Frozen water bowl

Was having a bunny chat today to a nice taxi driver - a cat and dog owner - and mentioned about my outdoor bunnies water bowl freezing during cold weather. (Its a dog-type bowl). He said by putting a ping pong ball in it, it should stop the water freezing. Will be giving it a try anyway!

Yeah I've done that, it works great with my chickens drinker.

You can get sippy bottles now that have a little rubber thingie in them (I think it's a duck) but they're stupidly expensive.

yeah, that's quite a regularly used one I think, I've heard about a few times - what a nice taxi driver he was

He was! Was on the way to the vet to get BB's eyes checked cos they've been a bit watery. He's getting age-related bunny catarracts too, so has spent a lovely night indoors with his Mummy.

Will look for those water bottles with ducks in them. December was a nightmare for frozen bottles!

Let me know if you can't find them - I know my local garden centre has them so I can always pick one up for you.

Aw thank you! What part of Devon are you in? I used to live in Plymouth.

Really? I'm just outside Ivybridge! My hubby's in the Navy (which sounds like a euphemism). Wot a small world.

Blimey!! Dont tell me its Endsleigh Garden Centre you are talking about? I lived in Plymouth for 21 years as my Dad spent 30 years in RN! I spent a few years myself as a Comms rating in the RN Reserves. What branch is your husband in? Is he on a ship or shore-based?

Small world definitely!!!

Reenie's Navy stories are legendary Kathy x

Oooh yes - when I was serving on HMS Victory...and back in those days I started my training up in the crows nest.

what I did was put a little plastic toy carrot in Chewy's bottle, it floats so I guess it would do the job to keep the water from freezing, although I use it to be able to see from a distance if Chewy's bottle needs filling.

Thats a good idea, thank you! Will have a rummage through Megs old toys to find something suitable.

Ah yes, Endsleigh Garden centre are indeed my nemesis and also my guilty pleasure We have a farm shop next door to them and farm the fields around.

Nick's a logistics officer, just finshing up his training. He's attached to HMS Sutherland at the mo, then he's back at Raleigh to finish up, then he gets his first "real" posting - which looks like it might be back to Sutherland atm. Should be shore-based after that -- so I'm promised! He was a reservist for years though - were you with Vivid?

Is this going to turn into one of those six degrees of separation things?!

I think it is!

I was indeed at Vivid. From 1998 - 2000, then I transferred to HMS Calliope in Gateshead. When was your husband at Vivid? I remember a Logistics Officer called Peggy Strudwick - she was a Lt when I was there. Also, my step-Mum spent many years at HMS Eaglet (Liverpool) as a Logistics Officer!

I used to love Endsleigh - it had lots there. Still have some xmas decorations that I bought there many years ago. Its a lovely part of the world where you live, are you from Devon, or have you moved there?

This is marvellous for me! Bunny/Plymouth/Navy chat, all rolled into one!!!!

Nick was at Vivid from 2006 until he got his commission in 2009, so I bet you've got some mutual friends at least!

I'm from Bolton in Lancashire originally, I met Nick at uni in York and we moved down to Devon in 2005 - his family have been farmers there for at least 450 years. Now he's in the Navy and I help out on the farm/shop/delivery service. I love Endsleigh, although occasionally I have to speak to them about their rabbits Besides, if it wasn't for their 1 million customers per year we'd have far fewer customers than we do now!

Scuse me while I go add you on FB....

Am off to accept!