Krissy Nichols

Poznan's pigs

2009-05-15T02:40:00.000-07:00

Jedburgh Abbey

2009-05-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

More behaving like Children in Jedburgh Abbey. They have dressing up facilities and medievel engineering puzles which are actually much harder than they look!

Peel rolling at Linlithgow palace

2009-05-14T02:24:00.000-07:00

Sometimes its good to have a day off and behave like children. Over the May day holidays a wee group of us went to Linlithgow Palace for a picnic and to roll down some hills. A word of advise - dont try this when hung over...

Dr Who Exhibtion, Glasgow

2009-04-22T03:24:00.001-07:00

Our little red chilli...

2009-04-22T03:21:00.000-07:00

And we grew it all ourselves!

Interesting point of view...

2009-02-03T02:20:00.001-08:00

Cloning our way to survival -Ashish Fernandes

In the first week of the new millennium, a gaur called Noah was born in Iowa in the United States. Not an ordinary gaur, but the product of a cloning operation wherein DNA from the skin cells of a gaur that died in 1993 was fused with cow eggs stripped of their nuclei and then implanted in a surrogate mother, an Angus-Hereford cow.
Noah's birth was greeted with acclaim across the world. The gaur is an endangered species, so there has been much speculation that this development could hold great potential for preventing the extinction of species and even for resurrecting species that have vanished from the face of the earth. The scientists who cloned Noah soon announced that a recently extinct Spanish goat, the bucardo, was next in line and another group is reportedly keen to clone a 20,000-year-old frozen woolly mammoth found in Siberia. Within a few days of Noah's birth, an announcement was made that the Indian government was setting up a project to clone the extinct Asiatic cheetah at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad, at a cost of Rs. five crores. The possibilities seem endless. With thousands of species hurtling towards extinction, this technology could solve the problem of the earth's vanishing wildlife.
Or so they said. Noah died within 48 hours, apparently of clostridial enteritis, a bacterial infection, probably contracted from his mother. The scientists working on the project insisted that Noah's death had nothing to do with him being a clone.
By some estimates, 137 species are disappearing from the earth each day, which adds up to an astounding 50,000 species every year, about 1,000 times the natural rate of extinction. Given this scenario and the gloom it often inspires, the idea that we can simply recreate species is extremely alluring.
Yet one can't help feeling that this is a short-sighted view. Whether Noah would have survived or not, the argument that cloning offers a way out of the conservation crisis facing the planet leaves one feeling a bit uneasy, and for a variety of reasons.
Cloning is prohibitively expensive at the moment. When most biodiversity areas across the world, especially in the South, are starved of funds for routine protection and maintenance work, surely that money is better used to protect what still remains? The cloning establishment would like the public to believe that this is the solution to the problem of conserving endangered species, but if a fraction of the funds that would be necessary to carry out such programmes on a sufficiently
large scale were devoted immediately to the areas that need them most, cloning species might not be necessary at all! While India's wildlife protection budget is abysmally inadequate, five crores miraculously appeared for the cheetah cloning project!
Of course, there are innumerable other issues as well. Once animals are cloned, what about the reintroduction process? Assuming, of course, that reintroduction into the wild is the end purpose of the cloning game. This will require further inputs in terms of finances and effort. And exactly how feasible the artificial rearing and reintroduction of higher carnivores is, remains anyone's guess, given the overwhelming role that environment and upbringing plays in training young ones to hunt and survive on their own. A tiger cub, for example, learns to stalk its prey by watching its mother, while a chital fawn needs the protection of the herd. Neither will avail of these benefits from a lab assistant, no matter how highly trained.
Implanting cloned embryos in wild surrogate mothers will be infinitely more difficult and prone to complications than using a captive surrogate mother. Added to this is the very real possibility that the entire million-dollar experiment could be unexpectedly eaten by a hungry tiger!
The global community is looking for 'techno-fix' solutions to the ecological problems humanity has brought on itself. "So what if our activities destroy something? We can just create it again!" This ignores the root cause of the problem and attempts to address the symptoms, not the disease itself. Even if we did clone and release a few hundred tigers into the wild, they would continue to have their habitat destroyed by one mega-project or another or be poached for the Chinese medicine trade. Cloning appears so attractive because it seems to be the easy way out to counter extinctions, rather than the tougher option of protecting wild habitats. Convincing politicians and bureaucrats of the need to protect wildlife is hard enough, without having to contend with this argument too.
At best (assuming we leave aside ethical issues), cloning might have a very minor supporting role to play in the much larger effort to protect what is left today, habitats as well as species. So while cloning might be a 'big step' forward in the science of genetics, it is about as far away from true conservation as you can get.

Contact Ashish Fernandes, Assistant Editor of Sanctuary Magazine.
Send your comments on this article to info@sanctuaryasia.com or join our Discussion Board

http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/features/detailfeatures.php?id=533

Weird Vegetable

2009-01-20T12:23:00.000-08:00

Its a Broci-flower!

My favourite creature at the aquarium!

2009-01-18T14:18:00.000-08:00

The crawfish are amazing! I could sit and watch them for hours! They have a pair which are like an old married couple. The male follows the lady around and she just baps him one and strops off. They're hilarious! :)

Dont eat Crawfish!

Mary Kings Close

2009-01-18T13:54:00.001-08:00

When Dad was visiting in December we all went on a tour of Mary Kings Close. Mary Kings Close is the remains of the old city of Edinburgh which has been found under the Royal Mile.

There are so many Ghost-type tours in Edinburgh so its hard to know which one to go this. This one, however is a definate must see!

Kelso and Jonathan Shark swimming

2009-01-18T11:45:00.001-08:00

For a Christmas present Jonathan and his Dad went diving with sharks at the National Acquarium, North Queensferry.

A wee group of us went along to support them. I made sure he had life insurance before letting him dive!

The largest san tiger shark is 3.2 metres long- which is quite impressive. The National Acquarium has one of the largest underwater tunnels in the world which meant that we could watch the boys energetically swimming about while we took photos and listened to relaxing music!

Big Wheel, Princes street

2009-01-18T08:40:00.000-08:00

Lucy and Adam somehow managed to get me on the big wheel on Princes Street over New Year. Adam kept trying to turn the cage round really fast. I was so not impressed!

New Year's Day

2009-01-18T08:34:00.000-08:00

Lucy and I watched the boys canoe on the Tay on New Year's Day. As you can see the water was freezing! Adam fell in twice! Madness.

Catching up with old friends

2009-01-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

Over X-Mas Tina and Marco stayed with us. It was lovely to catch up after all this time and we were introduced to real chinese food!

New Year's day meal at Ann Purna

2009-01-18T08:29:00.000-08:00

On New Years day the ten of us all went out to dinner at Ann Purna, Newington Edinburgh. Any excuse to go to my favourite restaurant - the food as always was amazing. And vegetarian!

Camera Obscurer, Edinburgh

2009-01-18T08:26:00.001-08:00

I went to the Camera Obscurer for the first time over the Xmas break. It was great fun and well worth a visit!

Ice skating at the outdoor rink on Princes street, Edinburgh

2009-01-18T08:20:00.000-08:00

During the Xmas break we tried out the ice rink on Princes Street. Although an overpriced novelty, with the ice being more like snow than ice, it was still fun.

New Year's eve street party, Edinburgh

2009-01-18T08:08:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year 2009!

1st MSc project

2009-01-18T08:04:00.001-08:00

Lay abstract

Both Northern Rockhopper penguins and Southern Rockhopper penguins are threatened with extinction. Their numbers are declining due to loss of habitat and effects of man. Since 1973 Edinburgh Zoo has housed 84 Rockhoppers, which it has, encourage to breed as an insurance policy for the wild population. Unfortunately this has had limited success. Currently they house 18 northern rockhoppers.

Zoo records pose a rich resource for identifying causes of reproductive failure. This study aims to review these and compare them with studies done in the wild to make suggestions to help rockhoppers reproduce. Data was reviewed using organisational trees and analysed using simple statistics.

Four original wild females produced chicks, which went on to rear their own chicks to adulthood. This leads to concerns regarding the gene pool size. 44% of females do not lay eggs, those that do have 70% infertility. 49% of hatched chicks reach sexual maturity. 81% of neonatal deaths occur in the first month. Neonatal post-mortem reports were inconclusive, not giving precise reasons for chick death, and need more investigations.

Females and males are overweight at breeding season compared to wild living birds. This may reduce fertility therefore weight loss is advised. A higher proportion of eggs hatch to wild-born mothers than to captive born mothers. This maybe because wild mothers weighed less since they ate less in captivity or, their more aggressive personalities provided an outlet so stress did not affect their fertility. Both 1^st and 2^nd laid eggs hatch in equal numbers therefore should be treated with the same care. The current average age of females is over 21 years and so seniority may affect fertility.

Many limitations are present regarding the extent of conclusions drawn, however areas in which the reproductive process may fail have been identified and areas requiring further study highlighted.

Key words: Southern, rockhopper, Northern rockhopper, Infertility, neonatal death, overweight

Abstract word count: 300 words

Not that I believe this crap but...

2008-09-05T11:11:00.001-07:00

krissy

Sun Sign: Libra

October 15

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Your horoscope for September 5, 2008 It would seem that your sensitivity is in slight conflict with your actions, krissy. You continue to go through the daily motions and do what you planned on doing, but it seems as if your heart isn't in it anymore. Don't ask yourself why. It's just that you have worked hard and have been thinking hard lately. You have reached your limit and it is time for you to rest.

Act 3. Scene V Romeo and Juliet - by William Shakespeare

2008-09-02T00:35:00.000-07:00

SCENE V. Capulet's orchard.

Enter ROMEO and JULIET above, at the window

JULIET
Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day:
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
That pierced the fearful hollow of thine ear;
Nightly she sings on yon pomegranate-tree:
Believe me, love, it was the nightingale.

ROMEO
It was the lark, the herald of the morn,
No nightingale: look, love, what envious streaks
Do lace the severing clouds in yonder east:
Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
I must be gone and live, or stay and die.

JULIET
Yon light is not day-light, I know it, I:
It is some meteor that the sun exhales,
To be to thee this night a torch-bearer,
And light thee on thy way to Mantua:
Therefore stay yet; thou need'st not to be gone.

ROMEO
Let me be ta'en, let me be put to death;
I am content, so thou wilt have it so.
I'll say yon grey is not the morning's eye,
'Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia's brow;
Nor that is not the lark, whose notes do beat
The vaulty heaven so high above our heads:
I have more care to stay than will to go:
Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.
How is't, my soul? let's talk; it is not day.

JULIET
It is, it is: hie hence, be gone, away!
It is the lark that sings so out of tune,
Straining harsh discords and unpleasing sharps.
Some say the lark makes sweet division;
This doth not so, for she divideth us:
Some say the lark and loathed toad change eyes,
O, now I would they had changed voices too!
Since arm from arm that voice doth us affray,
Hunting thee hence with hunt's-up to the day,
O, now be gone; more light and light it grows.

ROMEO
More light and light; more dark and dark our woes!

Hamlet by the RSC

2008-08-31T08:29:00.000-07:00

Last night we went to see Dr Who driven to madness after his father Jean Luc Picard was murdered by his uncle also Jean Luc Picard.

Absolutely amazing!

Still dont know which of the two I fancy more though!

Do not stand at my grave and weep - Mary Frye

2008-08-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
'

Bank holiday punting

2008-08-25T12:51:00.000-07:00

Jonathan and I spent the day punting in Cambridge with family. The boys (a canoist & a rower) wanted to show that punting was an inferior method of water transport.

All they really succeeded in proving was that the girls punt better than boys... (!)

Whatever turns you on!

2008-08-10T11:01:00.000-07:00

Just a wee picture for my little brother, Edward. You know what I'm talking about!!! Yeah I love ya ;'P

Mrs Lucy Derbyshire!

2008-08-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

As you all know I hate Weddings. I find them incredibly depressing. I seldom feel that a women betters herself through marriage but I wont bore you with my feminist bigotry. There is also my added cynism regarding relying on any other human being to be dealt with. So all in all I avoid them & can therefore pretend that this folly does not go on.

Seldom I am so happy that two people decide to commit themselves to one another. My baby sister got lucky. And Im so so proud of her. And to my family who for the most part hate one another - I am so proud of you all too for putting Lucy & Adams special day a head of your own grievences.

So to Mr & Mrs Derbyshire I would like to say congratualtions :)

Grumpy Monkey

2008-08-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

Hen party!

2008-08-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was my sisters hen party. Unfortunately the photos, like the evening were a bit blurred!!!

And no you're not getting the gossip.

But yes there was a stripper...

Look-a-likes

2008-08-04T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hey Patrick, Jessica from "Next Top Model" could be your sister!

House

2008-07-28T05:47:00.000-07:00

Okay so I know getting caught up with television series is not a good idea but how great is House?!!!

Having got into the recent 4th series Im now tracking down the other 3! Right now Im half way through the second. Why dont House and Cameron just get it on?! Life is soooo unfair!

P.s Hugh Lawrie is Hot. Well he is.

More Shakespheare

2008-07-28T05:36:00.000-07:00

Not had much of a Shakespeare fix lately but on Wenesday 16th July I went to an open air performance of "A Midsummer Nights Dream" at Brueton Park In Solihul.

The performance was very sweet and the weather just held out for the performance, thank goodness!

Trip to Berlin

2008-07-28T05:22:00.000-07:00

Did you know you can drink and dance for 24 hours straight in Berlin?

Obviously I was there to work hard though on a course at the IZW, Tierpark on "Non-monitoring Reproductive Hormones in Zoo Animals". The course was very informative and I met some very lovely people.

For those of you still searching for the meaning of life I can tell you its "Fifteen"!!!

Anyone for a BBQ?

2008-07-28T05:17:00.000-07:00

Lucy and I spent a relaxing day yesterday castrating her pet sheep. They'll make a large animal vet out of me yet!!!

Anyone for a BBQ?!!!

Birthdays at the Zoo

2008-07-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to Jay & Rich who had a joint birthday party at Dudley Zoo last Wednesday ( dont worry boys I wont tell the world your age!)

I think Kirstys rabbit was the most sober person who attended!!!

Please feel free to add gossipy comments here...

New Car

2007-11-10T10:00:00.001-08:00

After my 12 year old Ford Fiesta car blew up doing 70mph on the M5 on Thursday I had to get a new car. Blossom (As named by Margaret Smith) is an apple green Nissan Micra Twister & hopefully she'll be a little bit more safe than my last car!

(Okay so this isnt actually my new car - my car is the colour of the grass!)

Lucy & Adam

2007-11-10T09:45:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to congratulate my sister on her engagement to Adam Derbyshire. I wish them every happiness in the world!

Margaret Comley

2007-11-10T09:35:00.001-08:00

Just a picture of my Mum & me.
Mum died quite recently & is in our thoughts.

Shakesphere marathon

2007-11-10T09:13:00.002-08:00

Ive been quite spoilt lately with evening out. I saw Captain Jean Luke Pichard (Patrick Stewart) as MacBeth in London. For my birthday I went to see A Winters Tale with Jonathan & his family which was lovely. Then I went to see A
Midsummer Nights Dream
as part of the International
Mask Festival In Stourbridge. Lastly I took Mum to see Henry V
performed by the Quorndon
Players for her birthday.
My favourite? Probably a
Midsummer Nights Dream.
I like a bit of magic :)

Naked pictures!

2007-11-10T09:06:00.001-08:00

This is one for Paul who keeps asking me for a topless photo x

Walking in Tenerife!

2007-09-16T11:45:00.001-07:00

Trying to get some sun the unconventional way out walking in Tenerife!

Helping hands!

2007-09-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

I made Jonathan put on suncream while out in the sun, however, things did not quite go to plan! Hence the hand print on the shoulder!

Braidy bunch!

2007-09-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

For years Ive been saying that I wanted to have my hair braided & for years my concerns that it "Wouldn't look professional" to look like a hippy or worse a gap year student at work prevented me from doing so. So while on holiday in Tenerife Jonathan persuaded me to have it done! I kept in for about 3 days before my scalp got burnt and I had to take them out again; it was so painful!!! Still at least I did it!

P.S Bikini courtesy of Bravissimo (And it almost makes me look thin!)!

Bob Dylan in Concert

2007-04-22T02:51:00.000-07:00

Having been a huge Bob Dylan fan for most of my life I jumped at the chance at seeing him in concert last week in Birmingham. Being in his 60s it is quite impressive that he can still sell out the NIA! We took our seats at the back (the more expensive front seats were sold out long before we bought tickets!).

I do have to say I was slightly disappointed by the concert. I watched with curious, if slightly morbid, fascination as some of my favourite blues folk tunes were massacred by the poet himself! I had heard that Bob had a tendency to perform Bootleg versions of his own songs and this concert ran true to that with the second song being a droned rock blues version of the age old favourite "It ain't me babe". The words were barely audible, the tune unrecognisable & the whole effect sounded more like a bad cover version of a Stevie Ray Vaughn tune! "Its all right ma (I'm only bleeding)" met a similar death. A random song was sung to the tune of "Lay lady lay" and what should have been "Joey" simply went on and on without any of the expected lyrics.

In an attempt to make some sort of sense of the playlist we bought a programmee. For £12 (!) we recieved a beautiful glossy booklet with photos & interviews with random people about how great Robert Zimmerman is. How useful.

So am I glad that I went? Yes I think I am. I'll be able to tell my (potential) future grandchildren that I saw him. I might however, be vague on the details of the experience.

I imagine that seeing him 30 years ago would have been a much more mind blowing experience. Before he started doing an electric guitar bootleg versions of Jimmy Hendrix's cover version of "All along the watchtower"!

I think perhaps Bob should now fade from the modern music scene with dignity rather than continue to migrate from blues folk to mainstream blues rock! But then I'm sure he would question why he should! His concerts still sell out!

Lucky me!

2007-04-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Now Im not a particulary lucky person. When I went to the school fate as a child I use to give my money to my sister Lucy. She would play on the games & fill in the competitions and would invariably win every time! I however, would never win. So Lucy would win on my behalf.

I went to BSAVA conference last weekend and Michelle, one of the nurses, made me enter all the competitions and I actually won some things!

I won; a years subscription to "Reptile care" Magazine, a stunt kite (which I gave to Jonathan), a cuddly toy (this sounds like the Generation game!) and an IPOD 80GB! How spoilt am I?!!!

The IPOD 80GB, now that is a fancy piece of kit! Great fun but I'm not sure I'd pay £250 for it! It has 3 times the memory of Jonathan's computer! Which is quite excessive! In order to put things onto the IPOD I have to save them onto ITUNES first. Since ITUNES is on the computer, it will have the maxim storage capacity of the computer. This is 1/3 the memory of that of the IPOD, this leaves 2/3 of the storage capacity of the IPOD spare. So why does one need it?

Its like buying a car which can get upto 180 mph but you can never drive it that fast because the the speed limit is 70 mph!

Clearly I'm just not computer minded and I just dont understand!

Good bye Tiger "1370"

2007-04-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we said goodbye to Dudley Zoo's male tiger who is off to portugal in search of a girlfriend! Thats some arranged marriage!

Easter Sunday in the Nazi capital of Britain

2007-04-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Easter Jonathan & I went for a pleasant walk along the Tipton canal where we found evidence of the awful standard of spelling & punctuation of some of the locals.

While we were tempted to get some red paint & correct this we decided that high lighting people's stupidity might make them feel self conscious & victimised so we decided to save them further embarrassment by painting over it.

Yet another reason I hate psychologist...

2007-03-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

While in Waterstones the other week I came across "Magical unicorn cards". Now apparently "The magical unicorn cards will help you get messages for yourself & others...because the unicorns want to help you feel happy, safe & loved." These cards appear to work similar to a tarot card whereby one asks a question, selects a card (following a special ritual outlined in the guide book) & the answer is provided by the cards. These cards were concoted by a Dr. Doreen Virtue PH.D.

So who is Doreen virtue? "Dr. Doreen Virtue is a doctor of psychology and a fourth-generation metaphysician who works with the angelic, elemental, and ascended-master realms in her writings and workshops. Doreen is the author of more than 20 books about angels, chakras, Crystal Children, Indigo Children, health and diet, and other mind-body-spirit issues, including the best-selling Healing with the Angels and Messages from Your Angels books/angel cards."

"Doreen, who holds B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in counseling psychology, was the founder and former director of WomanKind Psychiatric Hospital at Cumberland Hall Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. She was also an administrator at Woodside Women’s Hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area. Both all-women psychiatric hospitals specialized in treating women’s psychological issues. Doreen also directed three outpatient psychiatric centers, including an adolescent drug and alcohol abuse center."

Oh! My! God! Why on earth are they letting this women anywhere near anyone with a mental illness?! Now I'm a little uncomfortable with the concept of anyone who has no real medical qualifications dealing with & diagnosing any medical condition but especially those to do with mental illness. But hell , this is NOT just any psychologist this women is a real nut job!!!

At Jonathan's request...

2007-03-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

The best cookie recipe in the world ever!

2007-03-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

40/8 Buccleuch street chocolate chip cookie recipe:

2 cups butter (1 medium tub of utterly butterly)
4 cups flour (1 cup can be substituted for 1 cup of cocoa)
2 cups white sugar
2 cups brown sugar ( 1 dark brown, 1 light brown)
2 tsp soda
2 tsp salt
5+ chocolate bars - chopped into large chunks
(Generally bought from Lidl, mix & match white, milk & dark chocolate)
5 cups fine oatmeal
4 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla essence
3 cups of chopped nuts

1) Cream butter & sugar together
2)Add in eggs & vanilla
3) Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder & soda
4) Add chocolate & nuts
5) Roll into balls & place on a greased baking tray
6) Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees

Its a thankless job veterinary medicine...

2007-03-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hazel: Are you hurt?
Kehaar: Kaah kaah!
Hazel: If he's hurt, maybe we ought to help him.
Bigwig: A bird? What for?
Hazel: We - help - you.
Kehaar: Piss off!

Water Ship Down - Richard Adams

Thatcher The Musical

2007-03-18T11:05:00.000-07:00

Being a child of Thatcher this is a production very close to my heart. From the handbags & hair to the flipant remarks on current affairs it was most entertaining. Although in truth I have to confess to being slightly un-nerved by the ghost of Maggie singing about the fact that while she dead she would never be gone; there would never be society again. There would only ever be a group of individuals with their own selfish needs. Although I cant say I agree much with her politics there was truth when she said:

"If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman"

The Last Unicorn - A must read for every child!

2007-03-18T06:53:00.000-07:00

"She will remember your heart when unicorns are fairy tales and books are written by rabbits. Of all the unicorns, she is the only one who knows what regret is. And Love."

Schmendrick, The last Unicorn ( Peter Beagle)

I hope my Catholic friends will forgive me but...

2007-03-18T06:33:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI or, The Lord High Chamberlain (Jim Henson's -The Dark Crystal)?

The Family!

2007-03-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

This would be me!

Gobolino (Baby)

.

Benna & Nique

Psotka

Dusty & Klaus

Benna The Rabbit (OF EUSA fame)

2007-03-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

For those of you who followed Benna's progress with Andy Gray through the EUSA elections in 2005 here is an update.

Benna is now going on 6 years old and while cheerful inself she hasnt been too well lately. She has contracted a protozoan parasite called Encephaltozoon cuniculi which forms cysts in the kidneys & in the brain. Being lucky enough to be treated early she has only developed a mild head tilt but if she runs too fast she has a tendency to fall to the left hand side. So she doesn't walk so far anymore! While her current symptoms are unlikely to improve she is still as affectionate as ever & happy in herself. I'll keep you posted!

P.s Regularly treat your bunnies as a precaution! Even if they live in the house!

Vemeer - Girl with a pearl earing

2007-03-18T05:27:00.000-07:00

The most significant picture in my life!

A litle piece of Heaven

2007-03-18T05:04:00.000-07:00

HEAVEN

by: Rupert Brooke (1887-1915)

ISH (fly-replete, in depth of June,
Dawdling away their wat'ry noon)
Ponder deep wisdom, dark or clear,
Each secret fishy hope or fear.
Fish say, they have their Stream and Pond;
But is there anything Beyond?
This life cannot be All, they swear,
For how unpleasant, if it were!
One may not doubt that, somehow, Good
Shall come of Water and of Mud;
And, sure, the reverent eye must see
A Purpose in Liquidity.
We darkly know, by Faith we cry,
The future is not Wholly Dry.
Mud unto mud! -- Death eddies near --
Not here the appointed End, not here!
But somewhere, beyond Space and Time.
Is wetter water, slimier slime!
And there (they trust) there swimmeth One
Who swam ere rivers were begun,
Immense, of fishy form and mind,
Squamous, omnipotent, and kind;
And under that Almighty Fin,
The littlest fish may enter in.
Oh! never fly conceals a hook,
Fish say, in the Eternal Brook,
But more than mundane weeds are there,
And mud, celestially fair;
Fat caterpillars drift around,
And Paradisal grubs are found;
Unfading moths, immortal flies,
And the worm that never dies.
And in that Heaven of all their wish,
There shall be no more land, say fish.