An unexpected baby, born in an unusual place, not knowing one of his parents… now where have I heard that before?!
I had a bonus Christmas present the end of last week: one baby stick insect.
You will recall Poppy, Lily and Oliver and my concern about sex-education lessons for my class. Well that round of behaviours actually started last Christmas, rather hilariously / embarrassingly when the stick insects were staying with the boys in the spare room at their Grandparents house. Somehow it either never happened at school or was never spotted, but Oliver’s quest for fatherhood was a diligent one at times.
Websites give Thorny Sabah an adult lifespan of nine months, but it still felt too soon when one of the females died (nominated Lily, since the girls were identical to our eyes) at Easter. We were less surprised in mid-November when Poppy died, and I started to wonder what to do when Oliver passes on – do I source more stick insects, or try to work out another fur-less feather-less, allergy-free, non-toxic class pet that would fit into my busy life?
Not that Oliver had any plans for leaving – he was and is still a lively and sociable fellow, even if he is nearing his second birthday and one to his third class of children.
But then I got my Christmas present. One tiny little stick insect, still quite rolled up from being in the egg, and well spotted by son number two when I was cleaning Oliver out, ready for another Christmas trip to the Grandparents. (All tank emptyings from there on have involved minute leaf inspections to reduce the risk of throwing any more offspring away!)
You might recall that doctorwhofan98 is my elder son, and our dog bears the theme, burdened with the name Gallifrey (planet of the Time Lords). After much angst and impatient waiting, we watched the Christmas episode and began to see how Jenna-Louise Colman who died as Oswin the Dalek could also be Jenna-Louise Coleman who died as Clara Oswin Oswald after falling from the TARDIS. The mystery deepens (as she must somehow live on now she is known to be the new companion!), but the name stuck. Oswin is actually a boy’s name (meaning ‘God’s friend’ – oh yes!), but Oswin / Jenna-Louise is female, so the unknown gender of this little sticklet for some months yet (until maturity) is suited for either result, without a need to a name change (like his father Olivia!)
Any guesses how many other eggs might yet hatch readers?!