbrush around I had a lovely afternoon snooze in the sun lamp, lovely, woke up for more lettuce, was munching away when it went dark so I went to bed, through the door, they gathered to watch me saying how clever I was. I was making a sharp exit really because Doctor Who was on, terrifying images, I may have nightmares... In fact my nightmare started earlier when she took a picture of me in the bath, no towel, nothing just me relaxing, notice the blushing...

A quiet day

2008-04-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

I have spent a quiet day in my shell, there was a stranger here sticking pieces of paper on the wall for hours, everyone else went out, it was just me and him, scary! When she came back she seemed very enthusiastic about this paper stuff, she paid him then he left. it was just plain paper not a tortoise in sight, boring if you ask me not to mention strange. I almost forgot the strange smell, didn't like to mention it at the time but whatever was in that pot he spread it over the ceilings.

Tomorrow is bath day, yippeeeeeeeee, also I think I'll be weighed, kind of like weightwatchers for tortoise, my weights gets plotted on the graph. I need to be weighed at the same time each week but hopefully I wont have lost weight or she'll worry I don't know how much I'll have gained, I had rather a lot of lettuce the other day, then I went back for another leaf, I just couldn't resist, wonder if that will show on the scales? I hope there is a meeting afterwards where we can swop lettuce recipes. Talking of recipes, apparently some seeds have been planted for me, it's not lettuce, they have been growing rather slowly, she was tempted to put it under my heat lamp but didn't want to look like a cannabis farm, she is fussy. An ingenious plan was to put 2 lots of seeds in one pot, a different one in each half, her famous last words were I'll remember which are which, half have grown, absolutley nothing from the other side of the pot so that meal is kind of a surprise cos she can't remember which side were which seeds, maybe it's me Sunday lunch. I'll keep you informed.

The Great Escape

2008-04-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

She made me a temporary enclosure in the garden..., I made a run for it... This was after the my mad half hour, I went through my tunnel 3 times, over my rocks, had a poo then wiped my bum on the side of my bowl & some watercress, perfect!

Yawn

2008-04-06T14:44:00.000-07:00

My day today was just so tiring, I yawned twice!

Yum

2008-04-04T05:43:00.001-07:00

Today I have a mixture of water cress & Organic romaine lettuce, sprinkled with a little Nutrobal just to make sure I am getting enough calcium, I got up late this morning, had a wander round, then waited for lunch, when it arrived I thought it was so yummy I would sit in it! Then I went back to bed, I got up about 6pm for more lettuce, what a frightening experience the leaf was so big each time I bit into it it came down over my head so fast I retreated into my shell, lettuce can be so scary sometimes.

Attached pic, if you look carefully my mouth is open, thats one of about 50 pics taken of me today, she is obsessed!

Tomorrow is bath day, full of toys & bubbles, well no, but it's nice anyway.

Ouch!

2008-04-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

Imagine this,

You fall asleep in the warmth of the sun, the sun goes off with a click of a switch in your half awake, mainly alseep state you try & make it to bed but instead end up trying to get under a tunnel (made from an empty big toblerone tube) you are digging away wondering why you can't get in. When a big hand reaches in, lifts you up, tucks you in & puts the box on top of you.

I want to be a tortoise.

Disaster struck today, he had a piece of hemp, like straw in his eye, he couldn't open one eye so I went to remove it but caught his little head, scared him & he vanished SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fast into his little shell. I kept saying sorry but he took a while to come out, then when he did I got the piece out of his eye, phew what a relief!

I talk to him, tell him when I am going out, when I'll be back etc, I love having him here to talk to.

Mother & baby

2008-04-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=540089&in_page_id=1770

I just love this picture

A new arrival

2008-03-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

After much saving, ebaying, and a bit of begging, our tortoise is here, he is just so cute, he travelled home in a box with hemp in, we peeped inside at each oppurtunity. He is settling in well, he had a little bath, a drink & a walk around his new home. He is just so cute.