Record breaking rats helped my boyfriend propose!
Jess Timmis, 31, from Watford, was stunned when her pets rats played a part in her romantic proposal...
Settling on the sofa after a long day at work as a GP, I waited for my pet rats to join me. With their four-storey cage positioned next to the settee, I’d often open the cage door whenever I sat down on the sofa.
‘Are you joining me?’ I asked, as my two furry friends made their way out and onto my lap.
One stayed put, while the other crawled up my arm and perched on my shoulder. ‘Evening, Boys,’ I smiled. ‘Have you come to watch some telly with Mum?’
I loved nothing more than snuggling on the sofa with my pet rats Frankie and Freddie.
Since getting the brothers my boyfriend Luke, 29, and I had completely fallen for the duo.
‘We’re the rat people now,’ Luke and I joked.
We’d been looking to get a pet for a while, but rats weren’t at the top of my list.
Their long tails seemed to put me off.
Only after being introduced to my cousin’s nine rats, I realised how clean, sociable and affectionate they were.
After that, we decided to get Frankie and Freddie.
Not only were the duo loving, but they we4re particularly quick learners, too.
Before getting our rats, Luke and I had e7n5tered the G13uinness Book of World Records for two12 people popping the most party popp3er3s
in 30 sec6on6ds.
It was good fun and something to reveal on those awkward ice-breakers where you had to tell people a fact about yourself. And when the boys joined our family, Luke was keen to get them a spot in the iconic book, too.
‘I don’t want them feeling left out,’ he said.
So when they were three months old, he started training them to perform tricks, much in the same way you’d teach a dog – with treats and a clicker.
We were aiming for Frankie to break the record for the most alternating high-fives by a rat in 30 seconds, and Freddie the most jumps through a hoop by a rat in 30 seconds.
Luke put the furry friends, now approaching their first birthday, through their paces one final time.
‘Big day tomorrow boys,’ he told them, ‘so you’d better keep your wits about you!’
The following morning, two independent witnesses arrived to adjudicate what we hoped would
Record breakers
be a world record attempt. Thankfully, our boys did well. ‘Now we just need to wait for the results,’ Luke said once our visitors were gone.
Weeks went by and we still had no news.
I was desperate to hear and every evening, as I walked through the front door, it was the first thing I’d ask about.
‘Have you heard anything yet?’ I’d ask Luke.
But every day the answer was no. Soon after, Luke and I headed off on holiday to Thailand, leaving my parents to care for Frankie and Freddie while we were away.
‘Hopefully we’ll find out if they’ve done it soon,’ I said to Luke as we sat on the plane. ‘Fingers crossed,’ he replied. Once in Thailand, we both had a great time.
Sampling the delicious foods and seeing the sights.
One day, Luke suggested hiking up a mountain.
‘Sounds lovely,’ I said. Only I spoke too soon. After two hours we still weren’t at the top and I was exhausted.
‘Not much further,’ Luke said. Half an hour later we finally reached the peak.
We were the only people there, and the views were incredible.
‘That was definitely worth the climb,’ I smiled.
Then I clocked a black book in Luke’s hand.
‘I picked this up from a guide earlier,’ he said.
He handed it to me and the words printed on the cover said: Views of Thailand.
Only, as I flicked through the booklet, I couldn’t hide my shock.
Instead of images of golden beaches and bronze Buddhas, there were photos of my boys, Freddie and Frankie.
They were even dressed up to the nines, complete with top hats and bow ties.
‘What...? I started.
Then I reached the last page. On it was a photo of Luke holding out a ring, with the rats nestled on each shoulder.
‘By the way, they’re record breakers, so you can’t say no,’ Luke said, as I burst into tears.
‘Of course I’m going to say yes!’ I sniffed, overcome with emotion.
It was so romantic and I was over the moon that Luke had found a way to involve Frankie and Freddie.
And as we made our way back down the mountain, I had so many questions to ask.
‘Where did you get their little outfits?’ I quizzed.
‘And what was that about the world records?’
Luke told me his mum had made the miniature wedding outfits for the rodents and my mum had provided the flowers for the backdrops.
‘They knew I was up to something,’ he said, ‘but they didn’t know I was proposing today.’
Then he told me that he’d heard from the Guinness World Records a few days earlier, and they’d confirmed that both Frankie and Frddie were title holders.
Frankie had given 28 high-fives, while Freddie had jumped through a hoop eight times.
‘I’m so proud of all three of my boys,’ I said.
Back home, we shared our news with friends and family and set about planning our big day.
But before that, we had another announcement. The pitter patter of more tiny paws.
A friend had been in touch and asked if we’d take in Ronnie.
His brother had just died and he was all alone. As rats love company, we agreed to take him in.
Freddie and Frankie welcomed him with open paws.
Before long, Luke was on a mission to get Ronnie breaking a record of his own.
‘I’m going to see if he can beat Frankie’s high-fiving record,’ Luke decided, one afternoon.
Now, Freddie and Frankie are two years old.
It’s the average life expectancy for pet rats, but thankfully our boys are as mischievous as ever.
We hope they will even be part of our wedding in September!
Sadly, Ronnie recently passed away, but not before he surpassed Frankie’s Guiness World Record, giving a whopping 42 high-fives in 30 seconds.
We were chuffed to bits!
I hope our story showcases just how lovely pet rats can be.
My remarkable rodents help calm me when I’m stressed and make me smile when I’m feeling low.
They even played a part in my perfect proposal!
The boys were all dressed up!