Carefully turn over the mechanical hedgehog avoiding the short protruding metallic spines running up its back.

Turn the alarm time dial corresponding to the correct time on it's belly clock.Insert the clock key, wind the internal springs taut, this will take about a minute to wind the various internal springs and bell mechanism etc.

Remove key.

Place upright upon the floor on it's little four mechanical legs, such as in a corner of your room.

Sleep.

At the desired set time the hedgehog will scuttle about the bedroom floor ringing loudly and manoeuvring it's spines backwards and forwards upon its back.

You'll probably only have a couple of choices. Either you leap out of bed, careful to avoid treading on it and leaving the room, or laying there putting up with the extremely loud ringing that is scurrying around your bedroom floor and possibly under your bed.

Either way, it won't stop until the horological hedgehog has fully unwound, it's the only way to insert the key again.
-- skinflaps, Jun 20 2006

Or I could just use hairspray on my cats.

Oh, Bun for you. I will take four of those.
-- Galbinus_Caeli, Jun 20 2006


A most excellent idea. [+]

I can imagine the sensation of winding this up, with a heavy duty key and satisfying clicking mechanism, as you hold the spines tight against the main body. Hopefully it "knows" how to retreat when it bumps into a wall, or can it climb? It could also feature tethered leaping fleas - hedgehogs always have loads of fleas.
-- xenzag, Jun 20 2006


I have a feeling that four may get a bit out of hand [Galbinus] whilst winding all up at once.
-- skinflaps, Jun 20 2006



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