This evening, before bed time, Jules helped Nora soak the egg and apparently a dinosaur will come out tomorrow.

Nora comes up with fantastic stories sometimes and I should really write them down. Like tonight she was talking about the dinosaur egg hatching and when the dinosaur comes out, it will start growling and look for something to eat. It will eat mama and daddy. Nora will be fine as dinosaurs do not eat children.

I asked her who she would live with after the dinosaur eats mama and daddy… straight away she answered ‘Coco’ her hamster, because don’t eat hamsters either.

She said she will miss her mama and daddy… but hey, I guess life goes on (the last sentence is mine, not hers).

But unfortunately, they escaped. They are apparently very clever at this.

We managed to find Coco and I put him in the ball this morning so Nora could play with him.

But unfortunately, Nora didn’t listen and have not learnt to be gentle and caring. Apparently, after I left for work, she bounced the ball, the lid came off and Coco made a run for it.

Now we have two hamsters running lose in the house.

The problem is we have lots of places for the hamsters to hide… and Jules is really annoyed.

I guess Nora is not ready for a hamster or at least play with it unsupervised. It’s a lesson learnt for both of us.

A few weeks ago the staff were asking for volunteer to look after Herman over the Christmas holidays. And I volunteered for us. I was thinking it can’t be that hard as it’s not a rabbit or a hamster who we have to feed daily and clean up their mess and try to escape every chance it gets. It is only a snail!

Since I picked up Herman’s box and put it on Nora’s buggy… I have been a nervous wreck!

We walked home slowly as I didn’t want the box to topple over and send Herman flying on to the road and get squashed by a car!

When we got home, I left Herman downstairs for a bit and Jules brought him up when he got home and placed Herman on the fish tank.

Before I went to bed, I moved Herman’s box as it felt warm on top of the fish tank and I was soooooo worried that we’ve accidentally cooked him!

He’s an African giant snail for heaven’s sake!! It’s warm in Africa!

But still… I was worried.

Herman was in his shell and I went to bed. 20 minutes later, I had to get up and check. Thank goodness he peeked out. At least I know Herman is alive!!

In the morning I opened the box and Herman was in his shell in one corner of the box.

In the afternoon when I came back from the launderette, Herman was in his shell in the same corner in the box.

When Nora and I woke up from our afternoon nap, Herman was STILL in his shell in the same corner in the box.

As we got ready to go to Maya’s house, Herman was STILL IN HIS SHELL in the same corner in the box.

Suddenly he peeked out!! I asked Nora to squirt some water. Maybe he needs some water.

I have to say I was really glad for some sign of life! That’s the problems with snails… they’re just not as active as a lot of other pets.

We went to Maya’s house.

When we got home from Maya’s house, Herman was BACK IN HIS SHELL IN THE SAME CORNER IN THE BOX!!!

Nora had her yoghurt, bath milk and bed time story. After she fell asleep, I went to the kitchen to have dinner and do the dishes.

I just had another peek into Herman’s box. He is still in the same corner, but he’s out of his shell and chomping on the lettuce!

Herman the Giant Snail

Phew!!

The first 24 hours… and he’s alive! 10 more days to go before Nursery opens and I’m rid of this responsibility of keeping Herman alive!

Suddenly, she told me ‘Mama fish not swimming’

I looked in the fish tank and sure enough, one of the little fishes was lying on the gravel at the entrance of the pineapple house.

‘Fish sleeping’ Nora explained to me.

I told her ‘Yes, fish is sleeping. Let’s tell daddy and say bye bye to the fish.’

Which she did and we went to Nursery.

When she came back from Nursery in the evening, she looked for the fish. ‘Fish gone’ she said.

I told her ‘Yes, fish is now gone.’

I’m so glad that we only have some fish and no cute, cuddly, furry animal in the house. I think Nora is just a bit too little to understand the concept of death but it will be something that we will talk about in the future.

Jules and I had a proper look and in between the big fishes, fake plants, pineapple, VW Beetle and little snails, there were two baby fishes!! How did they come into being as we are ‘almost’ sure that the similar big fishes are all female!

Amazing. It will be more amazing if they survive and not eaten by the big fishes!