Spring 1999

Dear Diary . . .

Well, it's been the busiest month I can remember for many a long year! It all started on the first of May, when I was woken by the sound of someone shouting outside. I got up in a bit of a hurry, curious to find out what all the noise was about.

When I opened my front door of my burrow, there was my friend Russel Rabbit, hopping around outside in a state of great excitement, yelling "May Day! May Day! May Day!" over and over again at the top of his voice. He came bounding over as soon as he saw me.

"Morning Marty!" he said, still hopping like crazy. "Did you know that today is the start of May? And what a marvellous month it's going to be! I've been waiting ages for you. I thought you were never getting up! I've been here since sunrise".

"Hello Russel," I said. "You know I don't like to get up too early; besides, I have to wait until it's really light so I can see things better. In fact, I'd still be fast asleep if it wasn't for you making all this racket. What on earth's got into you today? You're like a cat on a hot tin roof! And why is May going to be so marvellous?"

"Because of our website!! We're going to have a Supreme website! Me and Gerty, and Harry, and Reggie, and Gerri, and Charlie are going to have our very own website!!!" he cried, hopping even faster and chasing his tail at high speed. It made me quite dizzy just to watch.

"A website, eh?"

"Yes, that's right Marty, a website!" he yelled, launching himself up in the air and kicking his back legs towards the sky. "Isn't it brilliant?"

"Well yes, Russel. But it's all very sudden. Where is it going to be exactly?"

"They're naming it after me!" he squealed. "It's going to be at russelrabbit.com!"

"Yes, but where is russelrabbit.com going to be?"

Russel went rather quiet, rather suddenly and stopped hopping for the first time since I'd got up. "Ah well, Marty . . . " He went a bit red and drew a deep breath. "I was hoping that you could help us out with that. You see, you're really clever when it comes to all that computer stuff, and I don't really know much about it at all. I was talking with the others, and we were rather hoping that you'd help."

"Go on, " I said

"Well, what we were really hoping, was that you'd design the website for us, and that you'd maybe . . . "

"That I'd maybe what exactly?"

"That you'd maybe host it. In your house."

"In my house?"

Russel started hopping again. "Well, yes, in your house. No, before you say anything, think about it, Marty. It would be such fun! You're always complaining that you never have any visitors, and this way, you'd have lots. And not just visitors, but lots of mail, too. And you could put all your knowledge to good use, not only with computers, but also advising people how to look after their pets. Please say yes, Marty. Think how much fun it would be. Pleeeeease, we can't do it without you."

It did sound tempting, and I had been feeling rather bored lately. In fact, I was a bit jealous of Russel, Harry, Gerty and all the others, with the busy, glamorous lives they lead at Supreme. I didn't think they'd ever really have a job for me, because nobody keeps Moles as pets.

"So, let me get this right," I said. "You want me to help you set up your website, and then host it in my house?"

"Yes, that's it." said Russel. "And you'd be our Official Webmaster"

"Really?" Now I was getting excited too. "I'd be the Official Supreme Webmaster?"

"Oh yes," said Russel. "You'd be perfect, and that way, you'll be a proper part of the Supreme team, just like you've always wanted. So, what do you say? Are you in?"

I couldn't believe my luck. This was a dream come true. I stared at Russel over the tops of my glasses. I felt myself grinning broadly. "You bet!"

Well, since then things have been pretty crazy. There's been so much to do. First we had to draw a plan of my house and work out exactly where everything would go. In the end, there wasn't enough room, so Russel helped me dig some new rooms. Then all the team came over one afternoon to help with the spring-cleaning. Gerty Guinea Pig did the sweeping, Gerri Gerbil did all the polishing, Reggie Rat scampered around with a duster and Harry Hamster made piles of all the clutter that needed sorting out. Charlie Chinchilla had to stay away most of the time, to stop his fur getting dusty, but he did his bit by putting a new coat of paint of my front door.

The next job was to make signs so that visitors can find their way around. I also had to buy a big new shiny mail box ‚ I wasn't sure which colour to choose, but Russel came with me and insisted on red!

So now I'm all ready for the website launch on Monday May 24th. Russel says that's when the hard work really starts. Maybe so, but I can't wait . . .

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