Now & Z/Yen always takes pleasure in “hatched and matched” news items. But we are especially delighted to announce a new addition to Z/Yen’s first family, the Mainellis. Welcome, Fatso, the hamster. Michael spotted an opportunity to one-up the Obama family’s choice of a Portuguese Water Dog which, it transpires, is not actually a rescue dog at all but a spare from Ted Kennedy’s litter. The Mainelli family, on the other hand, have very much gone the rescue rodent route, fostering Fatso the Portuguese Water Hamster through friends, in Fatso’s hour of need.

Rumours that several Z/Yen people are comparing their lot to Fatso on his treadmill are vastly exaggerated, and most unkind in these charitable circumstances. There are also rumours that Ian and Janie, not wishing to be outdone, rescued a Portuguese Water Chicken from their local piri-piri restaurant; Ian and Janie are said to have voted their new pet delicious. Nevertheless, welcome to the Mainelli family, and indeed the Z/Yen family, Fatso the Hamster.