Everyone likes a good love story and newly-engaged Kambah resident Sophie Jenkins has a romantic tale with a twist (and a tail).
Twenty years ago, when Sophie was 19, she wanted a Diamond Python for a pet (as one does) so she looked up the Yellow Pages (that’s how long ago it was) and contacted Canberra Reptile Zoo owner, Peter Child. Their mutual attraction was off the scale (pun intended).
They built up the Reptile Zoo business together (it started as a small business from home) but then went their separate ways – only to find each other again five years ago. Fast forward to last Saturday night at a Halloween party, Peter popped the question to Sophie with none other than a diamond-studded snake ring. How asp, I mean apt.
“I’d always been a weirdo and so I always wanted a python and when I met [Peter] we’re very similar,” Sophie said. “We’re both very eccentric, entrepreneurial, creative. It’s been a rollercoaster since then.”
The besotted pair now live in suburban Kambah but suburban they are not. They live with their pet bearded dragon, who was born without spikes and has a neurological disorder that causes him to shake. His name’s Kevin Shakin’. They also own an Olive Python called Calvin Climb, and his girlfriend is Gogo Chanel.
“It’s a nut house,” Sophie said. “Because we got engaged on Halloween, we’re going to get married next year on Halloween and I’m thinking a black dress, red bridesmaid dresses and we’re going to walk through the legs of a giant spider.”
That brings me to Sophie’s recent extravagant purchase, a 10-metre wide, four-metre high inflatable spider that adorns their home, just in time for Halloween. Sophie bought the spider online; it’s made in China and its name is Mortein (Morty for short).
“I’ve always been a big Halloween fan and this year I went all out,” Sophie said. “Now it’s completely out of control. [Mortein] cost a few bob.”
Ironically, Sophie’s frightened of spiders. So, a 10-metre high tarantula is the stuff of nightmares. The neighbours don’t mind Morty, however, and it only takes two industrial fans and 30 seconds to inflate.
“It’s not good in the wind so I’ve had to put extra posts in the ground to make sure it doesn’t fly away,” Sophie said. “I’m quite scared of spiders, but I love it to bits.”
If you think Sophie’s Halloween purchase is a lot, just wait until Christmas when she has Gremlins in the bathtub.
I’m not surprised in the least when Sophie tells me that her day job is teaching circus arts, or aerial dancing.
If you want to stop by her house in Samson Place, Kambah, this Halloween, her students will be performing aerial hoop for the public. Sophie’s house is on the corner of 31 Gallagher Street and 1 Samson Place, Kambah, or you can just look for the giant, hairy legs. Bring the Mortein.
