Introducing Aurora......

...... our new hamster.

We were all very sad when Fluffball passed away at the age of 2 years and 8 months in June and it took until a couple of weeks ago for Anna to decide that she wanted another hamster.

So, yesterday, we picked up Aurora. Her name is an ironic reflection of the fact that all the other hamsters in the shop were fast asleep, yet she was bouncing around the cage looking very animated and interested.

She seems to have settled well into Fluffball's old cage, although with new fixtures and fittings and toys. She is very cute. She actually looks like a miniature bear at times.

Fluffball was Anna's chief confidant when her parents let her down in some way, as all parents do. We don't mean to, but we all set restrictions or in some other way fall short of the behaviour expected of us. When that happened, the wee white ball of fluff was always very good at restoring her equilibrium. I expect Aurora will fulfil the same role.

And the Hamster's name is......

Thank you to everyone who voted in the hamster naming poll. The results were as follows:

Harry 29.2%
Fluffball 25.0%
Snowball 25.0%
Another suggestion 20.8%

Some of the other suggestions were brilliant - Baldrick suits a hamster of little brain, Gumby, as suggested by Jennie, also went down very well with Anna.

As we always said, this poll was purely advisory but at least she has chosen a name that is on the list. So, the little white ball of fluff is now officially Fluffball.

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Hamster Naming Poll 2

Some months ago I ran a poll, purely advisory in nature, to garner opinion on what Anna should name her new hamster. She completely ignored the result and instead went for a name that wasn't even on the list, but she thought it was helpful.

Sadly, our much loved little Powder Puff passed away on the same day as President Obama was inaugurated. She had a tumour in her intestine and had to be put to sleep. I have to say how proud I was of Anna for being so brave. The vet thought she was fantastic.

So, we now have a new inhabitant of our re-designed cage. In Anna's words "He is a long haired white Syrian with dark eyes and pink ears with a tiny black spot on each one. He has a very cute face and wouldn't say boo to a goose. We have been calling him Mr Brainless Wonder due to his habit of making a nest in hiis wheel. He also burrowed under his hamster igloo, sits in his food bowl and will run into his wheel if you look at him from across a room or touch the lid of his cage. When he can overcome his nervousness, he loves to be cuddled."

She was very keen to have another poll, and so we'd appreciate your vote. You'll note that we have an option for you to suggest your own name, which you can do by commenting to this post.

The poll closes in one week's time, February 9th.

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Hamster Poll results - Rose wins, a duck for Fluffy

Thanks to all who voted in the poll on Anna's new hamster's name. The results were as follows:

Rose 31.4%

Linda 22.9%

Gemini 17.1%

Ace and Snuggles 14.3% each

Fluffy 0%

She still hasn't made her final decision on what the hamster is to be called. In the meantime, the wee thing is being referred to as Powder Puff. When Anna finally makes her mind up, I'll let you know:-)

I've had the expected grief from various Lib Dem sources for not making this an STV poll - well, if someone shows me how to do it.......................

I suspect the reason that Fluffy got no votes is because there can only really be one Lib Dem ambassador of fluffiness

Online Poll - what should Anna name her new hamster?

Anna got a new hamster today and is very excited about this little powder puff on legs who is well on the way to capturing all our hearts:-). The wee rodent is very adventurous and loves playing in the tube attached to her cage.

However, Anna can't decide what to call her.

I thought I could extend my skills and try an online poll. I have to say that this is purely advisory in nature.

As some of you will know, Anna is mad on Doctor Who. Therefore some of the nominations have a Who flavour - Rose, cos she's an adventurous blonde, Ace after the 7th doctor's plucky companion and Linda, after we watched Love and Monsters, the modern season 2 episode this morning.

The other names are Fluffy - cos she just is, Snuggles, although I'm a bit dubious about whether you could, given the nature of hamsters' teeth, snuggle her without getting shredded, and Gemini because she would have been born about 3 months' ago, around the time of Anna's own birthday.

Please take part in this poll and give Anna a bit of help in this important decision. She may decide to ignore you all, but then she wouldn't be a proper liberal if she just went with the flow of public opinion and ignored her own instincts.