April on the farm

Back to work!!
Starting back in the reptile house, things were busier than ever. There were lots of film jobs and photo shoots every day and the TV drama series with Sir David Jason (AKA Del Boy from only fools and horses) were filming with us for just over two weeks; a huge job for a story line about an animal smuggler. They used an enormous variety of animals, domestics and exotics included, from snakes and alligators to raccoons, porcupines, tigers, rabbits, monkeys and pigeons. The filming took place at three locations, our own premises included, so it was frequently all hands on deck unloading and reloading huge trucks with animals and all kinds of hours.

The first big unload was in the pitch dark. There was an excitement in the atmosphere as we gripped torches in our teeth and carried the raccoons, raccoon dogs and porcupines in their carry cages back to their beds, while they peered and sniffed into the darkness, their outlines illuminated like furry auras. I opened up the cab of the truck and saw a big duvet cover- containing one of my pythons, wedged in with a toucan in a carry box- in the cab of course to keep warm. So I bundled up the 25kg snake in my arms and took her back to the reptile house to put her away and also discover who it was. They’d taken several snakes you see, but only brought one back. I didn’t know which it was so was a little nervous, in case it was the new one who I didn’t yet know (and had been warned she might be a biter!!) I unwrapped the blanket and there she was- Sugar, a huge, yellow albino Burmese python, glistening in the dim red light of the heat lamps. The new one. And she was as good as gold!!

The second day where we did a big unload it suddenly began to snow in a blizzard of giant settling flakes. We were soaked and the number of animals we were relocating, swapping and putting away was unbelievable! It was crazy! And of course because it was very cold we had to work quickly to those animals that needed to be warm into their houses. One of the funniest images of that evening was Emma, the new bird keeper grabbing pigeons from their display cages and stuffing them in a carry box, white feathers flying everywhere about her head, while everyone else scurried and shoved about like headless chickens carrying animals, moving and washing boxes! We were exhausted but not so tired we couldn’t romp on the front lawn and chuck snowballs at each other on our way back to the trailers! So David Jason is actually really quite little!! And he’s an incredible belcher!! Often waiting before the camera is rolling before letting out these guttural rippers! Other news from that first fortnight was three new pythons (Sugar, the afore mentioned Burmese, plus a common coloured Burmese named Spice and a green Burmese python who I call Sunshine- watch this space for pictures… if my computer ever starts behaving itself!! My wireless internet connection here is a bit iffy so whenever the wind blows a tree branch over the trailer, or it clouds over, I loose the signal) and some very exciting mating action, and some gecko eggs were laid.

I went on a job with the band The Zutons. I went solo, taking some 4cm long juvenile cockroaches for the video shoot of their upcoming single, “Valerie”. The video is set in a prison and two of the band members were the inmates, having a cockroach race on the floor. The band were lovely, and it was a really fun shoot (with great catering!) and I’ll be in the “making of” video when the single is released, presumably it’ll be a bonus thing on the CD. I can’t wait to see it!! After that came the Easter weekend and we did the usual Easter roadshows, demonstrating little chicks and ducklings, lambs, bunnies and all that Eastery malarky.

Then came a porcupine job in London, still photography for a gin advertising campaign. It was after that job that my boss dropped me off at Shepherds bush where I got the tube to meet my sister at Covent Garden for a spot of shopping, followed by dinner with our mutual friend Nick, who had invited us along to a private viewing of a photography exhibition at Leicester Square, one tube stop along the line. The exhibition was good fun and it was great to catch up with Daisy, and the free wine was surprisingly good, too! I left them both to carry on to the pub afterwards and I headed back on the train to Oxford, where Sam (my housemate) picked me up and brought me home, tired but happy, showing off my frivolous purchase- a pair of bright green holographic sequinned slipper/pump shoes!!! A bargain at £15 from Shelley’s- reduced I guess, because they figured no one in their right mind would pay full price for them!

Last Friday, when I went on my own to Slough with some brightly coloured snakes to do a photo shoot for a medial tube feeding poster advert, not a bad job and the snakes all behaved! On Saturday I met Nick in Milton Keynes to browse IKEA, visit Buckigham, wander about, etc etc (very pleasant day had by all) and on Sunday night I drove down to Cambridge to see DJ Format at the Fez club with Daisy (brill night, bumped into a couple of mates I didn't expect and was pleased to see). I had begged the monday off work so had a packed day breakfasting with my Dad, running some errands in towna nd meeting my old school friend Irene and her son Reece for lunch (I gave Reece a piggyback all the way into town! Yes!), mucking out the horses and going for a ride with Daisy and Mum in the afternoon, and finally going out for tea with Nick before driving back home the same day.

Yesterday I was in London with some rats and Charlie the raven (who we’d only spent a week training, but he’s doing so well!! Lots of nasty hammering pecks though, which hurt even through the gauntlets!! The job was for upcoming TV commercials promoting the show “X Factor: Battle of the stars”. Charlie did great, and none of the rats bit or peed on me! Amazing!! So keep your eyes peeled on ITV for that one.

Once again, I find myself apologising to the lack of exciting (well, any) pictures. Hopefully the technicoloured wrtitng has detracted somewhat from the large amount of text in this post!! Sorry to those who prefer pictures!! My plan is to attempt more regular updates with all the latest news and stories from the reptile house and the farm, with pictures, and to paint a better picture of my unusual life out here, especially for you city types and those who haven't visited me here yet!