Tuesday 2 October 2012

The Story of Tips

Yesterday I introduced you to Tips. There was some speculation whether something dire had happened to either Sprinkles or Slush, and Tips was a replacement. No. There was also speculation that Tips was a rodent of a kind other than a gerbil. No! So why did we increase the resident gerbil population?

Emily started talking about getting a friend for Sprinkles and Slush last week. What with her being ill and all I don't think I shot the idea down well enough. I did, however, explain that gerbils are territorial little animals and it is very difficult to introduce a new gerbil to ones that are already established in a gerbilarium.

Instead the girls asked their dad if they could get some new fish for our aquarium. This in itself poses problems as our rather large catfish tend to think new introductions are lunch rather than fellow fish tank friends. But in the scheme of things new fish was a better idea than a new gerbil. Off they went on Saturday.

Needless to say Emily scuttled straight over to the rodent cages in the pet shop. And Emily fell in love - with Tips. Fish were bought. Gerbil treats were bought. They left the shop without said gerbil. Emily fell apart emotionally. Himself gave in, and home they came with Tips.

What followed involved hysteria on the part of the girls. Sprinkles and Slush gave Tips a welcome worthy of gang warfare. It was not pretty apparently. I did not witness it. Tips had been removed to safety by the time I arrived on the scene.

So there we were. One mother trying desperately not to say, 'I told you so!' Two girls upset, and one husband informing me that the pet shop had never said anything when told the new gerbil would be joining two others. (Himself hadn't been in on the conversation where I told the girls what would most likely happen.)

Back they went to the pet shop on Sunday. Oh, said the pet shop person, yesterday's salesperson should never have sold you the gerbil knowing it was to join two others. It has always lived on its own so will always have to live on its own. Our mistake.

Cue big apologies on their part. And the deal of a lifetime of a new gerbilarium, food, bedding and treats for the grand sum of £20.

So we are now the proud owners to three gerbils, in two gerbilariums, in a house that barely has room for all the crap in it already. But Emily is still in love with Tips, and she has parents that are too soft for their own good.


Admittedly, even I like Tips, in a 'she's a rodent and don't make me touch her' sort of way. She is the easiest of the three for being held. And looks ever so sweet in her favourite sleeping positions, which are either with her head stuck in an empty toilet roll tube (as seen above) or in her food dish.

And that is why we now have another gerbil.

Susan

38 comments:

  1. At least he didn't bring home a puppy! :o)

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  2. My girls are never going to be allowed to read your blog - they might get ideas! Good luck (ugh)

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  3. Ha, ha, aren't kids so smart when they want something, I have a 3 year old who is already a master manipulater, heaven knows how bad she'll be when she wants a pet! I wont let her in the pet shop with her Dad, he's a total soft touch!! Ange x

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  4. Tips is very cute. And don't we all cave in when our kids are a bit low?

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  5. I love it that the kids know to go to their dad!
    I don't do rodenty things in any way shape or form. I hope she has a happy life with you, and that the girls get tremndous pleasure from her, but I really can't be more enthusiastic than that!!!!

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  6. So how is the whole kicking all the wood shavings all over the floor thing working out for you then?
    From the parents of an Ex Gerbil owner:)

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  7. I think you need to have strong words with husband about the way he gives in too easily and how he should always check with you before making sweeping statements like "of course you can have...." - oh and stop taking the girls to the pet shop!

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  8. I feel for you! And we only have one guinea pig (we did have two, but that's another story).

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  9. I actually I would be the one to go to about pets.. There is no way I would be able to stay away... And Tips is so cute!

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  10. BAHAHAHAHAHA
    suckers
    That is all.

    (but I understand the power of a child's pullllleeease googly eyes...)

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  11. I think Emily has a Father who is too soft for his own good! You, on the other hand, are his long suffering wife! You deserve a medal! Or a new and bigger house, at least!!😃

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  12. could have been a dog, that's all I'm saying ;-)

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  13. Well, nothing wrong with her brain anyway - take the soft touch, turn the tears on, WHILST ILL... You're lucky she stopped at a gerbil...
    Oooh mummys new threat - behave girls or I'll put one back in the wrong cage...

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  14. what a story ,hope every one is happy and settled now ............she looks a sweetie in a rodent sort of way !!!

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  15. These are the stories of life that will give you and your girls memories. You may be called "suckers" but clearly you truly love your girls!

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  16. Yup, more rodents is not good, but at least there is a little cuteness too.

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  17. you two are super softies! will you come over and get me a donkey? I want one and himself (totally logically) says no.

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  18. Donkeys are cute...especially in the cold months when they get all wooly. Please, go help Cindy out.

    Can't say a thing about the pet....we've had tons. I'm good with anything but reptiles and spiders.

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  19. Oh you big softie! How's Em today? Jxo

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  20. Awwww..you might just have to build on a house addition soon!!

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  21. As we have always had two terriers, rodents and rabbits have always been absolutely out of the question, and I have to admit that I never had to have any sort of arguments - terriers would most definitely regard guinea pigs or anything else small and furry as lunch!

    But we have still ended up with far more wildlife than is consonant with a quiet life ...

    I hope Emily has completely recovered now - I have been thinking about you both.

    Pomona x

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  22. Hold on a second... (I'm still chuckling)!!
    You and the Mr. are softies through and through ;O)
    Tips has got it made in the shade with the best people!

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  23. Thank goodness she doesn't like ponies!! Are you sure she wouldn't have been happy with a Sylvanian families gerbil?!

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  24. You know I did wonder about the whole Tips thing yesterday but thought maybe I'd just not paid enough attention before and had got the name and number of previous rodents wrong!

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  25. Well, Tips IS cute, there is that! Just make sure the girls never take their dad to a pony shop...

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  26. I love this story of soft, caving parenthood! (I must admit I'd never be soft enough to cave to a rodent, but then I'm "mean mum"). Glad it brought a smile to the girls, and don't that pet shop have a great scam going on - keep schtum while they buy the thing then fleece them for another £20 next day?!

    Hope Emily is beginning to feel better.

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  27. He is very cute for a rodent!

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  28. Mmm...waay to soft! Rather you than me is all I can say. I'm far to mean a mother to let my boys have rodents! Good luck. Di x

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  29. I learned something new today. Gerbils are territorial and you my dear are a softy for sure.

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  30. Lol. I really did laugh out loud ... At sleepy Sarah's comment! You big pair of softies! I'm in the mean mummy camp too!

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  31. Oh I know it was a bit of a pain but I'm glad Emily got Tips - hope she's doing okay.

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  32. Never knew that about gerbils (and I had 21 of them at one point). They seem really big .. I don't remember mine being that large. are there different kinds of gerbils (other than male and female which I learned to identify the hard way)?

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  33. This... "I like Tips in a 'she's a rodent and I don't make me touch her' sort of way... has me choking with laughter. That is exactly how I feel about the two guinea pigs that found their way to our house last Soring. First it was six kids and two cats, then the two guinea pigs an now a puppy! It's a dangerous road, but we're pretty much doctors too. Lol

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  34. **hang my head in shame* * Really? I don't know what to say! Frying pan!

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  35. Well at least she didn't become lunch before she was rescued o.O

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  36. Did you just increase the chances of those three gerbils becoming an entire pack ?

    Welcome to the new addition. At this rate you're only one animal away from officially being a zoo!

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  37. In my day, I had a nothing smaller than a rabbit rule plus the great excuse I put forward that our cats would eat hamsters!

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