Snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?

I was thinking a couple of days ago that I haven't written a post in a while so it is about time I changed that, so grab a cuppa and a biscuit and let me tell you about Claire.

Not long after moving back down south, I found that I needed a new hobby, something to keep me busy and out of trouble. I never really imagined that magic would be the answer, but after seeing my friend walk up to three girls with only a deck of cards then 5 mins later leave with all of them, I thought it was worth a shot.

After a short rocky montage of me learning card tricks and I was soon performing tricks in bars and clubs. It wasn't long after when I met Claire, she was a fun, carefree sort of girl who loved animals and wanted to be a vet one day. We exchanged numbers, texted a bit and just generally had a good time.

One evening she invited me round to her house. As I turned up I noticed that she had a kitten in the window, not really surprising since she does want to be a vet. However what I saw next I really couldn't have expected. As I walked through the front door into the living room I was greeted with what can only be described as a small zoo of reptiles, there were bearded dragons, lizards a couple of spiders and finally in the corner a massive cornsnake. Where I am not fond of reptiles, I'm bloody terrified of snakes. However they were all in cages and whereas I may not like them I am find as long as they stay in the cage away from me.

It was just my luck that I turned up just as they were about to be fed wasn’t it, I had only be there 5 mins and I am now handing her some freshly defrosted mice, while she feeds these lizards. The one I do not want to be in the room for is the snake, I try politely explaining that I am terrified of snakes and she takes it as an opportunity for me to face my fear. Before I really have a chance to say no, I have a 3 foot snake around me at which point I just froze and shortly after fainted.

The next thing I remember is waking up on a sofa, with a kitten on my chest and Claire was crying with laughter, I swiftly headed home, we still texted a bit after that but I never went round her house again.

What did I learn from this? When snakes are involved I should not be in the same room. It's a simple lesson and a rule that has done me well ever since.