Pets are a lovely addition to any family home and can bring us years of fun and happiness. I always had pets as a child, whether they were goldfish, hamsters, or cats, and really enjoyed having something to look after, tell my secrets to and have a cuddle on a cold night. Unfortunately it's a very unllikely scenario that a pet out lives its owner, and there always comes a time when we have to say goodbye to our furry friends.

When I was at University I had a hamster who had been with me for over 3 years, which is very old for a hamster so when he passed away it was very sad as he was quite frail and ill. As I lived on my own and didn't really know what to do, I took my hamster to the vet in the hope they could make him better, but sadly as he was so frail they needed to put him to sleep. Naturally I was devasted as I handed over the little shoe box nest I had made for them to put him in.

As I walked out in to reception to settle the bill, the receptionist ask me if I would "like to keep the body". This shocked me a little as I wasn't prepared for it. In the past when pets had died it had always been at home and my parents had buried them in our garden, so the thought that I'd need to make a decision like this didn't sit well with me. As I was in shock and didn't know how I would bring my poor hamster home and bury him without a garden, I asked that they keep him. I always felt sad about this.

It wasn't until my friend's cat unfortunately had a run in with a car that I learnt about cremation. I was of course aware of humans being cremated and that relatives would keep the remians in cremation urns either at home or in the cemetry. It hadn't really dawned on me that pets could be cremated too, and I guess that's what happened to my hamster a few years ago. If I'd had realised this then I would have asked the vet to organise the cremation for me so that I could collect and keep his ashes. There are lots of cute pet urns available in all sorts of sizes, and I would have been able to get a tiny one that I could keep as a lasting memory of my lovely little hamster.

Losing a pet is always going to be very sad, no matter what type of animal you own, but I guess if we make sure we are as prepared as we can be it will make that time just a little easier for us and the family.

I recently bought a car, which I have been considering for some time. There are lots of reasons against getting a car that older and wiser friends and relatives were keen to remind me of!
Some of the reasons they have told me I shouldn't get a car are:

• Insurance prices in the UK are ridiculous, particularly if like me, you are a young lady without a no claims history
• Parking around here is ridiculous - not only difficult to find a space outside your own house, but also about £2 an hour
• Petrol, thanks to the rise in VAT and extortionate oil prices, is also very expensive
  
• If something goes wrong with the car, it's usually very expensive.
  

Ok so these are valid points that can't be ignored. The first 3 points I can't really argue with, and have had to accept the frustrating costs of parking, petrol and insurance so that I don't have to get the bus everywhere any more. On particularly busy bus journeys, I would have paid £100 for someone to lend me a car so I could leave the bus and drive myself home!

However, the last point, I disagree. It's so easy to buy UK car parts cheaply online these days, I reckon I could at least by the parts myself and ask a friend to fix them for me that going to the mechanics, or I could be brave and have a go at fixing things myself after some thorough research on the internet. I don't think it would be difficult as I have a little Ford KA and there must be loads of info out there about fitting ford car parts. There's also a Ford garage just down the road in case I get stuck, I guess they could always come and tow me there after I've meddled and caused chaos under the bonnet!

Luckliy (touch wood) my car is running fine and the moment and I haven't had any reason to consider fixing it myself. However, when the inevitable strange noises start I'm going to be brave and see what I can fix myself and save myself a whole load of money on the garage costs.

Wish me luck!