TamaMum

I hate it when pets die (and I'm not talking tamagotchis either).

We just got back from 2 weeks annual relative trek in Ireland to discover that while we were away, the hamster passed into permanent hibernation.

Our friends in the next street were caring for him and they were totally devastated and didn't know if they should telephone us to let us know (and spoil the holiday) or wait til we got back. Thank God they waited.

Let's face it... you don't want to spend two weeks tramping about a boggy, wet island in the Atlantic knowing that your beloved little Spud is no more.
The holiday was bad enough (weather wise) without adding mourning to the list of things to do in the rain.

He was only 8 months old. He was a Russian Dwarf (Siberian).
We were hoping he'd keep going for 12-18 months.

We buried Spud in the garden under one of my perennials.
(I just hope the bloody plant doesn't die too.)