Croûton Is Still Cute

I'm making a push to connect with people again, I've been stuck for quite a while. I was very successfully connecting with people in 2019-2020, but 2021-2022 really wore me down. Self-sabotage and anxiety keep getting in the way of attending in-person meet-up groups, but I was overlooking the lower barrier to entry of blogging, … Continue reading Croûton Is Still Cute →

She Let Me Stroke Her 😭

Croûton let me stroke her a bit! —on three occasions now. I did in the end have to buy some metal moulding strips and glue them to the chewable edges around the bottom of the enclosure to stop her chewing, which made her depressed again for a day, but it's solved the problem! I think … Continue reading She Let Me Stroke Her 😭 →

My Hamster Hates Me 😢

Croûton had some teething issues during the first 10 days after adopting her…she started chewing part of the base of the wooden enclosure, which I knew was a possibility beforehand but she was fine for most of the first week. After a few days I emailed Happy Hamsters about it, and also realised that her … Continue reading My Hamster Hates Me 😢 →

La Grande Crouton!

My previous hamster 25 years ago was a male golden Syrian hamster named Stephen. Crouton is a female and she's massive 😅. She's a giant fluffy potato. 100% chonky and showing no signs of being 2 years old! She's been exploring everywhere and building an underground fortress. https://vimeo.com/796209610 https://vimeo.com/796142719 https://vimeo.com/796142573 🌪

Ready For Crouton!

I got the multi-chamber hide in time! It's replaced the platform I initially had. I might shorten it and add it back later. I've now scattered food and forage around the enclosure :), hidden some monkey nuts and given her a fresh carrot :D. She'll be here in less than 6 hours! Multi-chamber hide with … Continue reading Ready For Crouton! →

Happy Hamsters Feedback

Happy Hamsters finally gave me feedback and apologised for the delay! Was weird as they were replying very quickly before but then it was most of 2 days for this final hurdle. Anyway I just need to get some vegetable/flower/herb forage mix from a pet shop, which they love and it helps encourage them to … Continue reading Happy Hamsters Feedback →

Hamster Enclosure Painting

I've finally finished preparing my hamster enclosure (painting and varnishing it with pet-safe paints). It's really dragged out painfully over many days (12) due to a combination of having to manage OCD alongside— practising ERP to avoid feeding it— and some trial and error and learning about painting wooden furniture. There were also some modifications … Continue reading Hamster Enclosure Painting →

Hamster Preparations

I've made so much progress in sorting through my possessions and either selling them on eBay, giving them away through Freecycle or throwing them away if they weren't useable. All of this clutter has a tangible affect on my thinking, which I've always known but the pull of OCD was stronger. Overcoming OCD to be … Continue reading Hamster Preparations →

Emotional Support Amster

I can't hold back any longer, I'm committed to getting an emotional support hamster! I've been more functional in the last week and finally after 6 months of living here I've been able to start organising and tidying things properly, selling some things I don't need on ebay and throwing away or donating other things. … Continue reading Emotional Support Amster →

Voluntary Medical Procedures

After recently reading a blog post about giving blood, I decided to face my blood-related queasiness and give it a try. "Don't think about it, just do it!"— that was all I needed to hear lol. It's a personal affront to be seen to be 'dithering' or 'faffing'. Usually blood tests make me feel weird … Continue reading Voluntary Medical Procedures →