Among the things I’ll be packing for my two-week trip to New Zealand are several handfuls of weta “feeding dishes.”
Yes, they’re plastic bottle caps.Helen told me that weta keepers are seeking bottle caps from which to feed their wetas, so I started collecting them about a month ago. I think I have about ten now.
I can just imagine going through customs at Auckland International:
“Do you have anything to declare?”
“Yes, I have two prescriptions to declare — here’s the documentation for them from my doctor — and about a dozen plastic bottle caps.”
“A. Dozen. Plastic. Bottle. Caps. Did I hear you correctly?”
“Yes. I didn’t count them, but I think I have about a dozen.”
“OK. Why?”
“Oh! For the wetas!”
“The. Wetas.”
“Yes. Their carers/minders need bottle tops to feed their wetas.” (See, I’ve adopted NZ’s terms for caregivers/zookeepers! I’m on the ball!)
“I see… Carry on!”
As I take my leave from the interrrogation, one customs official leans over to another and says: “Another crazy American. Gotta love ’em!”
The reminds me of a book I read decades ago. Its title: Only a Gringo Would Die for an Anteater.
WE GET TO MEET SOME WETAS!
And hopefully hold them so we can get pix.
I have a plastic weta here at my home which Helen brought me when she visited two years ago.
I’ve been practicing with it.
Practice makes perfect!
