(no subject)

[llywela]

Took Small to the High School Musical stageshow at the Millennium Centre last night. She had an absolute blast, and I learned that I know almost every song by heart (she plays them a lot) but none of the plot (having never actually sat and watched it through).

But then I took her home to find that her little hamster Buddy had died during the evening. He was almost three years old, which is very elderly for a hamster, so we've been expecting this for some time: he had been quite poorly and distressed last weekend, and we thought he would go then. But he rallied and recovered and was his usual perky self again just yesterday morning, chasing the dog around the house in his ball. He died in his sleep in the end, all curled up and cosy, which is the absolute best way to go. Still, Small is absolutely distraught, of course - she absolutely adored him, and never lost interest, even after having the dog.

He was a dear little thing: a real character, and ever so good natured. RIP, Buddy - you will be missed.


And then I woke up at 4 this morning with a crashing headache. Paracetamol has helped, but still - work isn't going to be much fun. Bah.

Comments

[littlepunkryo.livejournal.com]

I hope your headache gets better. :/

Hamsters only live like 3 years? That's not very long at all!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Aye - lifespan can vary depending on breed, but most only live 18month-2 years. Buddy would have been 3 in January, so he was decidedly geriatric!

It's still sad to lose him, though. Such a character he was.

[andreathelion.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel.
Buddie looks like a real cutie. ((hugs to you and small))

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks. He was very sweet, but also very elderly - this was a nice peaceful end.

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

Oh! So sad! I've lost a lot of little people over the last few months, so I'm there with you. Hugs to Small, and to you.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, we've had plenty of pets come and go, and it is always sad - this is Small's first experience of losing a pet that was hers.

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

Hugs to Small. How's she doing?

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Oh, she's fine, ta. She misses him, but kids are resilient and she knew it was coming - we made sure she was prepared. She just has to go and say hello to his grave every time she's at the new house now!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_carly_/]

Aww, poor Small and poor hamster. He looked like a cutie.

Is there a correlation between your headache and seeing HSM perhaps? ;)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

LOL I did wonder that myself...

...really, though, I tend to blame a late night, disturbed sleep and hormones!

[femsc.livejournal.com]

Hormones are generally a good bet when it comes to blaming things :)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Heh. Definitely. Especially at, well, certain points of the lunar cycle...

[babelmira.livejournal.com]

I know how Small feels. Give her a hug or whatever from us.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It always hurts to lose a pet.

[justwolf.livejournal.com]

Oh poor Buddy--he looks like such a sweetheart. 3 years, though--he was doing well!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Aye, he'd have been 3 in January, which is a good long life for a hamster! He was a real cutie, so it's sad to see him go.

[wildcard-sej.livejournal.com]

Oh dear - nearly 3 is a good innings for a hamster, but all the same it's sad when it happens. Big hugs to Small!

And hope your head's feeling better today. *hugs*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

The headache did go in the end - a quiet, dull day in work helped!

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Wow, I did not know hamsters had such a short life span. Must be tough on Small. And poor you for the headache. I get eye migraines sometimes, absolute blinders that make me the grumpiest go-away-world person on the planet, so my heartiest sympathies. I wish you a dark, quiet room and a cold flannel to help you through.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Yep, hamsters don't live long at all - it's what makes them perfect first pets for a child, really. Low maintenance, and if the child quickly loses interest, mum and dad aren't committed to looking after it for them for the next 15/20 years as with a dog or cat!

I get migraine from time to time and it is always hideous - I just lose the ability to function. Often, though, I spot the signs and head it off at the pass. Getting paracetamol down my neck at 4am today was a good example! Caught it in time, and so the headache didn't get worse and was gone by midday, thanks.

[jayres.livejournal.com]

Poor Small, but lucky Buddy having a long, happy life and such a peaceful death. Is she going to have another hamster?

Hope your headache has gone. :)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Much better now, thanks, Judy.

Yes, Buddy had a great life, really. Small probably will get another hamster, but not until after the house move, which won't be before Christmas.

[francy-m79.livejournal.com]

Awww, RIP Buddy!! Poor Small!
Sorry about the headache, hope the day got better, eventually! :)

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Francy. I feel better now, ta. Work was quiet and dull - perfect!

[winniewoo.livejournal.com]

Aw poor Buddy and poor Small!

Hope your head feels better *cwtch*

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Anwen. *snuggles*

How's Stowy doing, poor little mite? Buddy lived a long and full life, but your poor little chap is only a youngster still.

[winniewoo.livejournal.com]

He's doing ok thanks. Lump's still massive but he seems alright in himself so fingers crossed the antibiotics are doing something.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

I'll keep everything crossed for you both.

[agentxpndble.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so sorry! Poor Small - That's such a drag it had to happen on that particular night... Hopefully she will be able to remember the show as a good thing without always attaching it to losing Buddy. :-(

What an adorable picture - He was such a sweetie! :::HUGS:::

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Yeah, she was sat there last night cradling his little body saying 'but this was supposed to be a good night' over and over. Bless her, she'd already made his coffin last weekend when he was so poorly - we think he might have had some kind of mini stroke. He revived, but alas not for long. He was really cute and such a personality - he loved escaping from his cage...but tended to put himself back after he'd explored and found something to chew. He liked his cage, with its supply of food and water. *G*

[geordiebint.livejournal.com]

Aww, poor Small.

Three years is good innings! I've had tons of hamsters and never one past 2.5 years.

Hope work was okay with the horrible headache.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Jules. Yep, we've been expecting Buddy's demise all year, really! He had kidney trouble months ago and we thought that would be it, but he kept recovering and going on strong. He'd gone very grey toward the end - I've never known a hamster that lived long enough for that to happen before!

The horrible headache did clear up in the end, thanks. At 4am it was awful, but luckily I got the paracetamol down in time to stop it developing into migraine. And work was really quiet, which helped.

[kelzies.livejournal.com]

Aw, hamsters are so cute. Sorry about Buddy *hugs* So sad when a pet dies.

Hope the headache goes away soon!

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Cheers, Kel. Headache all gone now. I think weekend helps there! *G*

[slightlyjillian.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sorry about Buddy. Such a handsome hamster. I love their little toes. A rodent-lover myself, I sympathize.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Thanks. They're such cute little things! But so short-lived.

[femsc.livejournal.com]

Poor Small, and poor you.

Buddy looks very alert and full of personality in that photo - I wonder what he was saying to whom?

Headaches are the pits, especially when you've got to work and attempt to concentrate. Hope you're feeling better now.

[llywela13.livejournal.com]

Heh. That picture was taken on holiday, not this summer just gone but the year before. That was the year we had the two kittens on holiday with us - Poppy and her sister Mackerel. They spent the week trying to figure out how to get into the hamster's cage, and he spent the week laughing at them! He really was a character.

I'm feeling much better now, thanks. Nice quiet weekend just what I needed :)

[femsc.livejournal.com]

Glad you're feeling better.

Kittens v Hamster - and the hamster wins? Excellent :)