‘To buy or not to buy, that is the question.’
R and Ham hamming it up.
Beware of flea-market allure,
For what you find appealing
May complicate matters for sure,
Creating double-dealing;
A hamster cage was very cheap,
But hamsters cost another heap,
And extras come at prices steep –
One gets that sinking feeling!
Illovo Nursery has a pet section – and a spot where kids can play and be watched from tables waited on by runners from the restaurant. Here J gets into the swing of it.
On Saturday we saw this cage:
It did look most attractive,
So I in haggling did engage,
And sellers were reactive;
On Sunday to Illovo went
With hamster-purchasing intent,
And soon, a lot of cash was spent
In manner too proactive.
So population here has grown,
With Ham and Ster now added;
And Ham great biting skill has shown –
The wounds with plaster padded!
We learn that hamsters squeak a lot,
Nocturnal habits they have got,
Ster, wheel rotating, quiet is not –
We’re not exactly gladded!
(Young R read all of this out loud quite fluently with only about three prompts – not bad for one not yet entered into Grade Two!)
Another Illovo attraction is a petting zoo – but I’m not sure I’d want to pet that little slitherer. Just shows what can easily be lurking at one’s ankles …
Colonialist's Blog 
I love this (and can identify…you’ll become expert at searching out quiet wheels)
R and Ham are charming. Pets are important learning experience for kids…just gotta laugh through it all.
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Our kids are certainly familiar with small creatures. We went out for a meal this evening and they caught a toad. Two much older boys who were part of the party could not bring themselves to handle it despite taunting from the grandbrats!
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Who didn’t have a Hamster as a kid? And George became Georgina, so it did!
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Just love it! Child, not hamster
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The hamster is very sweet, too, when it stops getting TOO attached to one! 🙂
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Mmmmm … oulike goedjies maar minder volhoubaar as ‘n hond of ‘n kat.
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Seker so!
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Oh boy, you brought back mixed memories of my own hamster days….luckily we never went through that with my son….he was more of a “can I have a snake?” No “well what about a tarantula?” And so it went on!!
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They were quite taken with tarantulas and bearded dragons, but settled for the nibbly cuddlers.
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Nibbly cuddlers is a great name!!
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It’s been years and I forgot about their cute squeaks.
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I didn’t have them as a kid, so it took me by surprise when they got vocal!
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lol I loved your tale of woe! I’m thinking of getting a pet hamster for my two year old (and mainly for myself). I love animals but we can’t have anything besides a hamster in my complex. Do you think it’s advisable?
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Provided that you know in advance that they don’t live that long, that they are inclined to bite quite painfully when they feel like it, and that they need to be somewhere out of the way at night; also that they can vanish in an instant given the chance, then I would greatly recommend it. They are really cute, cuddly and entertaining. Two years old might be a bit young, though. Even for our 4-year-old J we have to impress upon her to be gentle and careful.
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Thanks for advice! I consulted a child psychologist to help my son get over my dad’s death and she recommended getting a small pet. Our complex doesn’t allow any pets though so I have get an inside one. I used to have a rabbit so I have some experience with this kind of animal. I did some research and I think a hamster would be a good distraction for myself and my son. What breed did you get? And how much did the set up cost if you don’t mind me asking?
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And even your pocket says ouch! My daughter has two hamsters, and yes, they talk all the time.
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Indeed;
I think all rodents tend to be quite vocal!
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I remember the hamster days! Youch and the cedar shaving smell.
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Our builder had to divert some valuable time to creating some shavings for us – custom made!
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Oh, I’m glad to hear that Illovo nursery has expanded, and your “family” too!
Do they still have my favourite Pie and Gravy on the menu??
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I believe they do, and the service was certainly great considering the crowd.
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That was so well done – ha – beware of flea market allure fo sure!
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oops: hers are guinea pigs.
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That is an option we were considering – but they had the one and not the other.
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Far too alluring, indeed!
I have this terrible habit of saying to myself ‘is it a bargain?’ before ‘do I need it?’
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Hah- oh I hear ya – u have gotten way better – but never easy – 😏
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