This wheek I am meeting with Lady Guinyvere. A beautiful and mature lady, who promised to share her experiences with her invention Veggie Hide-and-Seek with me.

Although our conversation takes place through the cage bars (Slaves thought it couldn't be done elsewise, *tssk* auntie Guiny apparently is a spunky little lady), she soons whispers it is okay for me to call her auntie Guiny. Luckily she isn't as bad as our slaves made her out to be. Aunt Guiny also has a reputation of being quite a smart guinea pig. For example, she understands the concept of 'opening a door'. When she sees a door, she will think first, and then she decides whether she should push or pull. That's pretty smart, I think. Hmmm..this is promising.

(Igor:) Dear aunt Guiny, what is Veggie Hide-and-Seek?

        (Guiny:) Veggie Hide-And-Seek is a hunt for veggies your slave has hidden for you. The special thing about my version of Veggie Hide-And-Seek is that I make my slave use small cups in which she has to hide the veggies. With these cups, Slaves can upgrade the difficulty level. I have a need for intellectual stimulation, so this is one of my favorite games. This complies perfectly with my natural need to rummage for food

(Igor:) What materials can you use?:

        (Guiny:) In theory, you don't really need the cups. But once you are used to them, the cups enable you to increase the difficulty level and it becomes more interesting than just gobbling down those veggies. Send your slave to the attic and let her check between the children's toys and kitchenware. You can also send your slave to a rummage sale, a cheap household store etc.
You also need veggies. Preferably, different kinds and small amounts. One piece a cup is enough. Otherwise you will lie down after one cup and let your food digest comfortably. This way it is not a game anymore. I prefer a bit of cucumber, paprika (bell pepper) and chicory, but that is personal of course. You also need a large space in which you are allowed to run around. Your slave might need to use a fence or newspaper/blankets in order to protect the floor and furniture.

(Igor:) How should guinea pigs from all over the World apply this?

        (Guiny:) I'm happy you ask that question, dear Igor. When you start playing this game, it's best that you start on a low level. This can be achieved by placing the cups in such a way that they are easy to find. Your slave should put them in a position so that you can easily see and reach the veggies.

Once you have mastered this, you go on to the next level. Now your slave can then put them in harder to find places, so you have to try harder to find them. On the third level your slave can start to vary the positions of the cups. For example, when these are upside down, you cannot smell the veggies as easily and you will have to find out for yourself if something tasty is in there. You will also have to find out how to turn the cup in order to get out the veggie. Another difficult position is a cup which is placed just upright. With our cups it is kinda hard to put our noses inside. The final level is a combination of difficult positions and locations. I faced some challenges with cups that were on top of houses, or almost buried underneath a pillow. Needless to say, I conquered them all.

(Igor:) What about the Do-it-yourself-Factor?:

        (Guiny:) Veggie Hide-And-Seek is not for sale in pet shops and your slave has to make it herself.

(Igor:) Lady Guiny, does this game have different versions?:

        (Guiny:) Well, as I already explained, there are different difficulty levels. Your slave can also use toilet paper rolls, instead of the plastic cups, for an old fashioned game of shred-the-cardboard-to-pieces after you're done eating the veggies. By the way, this game is at its best when you do this with your cage mates. You can do a match, where whoever finds the most veggies, wins (and she who wins gets to eat them as an award *giggle*).

(Igor:) Who is the target audience??:

        (Guiny:) Well look, Igor, I myself am an intellectual cavy. I don't know if you have ever considered this target audience, but stimulation is very important for my type of guinea pig. We become very bored without it. Playing games like this really perks us up. Another target audience that will definitely appreciate this is of course the food oriented cavy.

(Igor:) Is this dangerous?:

        (Guiny:) Slaves have to pay attention to the safety of the cups (Sharp edges, edibility etc.) For this game you will always need a supervising slave, in the case we get stuck. By the way, our own slaves really enjoy watching us play this game...

Professor Igors experiences:

        (Igor:) I have to say, I am enthusiastic. I have played this game about five times with Suus and Yaya. Yaya especially is very good at this, usually I will just trail behind her and hope that there is more than one piece in her cup. We are currently playing this game at level 3. I do find it a bit scary, but it is definitely not boring.

Dear auntie Guiny, thank you very much for this interview and hopefully I will seen you soon!

Professor Igor

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This PLAY is a translation of the original Dutch version that can be seen on "the diary of a guinea pig gang"-website from the Guinea pig Rescue in Posterholt (the netherlands). If you'd rather read this in Dutch go to: Play Groenteverstoppertje
Tip: if you are able to understand Dutch, check this page regularly, the guinea pig gang members write to each other regularly and it's sometimes funny, sometimes scary or sad but always entertaining: Dagboek van een caviabende