Russell had always said that the septic tanks were fine and didn’t need to be emptied, but actually it would have been better if they’d been done a few years ago.  As it is, I checked them just in time, I reckon another week and we’d have had a problem with the house one anyway, and the other was pretty damn full too, and they couldn’t be done in one go.  I’ll have to have Clint the honey-cart man back in the spring.  Still, since I did remember to check them, I’m counting this as a win.

Ben was thrilled to see Spike and his dad and cheerily went out to their car.  I wonder if he’ll be surprised not to come home again tonight – though they’ve asked me to look after him on Sunday, when they’re going to be out!  This is going to work in a cheerfully relaxed fashion, it’ll be fine once we’ve all adjusted.

Anastasia woke up after I’d left the lamp on for a couple of hours and basked for a while, then she started to move about a bit so I gave her a warm bath.  Later, when I walked Ben, I found some dandelion leaves and a flower and left them to tempt her to eat, but she walked on by.  However, in the remains of a bag of salad, I found a sprig of lamb’s lettuce and she headed for that and chomped it.  So she’s remembered the pleasure of eating and she will be fine.  Tonight, she’s sleeping in a small terracotta plant pot.  I weighed her, she is just 49 grams and a couple of milligrams shorter than her sister, who kept eating for longer.  I daresay it’ll equal out over the winter.

Two invitations received today, woo hoo!