Ollie's blood results came back today. There were a few borderline readings but nothing too sinister. Apparently his Uric Acid was a bit high which might lead to gout in the future so Dad is going to get him some cherries which are good at lowering Uric Acid. Also it said he might benefit from a bird light but as soon as he comes into the birdroom he will have one so no real worries. Still to come are his Chlamidia and DNA sexing results - watch this space!!!
Today our parrents took Ollie on the bus to Swindon. Dad was going to take me & Sydney but at the last minute decided to try to take Ollie. Apparently he was very well behaved except that he discovered our Dad's shoulder (where Sydney likes to sit!). He went on a total of 4 buses, had a picnic and went to the shops! Dad say's he had a good time but I haven't met him yet.
Ollie's blood results came back today. There were a few borderline readings but nothing too sinister. Apparently his Uric Acid was a bit high which might lead to gout in the future so Dad is going to get him some cherries which are good at lowering Uric Acid. Also it said he might benefit from a bird light but as soon as he comes into the birdroom he will have one so no real worries. Still to come are his Chlamidia and DNA sexing results - watch this space!!!
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Today our parrents started Ollie's harness training. Dad has updated Ollie's page with a picture and full details. He made a prmosing start and I am looking forward to going out with him in the future.
After that our parrents took me, Phoebe and Sydney to Lacock. Dad prefers to have Phoebe on his shoulder because she is a bit heavy to be carried on his hand for the whole afternoon! Unfortunately she wanted the same shoulder a Sydney - the right one, and they weren't prepared to share. They were each tried on his left shoulder but both wanted to go to the right shoulder where the other one was. In the end Sydney drew the short straw and ment to Mum but because Sydney once bit her face Mum wont allow he on her shoulder. When we first arrived and walked through the village I was very talkative saying Hello to everyone I met. My parrents say I only usually say Hello when I want something and this was no exception - I wanted Sydney with me! Still it wasn't going to happen and both me and Sydney eventually settled down. While in Lacock we went to see our friends, the ladies at Lacock Abbey as we went around the grounds. We sat in the orchard for coffee and biscuits but by then Sydney was getting tired and niggly (well she had missed her siesta!) so rather than visiting the pub for a drink we went home instead. Mum promised Dad a beer at home but all she gave him was a bovril (hahahaha). It was a lovely warm and sunny afternoon and Dad said he wished he'd put his shorts on instead of his Jeans. He should be like us fids and just have one outfit on all the time (except for Phoebe who likes going topless ;-) so had to have her vest on to stop the sunburn!). Today is our Dad's birthday and he and Adam are going to Leicestershire to see a Mealey Amazon called Ollie. Dad says that he will only get Ollie if he is confident he will get on with him but secretly I reckon two of them went and three will be coming back! Dad loves Amazons (so me and Sydney must be doing something right!!!) and there isn't a Mealy in our flock.
Well they are back now and guess what? I was right! There are three of them!!! Ollie is currently in a quarantine cage in the lounge - just in case! Tomorrow he will be having a blood test to test for illness and also having one of those microchip thingies put in his breast (personally the only chips I like are those that come with fish!!!), but I have one as well as do all of us Fids. I know Dad is really happy he got Ollie but aparently he wants another Amazon and then the bird room will be full so no more Fids! I haven't met Ollie yet but I am looking forward to it. Apparently his is bigger than me but, like me, he is not a bully! I will keep you posted on Ollie's future developments so keep an eye on my blog! Today is a fine and sunny day and Adam is taking Dad out to lunch at the George at Bathampton for Father's Day. The George is right by the canal and Sydney and I love it there so Dad agreed to take us along too. We are going on the bus so both Adam and Dad can have a drink.
Well we arrived and they both had Fish and Chips. Now I love chips so I kept pinching Adam's. I know they are bad for me but we NEVER have chips at home so it is only very rarely I get to eat them. Sydney on the other hand must be watching her figure! She had a bit of a chip but then filled up on Dad's Peas. She kept telling me that peas are better for a bird than chips and.....I sort of know she is right but it was a case of naughty but nice! We saw some barges on the canal and some ducks and then we went into Bath. We saw Deep Lock in Bath and then caught the bus home. It was a good day out! Well Friday morning came, and went, fairly quickly really. By 11:00 our Dad had me and Phoebe in our cages in the caravan and then we were off, en route to Devon. When we arrived on site, me & Phoebe were left in the caravan until our parents had the awning up in case all that flapping canvas frightened Phoebe (me being well used to it by now!). It didn’t seem long until Phoebe and I were installed in the awning; me in my cage and Phoebe stood on the stand from the kitchen that was to be her home for the next week or so. Shortly afterwards the new double cage (for Kenny & Sydney; and Tahla & Suki) was delivered and Dad put it in the owner’s garage for safe-keeping until we went home. This was supposed to be collect from Exmouth but then the woman moved to Lancashire and took it with her but she did arrange for her brother-in-law to deliver it to us as he went back to Devon for the Bank Holiday week-end. We spent most of the evening in the awning with our parrents watching TV but then they felt Phoebe was a bit cold so we all went inside. Saturday morning dawned a nice day and our parents had shorts on so it was going to be warm! We spent most of the day on different parts of the Exeter Ship Canal between Countess Weare and the Turf Locks (yes – that is a pub!). When we left the site, I was a bit unhappy that they hadn’t brought Sydney and my Dad said that I looked sad (I don’t know how I am supposed to look any different to be honest!). They thought it might be a good idea to put me on my stand on the back seat while Dad was able to have both hands free to deal with Phoebe! Well, they should have asked me first. I knew that Phoebe was going to be as good as gold so before we were actually off the site, I flew from the back to the front of the car and landed on my Dad’s hand saying, “clever boy”. That was the last time they put me in the back of the car!!! The whole day was a learning experience for all of us but mainly for Phoebe. Phoebe was exceptionally good the whole day long and soon got used to travelling on our Dad’s shoulder in the car. She had her vest on which helped to protect her from the sun and was always a talking point with the people we met. The landlord of the Turf Locks remembered them having 2 Amazons last time and came outside to meet Phoebe. Me and Sydney were once put on their website! Saturday evening - a Major event for Phoebe. Yes on the evening of Saturday 28/5/11 our parrents removed Phoebe's collar - at last! She was soooooo pleased and although her breast feathers will probably never grow due to follicle damage, she has grown a host of new feathers on her back so it was not all a complete waste of time. Our parrents kept up her painkillers for another 2 days in case she had neck ache but then stopped altogether. Phoebe didn't show any signs either positive or negative about the removal - she was just her usual forgiving self, bless her! Sunday we had to go and collect a large Parrot stand that Dad had won on eBay and Phoebe was in the mood for eating her harness! She broke 2 of the clips and Mum had to come back to the caravan to do a quick repair job. In the afternoon we just walked up to the golf club for a few beers (the theme of this holiday was aleady beginning to take shape!!!). Monday was the only day of the week where there was a question mark over the weather and there were a few showers. At first Phoebe was scared of the Umbrella but I told her not to worry and she soon got used to it. We went to Teignmouth where our parrents were drawn, once again, to the Charity Shops. In one, our Mum found a nice strong laundry basket so she bought that and we had to take it back to the car. While at Teignmouth we introduced Phoebe to the trains along the sea wall. Dad said she would be frightened but I had already told her that if she listened for the railway tracks “whispering”, she would know there was a train coming and not to be startled. This worked and she didn’t once flinch! Monday was unusual – our parrents never went to a pub!!! Tuesday was a really exciting day at Exmouth! We had to go into the market as Dad wanted a couple of ferrules for his walking stick and knew there was a good place in the Market. We also went to see our friends in the charity shops, buying another caravan sheet for Mum & Dad. On Dad’s cape (to keep his shirt clean from Phoebe’s droppings, Phoebe kept slipping so our parents thought some towelling ones would be better to they also bought some towels for Mum to cut up for Dad & Phoebe. While we walked around someone asked if our parrents were the people with the Cockatoo yesterday. They said they weren’t, of course, but they then thought there was someone else in Exmouth walking around with a parrot on his shoulder. Very soon a lady came up for a chat and said it was her husband. Like our parrents, they had a caravan and brought their Mollucan Cockatoo and African Grey with them. In the park Bay FM were broadcasting but they didn’t see us or want us on their programme. We had lunch in the park and were just leaving when this bloke on a bike appeared with a Cockatoo on his shoulder and an African Grey on his handlebars. We stopped to chat and then his wife came along and we all had a long chat about taking parrots on holiday! In the afternoon we had some Ice Cream (I know! Naughty but Nice!!!). Wednesday our parrents got up late and also did a cooked breakfast (yummie!). When we eventually went out we went to Tiverton. We first went to the Canal and took the short trip to the Aqueduct over the old railway then went back to the car and had lunch by the canal. There were lots of families of Ducks and Swans on the canal. After lunch we went to see some good friends of our parrents in Tiverton at their house beside the canal. While we were there a mother Duck led all her 7 ducklings up on to the grass and then covered them all with her wings to keep them warm. Wednesday was another day with no pub visit!!! Thursday was Dawlish and Starcross day. We stopped at Starcross to visit our friends in the charity shop where Mum got some shorts and Dad got a book about David Cameron. The ladies in the shop remembered Sydney but were happy to see Phoebe instead and by this time I was used to being on holiday with Phoebe. Even the post lady stopped for a chat about me & Phoebe which dad said was unusual as she had to keep up an average speed of 4MPH!!! While there, there was a walking group who all stopped to take photographs (I told Phoebe to stand on top of Dad’s head so she didn’t have to share the photo with his face but she didn’t!) Then we went to Dawlish and had lunch by the river and the Black Swans. In the afternoon we stopped to say hello to the man in the tea bar and we did, of course, end up in a pub at Dawlish Warren. We had all the staff come out one by one to see us and then the Manageress came and asked if she could take a photo for their website. Of course this was fine and Phoebe and me both posed for the camera! Friday was Topsham day where we saw some old friends and met some new ones. Our parents love Topsham and Dad keeps trying to get Mum to go back on the ferry but after she slipped off the gangplank and ended up neck deep in mud she hasn’t wanted to go near it! That suits me too because I’m not too keen on boats either! Well Saturday was lunch at Doublelocks (yes! You’ve got it – another pub!). While sat there, there was a steam train being hauled by a diesel which was a bit disappointing. Our parrents found out that there was another steam train on Sunday morning as well. After lunch we went to see the lady in The Ark where Oscar came from and then went back to load the cages and stand in the car and take the awning down. After we’d done all this we went to see the return of the steam train but again it was diesel hauled as the Steam loco kept starting lineside fires. Sunday morning was a long lie in for our parrents and it was also going home day. We went to see Sunday’s steam train which, today was steam hauled, and then we had to leave for home. I travelled in my cage but our parrents decided as Phoebe had been so good all week, she could travel on dad’s shoulder in the car while Mum had a go at towing. Don’t tell her, but Dad said she did very well – better than in the past! Well I’m sorry this is such a long blog but I had sooooo much to tell you about!!! |
Author:- Phoebe (on behalf of David Vickery)This will not be a daily blog but just a record of anything out of the ordinary for the family members. Archives
October 2016
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