Friday, 18.8.23.

 The weather was a bit iffy again today, so I stayed in this morning and only went out to do some shopping  and lunch at Sainsburys.

An all day breakfast, David!.

So no birding today, but it gives me time to tell you about Alfie my tortoise!. I was on my way to Reddish Vale Park a few weeks ago and called in to the local pet shop for some monkey nuts, whilst there I asked the young lady in charge what pets they had for me, she said we only have a few finches in at the moment, "I've got plenty of those in my garden at the moment, with babies too".

"Have you any Tortoises in or coming in", "no she said but I've got a note off a lady who is looking for a good home for one"!. "I can give one a good home" said I.

So I got the phone number off her and rang and left a message.

That evening I got a reply from a lady Jayne, who arranged to bring Bob complete with box, lighting, extra bulbs and food the next day as she said it would be easier to carry the box into my house, I think she wanted to see where Bob was going really, can't blame her for that can you.

So here is Bob, but as there are a couple of Bob's in our circle I've named him Alfie!. don't think Tortoises are bothered about human company as a chap on YouTube said they aren't like cats and dogs that crave human company, which is ok with me!, means I can go out and not worry about him.

 The next day I realised the box on the floor wasn't the best place for him or me and was thinking what I could make and with what, when I had a fall of soot and realised I had a nice small folding table in the hall which I'd bought to have my dinner on but it hadn't worked out, so that was put into use. 

As you can see makes the box level with the south facing window, so plenty of daylight.

So this is Alfie, a Hermann's Tortoise 

 By looking at his underneath, he is an Eastern male and Jayne his previous owner had got him at 3 years old and had him for another 3 years, so by even by my bad maths he is about 6 years old that we know of.

The dark markings underneath the tortoise are unbroken in Western Tortoises, learn something every day don't you! 

There was some arrangement on the left side of his box which I think was for cables but it was only an after thought I think and I didn't need it, so  it was taken off, and some greenery added so it looked a bit better in the living room. 

The most observant of you will all so notice that his glass water bowl has been change for a better one, was Pepe's puppy dog bowl and lower for Alfie to get to.

 As you can see bought a nice little spray gun, for him and the plant's

Then I bought a new lighting system from Amazon and replaced that terrible plastic plant with a begonia.

Then thought that bare wood needed something to brighten it up, so it was a trip to Homebase where I knew they did Fablon and to make it look more zoo like bought this Zebra print!, well they have that on the trucks in Safari parks don't they!.

Then I bought another plant, a spider plant which are trailers.

Just out of the way of the telly, Maggie Cooper on there, who we met at Pear Mill when she was making that programme there. 

Alfie does like his cauliflower, but in the mornings I just go out into the garden and cut a bunch of dandelion leaves, he likes shredded carrot, Kale and tomato, hoping to get him out into the garden soon as I've finished the log rolls edging, a job in progress!. 

Expensive to keep?, this was Pepe's biscuit box, now Alfie's dinner box, saw a nice big cauliflower in Sainsburys today 95p!. 

The lady "Jayne " gave me "Alfie" for free to a good home and even though I say so myself he's got one, and spends the evenings walking all over the living room and my feet whilst I'm posting this!.

So there you have the "Alfie" story, don't think you will be getting many growing up pictures though, as I don't think they grow that fast,  this species only grow to about 10inches and live for roughly 20 years.

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