Ours isn't a happy household at the moment. I went to check on Charlie today and found him dead. Gawd I didn't think I could get so upset over a bloody tortoise and Her Ladyship didn't help blarting her eyes out
Many years ago, about 50, a friend of my parents found Charlie and gave him to my youngest sister who was 4 at the time. We have no idea how old Charlie was when my sister had him but over the years he as been passed down amongst our family.
My sister grew up and got married so my parents were left to care for Charlie. He did get lost one winter but my father found him coming out of hibernation whilst he was mowing the grass. Charlie had burrowed into the soil and my father said the hole was the length of his arm.
Our family then came along and my parents gave Charlie to our daughter and since she left home, just over 20 years ago, we have had him.
Charlie had the run of the garden and we always left him out when going away and family or neighbours made sure he was watered.
Last year, for the first time, he escaped from our garden. After my wife putting it on the radio and me printing off posters for the local shops our neighbour across the road found him asleep on his path. I did worry that he might have fell in the pond and turned turtle.
Because he escaped, despite not knowing how, my cousin offered to have him when we were away on our jaunts.
Reading advice to the contrary we've always put him away in his box to hibernate in hay. Apparently the dust from the hay can give them problems although Charlie has survived this way for 50 years. This year, because my wife no longer keeps guinea pigs which used hay, we decided to put him to bed in shredded newspaper. It would be a bummer if this is what caused his death despite this method being recommended.
Alas Charlie is no more. He didn't do tricks or fetch a ball but he will still be sorely missed after being a part of our family for so many years
Many years ago, about 50, a friend of my parents found Charlie and gave him to my youngest sister who was 4 at the time. We have no idea how old Charlie was when my sister had him but over the years he as been passed down amongst our family.
My sister grew up and got married so my parents were left to care for Charlie. He did get lost one winter but my father found him coming out of hibernation whilst he was mowing the grass. Charlie had burrowed into the soil and my father said the hole was the length of his arm.
Our family then came along and my parents gave Charlie to our daughter and since she left home, just over 20 years ago, we have had him.
Charlie had the run of the garden and we always left him out when going away and family or neighbours made sure he was watered.
Last year, for the first time, he escaped from our garden. After my wife putting it on the radio and me printing off posters for the local shops our neighbour across the road found him asleep on his path. I did worry that he might have fell in the pond and turned turtle.
Because he escaped, despite not knowing how, my cousin offered to have him when we were away on our jaunts.
Reading advice to the contrary we've always put him away in his box to hibernate in hay. Apparently the dust from the hay can give them problems although Charlie has survived this way for 50 years. This year, because my wife no longer keeps guinea pigs which used hay, we decided to put him to bed in shredded newspaper. It would be a bummer if this is what caused his death despite this method being recommended.
Alas Charlie is no more. He didn't do tricks or fetch a ball but he will still be sorely missed after being a part of our family for so many years
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