Festival of Lights

This year Deepavali was ushered in by the Indian community on 17 October. Infused with Hinduism and other religions of the Indian sub-continent, this festival is celebrated in a big way.

In keeping with the spirit of celebration and the joyous mood of my dear Indian friends, I dusted off my bovine candle holder and lighted a red candle to burn brightly in my home.

Pickles our HedgieHog

Curious Pickles standing on tip-toes to have a peek at the world outside her abode

These are the paraphenalia, munchies and treats to keep Pickles happy and contented

Pickles came into our household without much fanfare, in nothing fancier than an old shoe box. She's an African Pygmy hedgie of the 'salt & pepper' variety. At the tender age of 3 months, she is teeny-weeny and painfully shy. She burrows deep into the folds of your clothes when approached by strangers and bristles up like a porcupine when further alarmed. Not to be fooled by her timid demeanor, she possesses an impressive armoury of about 7,000 quills. Thus cradling her is an exercise in wariness.

A week later, she has started to come out of her shell and sniffs suspiciously around, taking everything with her dark brown eyes. She snacks on chocolate alphabet biskies and slakes her thirst with water. At the moment she appears contented and prefers to snuggle under an old T-shirt to slumber off. Soon we have to get her an exercise wheel to keep her occupied during her waking hours.

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened."~ Anatole France