Perhaps it was the email from
Ganjette, quoted in my previous article. Perhaps Kath's conscience was starting
to trouble her. Perhaps this was all some sort of bluff and counter-bluff to see
if I really did want that new unit with climbing frames in its sides and
curiously concealed travelling tubes that would increase my mental powers and,
therefore, my writing ability.
At first, I couldn't believe
it - the box looked huge (and so it was) - and I wondered whether this box was
'it'. Surely, this unit was bigger than my entire compound as it then existed? I
watched through a gap in my bedding material as Lee emptied the contents onto
the floor and began to scratch his head.
I could see the
dilemma and I sympathized with him. That's the problem with Rotastak - they
produce some really good pieces of equipment but seem to always forget that they
need to be compatible with their old equipment. I think they call it
'backward compatibility' in computer speak and it's something that this company
could learn from (Goodness knows, Lee's written to them enough times about their
designs - never listened as far as I know, though).
But at least they'd produced -
for the first time it has to be said - a unit that's adequate for large Syrian
hamsters. And that needs to be commended even if it's long overdue. There was
the time that they brought out that exercise wheel for 'large hamsters', a sort
of 'stand alone' unit that was supposed to be attached to one of their standard
units but, as first Lee pointed out, what with there being only one lateral hole
in each of the large compounds, it meant that you effectively removed the
possibility of expansion - except vertically - though Lee has learnt to
improvise with Rotastak units with much skill, verve and sophistication. If
there was a degree course in such a talent then I'm sure he would have had it by
now.
And, as I was soon to demonstrate in my
early months with them, you had to either be a contortionist to be able to use
it or a small Russian. Lee's improvisation of a rat wheel, suspended with metal
wire, was much better - he's long since given up trying to contact Rotastak for
they never listen - but I can now run at break-neck speed with no fear of injury
anymore.
But, back to the unit at
hand.
I exited my nest just in time
to witness the final stopper being placed into the escape hole and sent my head
spinning by the new vortex tube attachment which made me have to loop-the-loop
just to get to the food dish...ah! no! That wasn't where the food dish was
anymore...where was it?
My compound now stretches some
eight feet in length and, cunningly, my masters have put my food at one end
while my nest is at the other. This calls for some immediate attention which I
intend seeing to in the nearest of futures but, for now, let me just commit this
to the computer...
...Kath has redeemed herself.
Tell the world! I've got a new compound! Yes, Kath has finally redeemed
herself...
Ebony the Hamster writes
for the Rodent Weekly.
This article appears courtesy of that paper.
Ganjette's presidential web site can be found here
