Sooz has got a zoo!

For those of you who, like me, have been hooked on Sooz's extraordinary diaries over the years I thought you'd like to know why she hasn't been posting recently - she's set up a zoo!

She sent me this email today to bring me up to speed on her exploits - so if you are in the Barrow in Furness area then do go along and see her exhibits:

Furness Reptiles. (sister of Furness owls)

Sandscale Park
Barrow-in-Furness
LA14 4QT

Admission is six quid for adults and five for concessions (I think, I don't take any of the gate because I get low rent, free rates and I ride on the owl's tail feathers)

We are open seven days a week from 10-4

and my shop which is just outside the gate ( so you don't have to pay to get in) is open from eight till eight seven days a week. I donate my exhibits for free but the shop is how I make my money.

I love it. I look damned good in wellies and my preferred perfume these days is eau-de-snake crap.

We have fifty seven species of reptile (also arachnids and tortoise).

I have some rare species and some extremely rare animals including Baja blue rocks. I have only the second breeding pair in England.

Prehensile tailed skinks (monkey tails) again only two breeders in this country. They only inhabit one area in the world and that is the Solomon Islands. Because of heavy export in the eighties an export ban has been put on them. These days they are almost impossible to get. They are live bearing and I expect mine to breed next season.

My Sudan plates have bred, these are not classed as rare but they almost never breed in captivity, my female is gravid again.

I have a red tegu. White tegus are ten a penny, but the reds are a rare morph similar to albinism in humans.

Same with my red iguana.

If anybody wants an animal, as long as they can prove responsible ownership I can usually get them what they want within a week.

I stock everything to do with herpetology and have a gift shop. If it has anything even vaguely connected to reptiles I will sell it.

The one thing I offer that most shops don't is full after care service. And I still turn into a basket case every single time an animal in my care dies.

Another point that makes us different to most pet shops is that in between times I handle everything so we have petting time for the kids in the park and any animals sold are usually tame when they leave me.

So, this is it my friend, make or break time.

You've made me want to try and set aside an hour a day to write, for the last however many years it's been very important to me and without being too 'drama queen' I'd even say that it's probably saved my life a couple of times when things have been unpleasant.

Oh, I also stock my books in my shop even though they aren't even remotely connected to reptiles. If any of the ABCers would like me to stock theirs and I can get them at competitive prices I'd be happy to.

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Isn't that wonderful? This is one of the bravest people I've ever encountered and she's living her dream - so if there's any chance of getting along there - do it!