This isn't a new passing, but I realised I hadn't said a lot about Hammie - and this is the place to do it.
Hammie was my partner's Syrian - a big old girl, who loved roaming about her flat, and tucking into as much veg as possible! Having never had a pet myself, I was rather curious as to what this bundle of fur was.
I'd been warned that Hammie didn't like men - every man who'd tried to pick her up had been pretty well savaged! Considering myself something of a charmer, I couldn't resist the challenge - and nor could Hammie resist treats! New shoes might work on my partner, but Hammie was sold for chocolate drops - quite literally eat out of my palm
Hammie was always getting me in trouble - she wasn't a favourite of Al's flatmate, who was fond of saying "I hate that ****** hamster". After a bout of unwarranted Hammie hating, whilst she was out in her ball, I went to pick her up from under the flatmate's feet:
"What's that Hammie?" I asked, holding the ball close.
"Yeah... you're right Hammie - she is an ********!"
That pretty much set the pattern for me and Hammie!
When Al moved in to live with me, Hammie came along also - and the adoption was complete! At a ripe old 25yrs of age, I had my first pet!
Hammie was an old girl, and she started to show it in August last year - she had trouble breathing, and wheezing episodes. Approaching 3yrs, the vet simply told us it was old age. Hammie continued to be very active, right to the end - enjoying her ball and free-roaming time, enjoying fresh treats, though visibily slowing down.
I popped home one dinner, from work - to find Hammie stood in her cage, rocking. She was very cold. I put the heating on, cradled her, and we went to sit in the warmth. I could sense the end was near, and she was coughing - so I talked to her for an hour, sat stroking her, dabbing her little mouth when she coughed. She was very calm, and whilst I talked and soothed, she died in my hands.
I'm known for being a very tough man at work, but I sat at my desk with people staring at my puffy red eyes, when I got back - whilst I bumbled the news to Al over the phone
We gave her a viking burial - as seems fitting for a York hamster, on a beautiful sunny evening - the flowers out and the Minster bells ringing. Hammie was blessed right to the end and beyond
I like this idea of the Rainbow Bridge - I would, very much, like to see her again. The tiny little rodent, who bit all men bar me, really got into my heart
Hammie, in our new flat:
Exploring me:
Balltime:
And, doing what Hammie did best... nom nom nom nom!:
RIP Hammie xxx
Hammie - 08/07
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