Firstly Christmas. Well we all had a peaceful Christmas at home. We all love Christmas because Dad goes to France and stocks up on nuts. We get Walnuts all year round and also Filberts and Almonds but at Christmas we also get Pistachios which are yummy! A lot of Christmas was spent in our new larger lounge following completion of the extension. It is much nicer and makes it look so much less cluttered. Also they have had wooden flooring put down so when we are taken short in flight it “splats” on the floor – I love the sound of that “splat”! Shortly after Christmas, Blu’s results came back negative so we were all introduced. My, he is a big boy! He seems friendly to everyone which is a good thing but perhaps that’s because everyone is afraid of such a big bird! I don’t really know but I don’t think I’m afraid of him but I’ve spent loads of time (even away on holiday) with Phoebe so I don’t fear much! It was nice to have Adam home for 2 weeks – the whole family together again – because we only normally see Adam at week-ends. Stacey had to work a lot of the holidays but that’s what comes from being a Vet Nurse – there are always sick animals even if it was mainly where humans hadn’t kept their chocolate safe from their animals! January came and went quite quickly. We didn’t go out because it was soooo cold.
Then came February, the month with half term. Well we didn’t go away at Half Term because Adam & Stacey went to Berlin so Mum & Dad had to stay and look after all of us Fids! Mum & Dad still had a couple of week-ends away though but it was too cold to take me and Syd! Something else notable happened in February though. After all Mum’s words about Blu being the last bird Dad was to get, Ruby came to join us. We didn’t get to see her until March as she was up in the bedroom in quarantine and we didn’t really hear her – she is so quiet! Ruby is a Roseate or Galah Cockatoo. If you used to watch Neighbours like we did, you will have seen one on Neighbours as that is where Dad first fancied one! When Ruby joined us she was DEFINITELY the last bird to join our happy family (watch this space ;-) ). Ruby is such a dainty young lady. She was not too keen on other birds (initially – dad soon changed that!) so she started off her communal life in the Utility Room with Ollie and Rockie. However, Dolly made so much noise in the Birdroom that Dad soon swapped Dolly and Ruby so Ruby is now in the Bird Room with the majority of the birds. She seems to have settled in pretty well really and has her unique time out alone in the evening because when Dad has other birds, she gets jealous and bites his ear (hehehe). He is gradually working on this with her though and she is making some good progress. She often goes up to the study with Dad when he is working on the computer but she isn’t here now because this is MY time! March again was cold and we didn’t get out much but Mum & Dad still had some week-ends away!
Then came April. April had the Easter Holidays and Mum, Dad and Adam went to Crediton for half the time and Exminster for the other half. They started off taking Phoebe and Georgie but it was a bit on the cold side when they went out (the caravan was lovely and warm with its Central Heating!). It transpired that it was too cold for Phoebe (well she is naked and although she had her jumper on, it is not half as efficient as Georgie’s feathers were!). So, on the Monday, they all came home and Mum & Dad took me and Syd. It was a tad cold but me and Syd are used to the cold (we’ve been to a very snowy Mont Blanc!!) and our feathers kept us warm. We spent a lot of time on the Granite Way although the trains weren’t running there. We all LOVE the Granite Way, and Meldon Reservoir along with the market town of Okehampton, and we have lots of friends in that area. We found a lovely pub that were overjoyed to have us inside so we ended up there several times. It was between Okehampton and the edge of Dartmoor. We spent a lot of time in the area and never once got into Exeter which is unusual but we just didn’t have the time.. We did try something Dad has been afraid to do for many years – we went to Lydford Gorge. Unfortunately Dad soon realised he had bitten off more than he could chew so we only went down to see the waterfall and then made the gentler climb, punctuated with numerous rest stops, back to the Car Park. Dad was truly knackered and in a lot of pain which affected him for the rest of the holiday but we still got around a bit and had a good time! The second half of the holiday was spent at Exminster (another CL site which we love). We spent plenty of times on the waterfront in Exeter, Topsham and the Goatwalk. (we have loads of friends in Topsham), Dawlish and Teignmouth (visiting our favourite pub which allows me and Syd inside) and of course, the local Golf Club who are happy with Me & Syd and have stunning views over the Exe estuary. We also went to Brixham which was nice because the tide was in. While in Brixham we went to see the two Sharons (Hill & Lawlor) and some of their birds. Dad was really taken with their birds and was practising using his new camera by photographing them! The two Sharons were also quite taken by Me and Syd. Dad says we were on our best behaviour but I said we are ALWAYS that good and challenged Dad to tell me when we weren’t – he failed! We are ALWAYS good which is why we get to go to Europe with them and this year is no exception. We are off to SW France and Northern Spain for the Summer Hols this year and boy are we looking forward to it! Well for the last week Mum had to go back to school and Adam (who had missed the first week due to different holiday times) stayed with Dad. Unusually we didn’t get to go on the train this holiday – not for any other reason than we just didn’t get around to it! By the time the last Saturday came and it was time to go home we had had a great holiday and hadn’t got wet once! We are soooo lucky with the weather in Devon!
Then came May which is where we are now. At the beginning of the month, Dad and Adam drove to Leicester to collect a huge double cage (2m x 2m x 1m) which Dad thought would be better for Blu. The conservatory is now fully finished and gives a huge space for us parrots. The Macaws LOVE it out there even though there are only 2 that fly. Still this new cage was destined for the conservatory and also enabled us to put Rockie in there to give Mum back most of her Utility Room, leaving the very noisy Ollie & Dolly (Mealeys) in there to wind each other up! All was well with the new cage but as Dad & Adam drew up outside Dad heard Macaws shouting inside so he asked if he could see them. Dad was really pleased to come across some Parrot owners who really cared about their parrots. They fed Tidymix (NO Monkey Nuts) to their birds and although they smoked, they did it outside (which is where they were when they arrived). They had 11 Macaws altogether and Dad was in his element. While upstairs in the Bedroom there was a Miligold (Military x Blue & Gold) in a travel cage. Dad asked why he was in a travel cage and was told, “I’m getting a Military this afternoon who’s going in his cage. He’s for sale if you would like him!” Well Dad pointed out that he would LOVE him but there is NO WAY he would be allowed so it was left. They loaded the cage into the car, paid the money and they left. Dad told Adam to drive around the corner and stop while he phoned home. You see Dad couldn’t stand the thought of that Miligold in a Travel Cage even for a short period of time. So Dad phoned Mum. Mum was surprisingly easy to get around and said she was fine as long as Stacey was because it’s Stacey who has to look after the birds when we are away. So Dad spoke to Stacey. Dad had already thought Georgie (GW) and Rockie (Harlequin) could share the other half of the huge double cage because they would be out in the conservatory most of the day and out in the Lounge most of the evening so really it wouldn’t take up any extra cages to what we had already agreed. Stacey agreed we could have him but this DEFINITELY had to be the last (Hmmm – I’ve heard that before somewhere!!!). Well Dad & Adam went back and were promptly asked, “what have you forgotten?”. “Nothing,” Dad replied, “but we might be interested in your Miligold”. While we were there the woman received a phone call for him but she said he was already sold, even before we had agreed. She didn’t like the sound of the people on the phone as she is quite fussy where her birds go, which was nice. Anyway, he is a DNA sexed male, called Jasper, does talk a little (but Dad reckons Macaws aren’t the best talkers anyway) but as I keep telling Dad, HE can’t fly so why should WE talk?! Dad and Adam had to find a Cashpoint and had to go through their cards taking out what they could to come up with enough money and, having managed that, Dad had to persuade them to provide a travel cage as he didn’t have one because he wasn’t expecting to come away with a bird so they did that and Jasper spent the whole journey home being tickled by Dad (all 3 hours!). We haven’t met Jasper yet as he is now in quarantine in the bedroom but, unlike Ruby, we HAVE heard him! We can’t wait to meet him! Dad is currently waiting for his sample results to come back and then he’ll be brought down to see how he gets on with the other Macaws. Unfortunately (for Dad!) things have changed a bit though. Georgie (GW) and Rockie (Harlequin) have been over bonding and Georgie, a previously cuddly bird has been getting VERY vicious so she and Rockie have been split up. Dad is hoping Jasper and Rockie will get on well together so he can have the 2 hybrids together but if not, Blu gets on with everyone so it’ll be a case of trying different birds other than Georgie, with Blu. Failing all else, Charlie’s old cage will be brought into play in the conservatory. Those are Dad’s plans. I will report back next time.
So, my claws are getting tired with all this typing so now is the time to end this saga. I really will try to get on to do it more frequently in future but Dad hogs the computer. He’ll have to get me a Tablet lol!!! Oh, I forgot to say, me and Syd spent the long May Day Bank Holiday week-end in Plymouth with Mum & Dad and had a great time. It is good now the weather has finally got warmer. No pub visits for us though – we had to go in our travel cage in the car while they went into Wetherspoons!