COLD DARK ROOM

Yvonne G

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View attachment 215146





Alfie had been with Mrs wifey for years, and in Mr Adam's humble opinion it was a miracle that he was still alive, and he lived on her balcony summer and winter. Mr Adam had joined Tortoise Forum, which was pretty darned clever as it hadn't been invented yet, and knew that the hard tiles of the terrace were terribly bad for Alfie's feet and legs, though it did keep his beak and claws trimmed nicely. He was also aware that Horsfield tortoises, for Alfie was a Testudo horsfieldii, known as Horsfields in the UK and Russians everywhere else, except Russia, probably, were excellent climbers and diggers and Alfie would be happier with a nice substrate such as fine grade orchid bark, coco coir or even cypress mulch to burrow into and walk on. But Mr Adam was too shy to say anything.
Originally, Mrs wifey had placed planks around the edge of the balcony so that Alfie could walk about without toppling over the edge, but these had been replaced by much higher walls after Alfie had been seen climbing them and Mrs wifey had heard at the bingo from her friend Mrs Moozillion that a Horsfield had recently been found at Base Camp Three on Everest.
And in one corner of the balcony was a little house into which little Alfie would crawl every night to keep warm.


When the cold weather came along in November, Mrs wifey would fill Alfie's house with dry hay which would make him sneeze terribly and would sometimes go moldy when wet (sigh) and the tortoise would crawl in there and bury himself deep under the hay and go to sleep for months on end without any food or water. This was called hibernating by Mrs wifey, and brumating by Mr Adam who was right as usual. But he was too shy to correct her.



Page 8


Love the thatch roof!
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Feb 11, 2015
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48,539
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Fes, Morocco
Good evening Adam. Yep ok day here despite the incessant rain, apparently we are getting a months rain in two days. It is August and I have resorted to putting the heating on because we are all cold!
Crikey !
You could politely ask some of it to come over here, we could do with some.
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Feb 11, 2015
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Fes, Morocco
Have been at my sisters second hand bookshop today and picked up a copy of Esio Trot. I reckoned I should read the original to see how well you are telling the tale!! Very good so far my friend!
The pictures should be quite close to those in the book.
Even details like the "Made In ...." stamp on the back of the tortoise house, the positions the characters stand in, the tortoise shots, should all be as close as possible. :)
It's a lovely little book.
Thank you for the compliment. :<3:
 

JSWallace

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Joined
Mar 5, 2017
Messages
911
The pictures should be quite close to those in the book.
Even details like the "Made In ...." stamp on the back of the tortoise house, the positions the characters stand in, the tortoise shots, should all be as close as possible. :)
It's a lovely little book.
Thank you for the compliment. :<3:
Oh yes I hadn't quite noticed your attention to detail, that is so impressive. I love it!!
 

Tidgy's Dad

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Feb 11, 2015
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48,539
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Fes, Morocco
I know I can't wait! I will send a picture of Nelly so that she can take part, just need the rain to stop so that she will look happier!
That'd be great !
All white background or polished wood if possible with one piece of lettuce in the mouth or just in front of or just behind Nelly.
There's quite a few days before I need them, so a fair chance it will stop raining. :rolleyes:
 
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