Joey

Yes, it's just a larder fridge - the type with no freezer box. I fill it full of bottles of water to keep the temperature steady and put a couple of thermometers in to check it doesn't go below 3 degrees. This is the second year I've done it and I was much calmer about the whole thing than last year. I was going to leave them another couple of weeks, but then read online that babies should be left 12 weeks at most, and they had been in for 15!! When did Daisy go into hibernation? It would certainly be easier food-wise to leave her another month as there aren't that many weeds around yet.

Mine have had a nice hibernation in the fridge and I just woke them up on Saturday. It's lovely to have them around again, but not so lovely to be out looking for dandelions at an unearthly hour of the morning Are yours up yet?

Hi foxy, yes you are totally right. I didn't explain that very well - the heat mat will on the "ceiling" of the mini-kennel, just to provide a warm room for them, not for them to sit on. Thanks for pointing that out - wouldn't want anyone to injure their torts because of me!

I don't yet, but that's sort of what i'm doing with my outdoor enclosure. I'm having as big a run as I can, with a slope up to the top. I'm going to put a coldframe there to catch the rays in case it gets a bit cool, and a small kennel like structure at the side of it with a heat mat in on a thermostat to keep it warm. Should give them plenty of choice as to where and how warm them want to be. On the really cold nights, I'll bring them inside if necessary (and if I can find them).

Loonball, there are loads of different tortoises, not sure which ones would be classed as ordinary. Mine are Horsfields and they like to dig, so I give them plenty of depth to dig in. Other types like Hermanns don't dig, so they don't need it to be as deep. Tabletops would suit either I would say. But it's always best to get expert advice, i.e. breeders who really know what they're talking about.

Hey Bogwoppit, it's dead easy. Have a look here - there are loads of great ideas. People have made them out of bookcases, paddling pools or bits of wood. My dad made me mine, he just made a big box about a foot deep, 2ft wide and 3ft long. I fill it with coir, although I used 50/50 soil and sand before. I'll try and get a pic for you. It has a lid with chicken wire to stop my cats getting anywhere near. I have two baby Horsfields so it is plenty big enough although I've set my dad the task of making a ramp up to a second floor to give them more areas to explore. I'm also making an outdoor enclosure as eventually they will outgrow the indoor one. The breeder I bought my torts from advised me very strongly to get them outside as soon as I can - doesn't matter how good your lamps are, they can't beat the sunshine. I'm no expert, but I'm learning all the time, and the tortoise forums are great places to pick up tips (if you ignore the sniping that goes on between the pro-viv people and the pro-tabletop people )

Here's an example, just in case you decide to make your own table Linky

They have them in the shop on Holme Lane, Hillsborough. But it's easy to make your own - a deep bookcase from Freecycle on its back with the shelves taken out for example.

Good points about Guru To Go - the food is fabulous with great flavour. The nan breads are the best I've ever had (and I've had a fair few in my time ). And the packaging is brill too, with little plastic containers that actually don't leak. Bad points about Guru To Go - there is a layer of oil on the top of the curries which looks gross when you first open it. Now don't get me wrong, I know curry is not going to top the bill on low-calorie diets, but I do get a pang of extra guilt when I see all that fat floating around. Also, they take AGES to deliver. Whatever they say, add an hour on and never order when you're already starving as you'll have passed away by the time it gets there. Even with the bad points, Guru To Go is my takeaway of choice now.

You have to wonder why she tried to get away if you had hit her. Surely she would have been too busy taking your details. The fact that she did that and left the scene immediately shows she knows she was in the wrong. Hope it all comes right in the end

I know him too - mum and dad called Richard and Patricia (Dick and Pat!!) and sister called Diane. Stephen is married with kids now. Long shot for them to be part of the same family as Hazel though I reckon.

I'm ashamed to say I didn't even know about this sanctuary! I've posted the links to the film and to here on my Facebook and sent a small donation - hope that makes up to Dawn for me not knowing about her

That's brilliant news. Well done on bringing them out of their shells and giving them this chance of a forever home. I love happy endings

Great stuff, nice for it to go to a rescue. I'll pm you.

I recently entered a James Wellbeloved competition and received a voucher for a free 225g bag just for entering - trouble is that you have to pick it up and instead of it registering my area as South Yorkshire, it has registered it as Swindon (probably my fault, presumably they were next to each other on the list so I probably clicked the wrong one!) Does anyone know someone in Swindon who could use the voucher? The food has to be picked up from a shop called John Toomers. Joey x

Did you get any pics of the kits yet Magsie? Dying to see them!!

Quick update - Magsie successfully caught all 4 kittens - sounds as though they willingly went into the baskets and when I spoke to her they were all curled up asleep covered in blankets! Mum cat is going to Jackie at CATS until we find out if the RSPCA lead is any good - if not we will be looking at rehoming her once she's been spayed etc. Rainrescue will probably be needing good foster homes for the kittens to get them used to being indoors and handled before they go to be rehomed, if you think you could help could you get in touch? Big thanks again to Jacquie at RR, Magsie and Jackie at CATS for coming to the rescue!!

Ooh, just seen the one you mentioned on the RSPCA site and it says "possibly pregnant", and it's the right sort of timeframe, so it may well be the one. Hope so!!

Brilliant, thanks Magsie, fingers crossed it is the same one. No, I agree that she probably isn't chipped, but definitely worth a try. Thanks for your help everyone, hopefully we'll have them all by lunchtime tomorrow.

No I don't think it is, but thanks for looking anyway. Would have been nice to reunite her with her owners.

Not sure Joanne, but if the kittens are as old as I'm told it must be at least 3 months. If you can find the thread could you let me know? I can't spot one. Rainrescue - yes please. We've spoken to the guys today and they have decided that it is frightening the kits too much so they haven't tried again to pick them up. Could you pm me your number and I'll give you a call if that's okay?

RR, that would be fantastic! Thank you so much. We have already agreed here at my work that we will put as much together towards their keep etc as we can, so I'll get that arranged. I'll mention it to the lads at the yard too and see if they can help. I'll be in touch Joey x

Just to add, the guys have told us that they regularly play with and stroke the kittens, so we are hoping their shyness today was just due to the unusual hustle and bustle whilst trying to catch them. Hopefully they will be quite sociable. We'll know more once they are caught.

This lovely little lady has been living rough in the timber yard at the bottom of Herries Road, bringing up her 4 babies. The guys at the yard have done a great job feeding her and her babies, but the little ones are now getting very adventurous and diving in between the wagons that drive in and out, so they have asked for help to find them homes. We thought mum cat was feral at first, but she was caught today and we've found she is very tame and lovable. Her temporary foster mum is going to get her checked out for a chip as soon as possible, but we thought it would be a good idea to get her picture up here to see if anyone recognises her. Beautiful kitty I've not seen the kittens myself, but they are estimated at between 10 to 12 weeks. They were too scared to be captured today, but the guys are going to try again with them tomorrow. We think her kittens are a mixture of full black and various shades of torti, but we won't know for definite till they are caught. If no-one comes forward for the mum, we'll be looking at rehoming them all, so please let us know if you are interested. (We'd need assurances that they'd be neutered etc by whoever takes them). We've tried the RSPCA and Jackie but they are both full to bursting so can't help at the moment.

I did the run this morning. It's my second year and I knocked a whopping 14 minutes off 2009's time, so I'm on a big high!! The 7am runs every Sunday morning have paid off after all! Was a great morning and there was great support from spectators which was very much appreciated especially on the last hill before the finishing line.