30 Days of June

[BorisPasha]

I really enjoyed reading that Fluffagrams, it was very interesting. It's good to be able to relate what you're saying to the pics, like the comparison of Jessie and James's head. Helps to see the triangle Boris sometimes has tufty bits of fur like the picture of James where is fur is not lying smoothly. I've often wondered why it's like that sometimes.

I can just imagine Victoria dazzling the judges lol. I think all your hamsters are lovely

[AprilPearl]

Interesting reading about show standards. I have read up a bit about what judges look for in a syrian, but not a Chinese. I think all your hamsters are lovely, whether they'd lose marks for a tiny fault if not! Although I can see that shows would be fun, I would have difficulty judging one because I'd want to give all the entries first prize I think!

[flowerfairy]

Awwww Daniela has dazzled me with her sweet face.

It is interesting hearing about the judging criteria. It is also great seeing your wonderful array of cute hamsters.

[Vectis Hamstery]

It's lovely to see Mr Hedgehog again (I honestly didn't know it was him when I judged him at his hedgehoggy finest!) You didn't mention that the most obvious moult lines typically appear on the morning of a show...

[Fluffagrams]

Originally Posted by BorisPasha

Boris sometimes has tufty bits of fur like the picture of James where is fur is not lying smoothly. I've often wondered why it's like that sometimes.

To my knowledge and based on what I have seen on James, it seems to be change in season that has been the biggest cause on him although if a hamster is getting older then they may appear more frequentely.

Originally Posted by BorisPasha

I can just imagine Victoria dazzling the judges lol.

She tries, but doesn't always succeed! Saying that she's had a 'cute' comment from nearly every judge that's ever seen her but unfortunately 'cute' does not mean she's a candidate for a BIS.
When she was shown in Young Stock, she had a Young With Potential from a couple of judges but she never really grew into that!

Originally Posted by Vectis Hamstery

It's lovely to see Mr Hedgehog again (I honestly didn't know it was him when I judged him at his hedgehoggy finest!)

He must have been saving his best for you as he wasn't even that hedgehoggy when I benched him!

James is one of those hamsters that can look really good when you send the entries off but will get his best moult lines literally just before the show.

For the benefit of everyone else, this is my little 'Lord Hedgehog' demonstrating his hedgehog stripes...



(This photo was taken in November 2016)

[Drago]

James is adorable in that last pic. Thank you for sharing the show standards with us, they were very interesting to learn

[Thin Lizzy]

Aww Fluffagrams, just been catching up with your month and all I've done is oohed and ahhed and lots of Awws and feeling giddy at all your stunning fluffs. Fabulous start!

[cypher]

I have to say I rather like the hedgehog look

[Pebbles82]

It is really interesting reading about the show criteria, and as well as that we get to see lots of lovely hammy photos

[Fluffagrams]

Today was a work day for me so today I thought I'd share a few photos of the city that I am so proud to call 'home' (I actually live a few miles away from Bath but still near enough).

Bath is a world heritage site in the South West of England, particularly well known for the Baths and temple that were constructed in the valleys of the River Avon during the year AD 60. Claims were made in the 17th Century for the curative properties of water from the springs, and Bath became popular as a spa town in the Georgian era. A hospital was founded in 1738 named The Mineral Water Hospital for the 'deserving poor' to take in the healing waters and to this day a hospital remains on this site...



The hospital is now officially known as The Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases but is still known amongst Bathonians as 'The Min'.

One of the other imposing buildings in Bath is the Bath Abbey which officially known as the Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The Abbey is a Grade I listed building and was first founded in the 7th century although major restoration work was carried out in the 1860s. This is a shot taken looking up at the fabulous tower of the Abbey...



Bath is surrounded by a beautiful countryside and if you're ever planning to visit the city, I'd strongly suggest venturing just a few miles out of the city centre to see some spectacular views. On the East Side of the City, you'll see the valley of the River Avon with the Kennet and Avon Canal on one site and the railway line that forms part of the Heart of The Wessex Line on the other. Here are a couple of shots taken from the window of a bus on it's way out of the city...





Architects work in the city will often try to find ways to feature some of the city's heritage or make use of existing buildings. The Brunel Square is a restaurant quarter constructed within the railway arches surrounding Bath Spa railway station...



You'll see one of the restaurants behind the decorative red phone boxes.



This is a photo taken in one of the shops that have made a feature of their building's heritage. This particular glass panel shows a basement that was once the old street level in what is believed to be the Georgian times. All the buildings in that particular street are interlinked through these basements and if the owners hadn't blocked off their own section, you could literally walk under what is the current street level.


From a Hamster perspective, Bath is the location of two of the major shows in the Southern Hamster Club's show calendar. The Bath shows tend to be well attended, particularly by pet class entrants so there's plenty of people to share tips with!