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!
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!
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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!!! Well the decision has been made. Phoebe & I are going to Devon with our parrents. Sydney bit Mum's face the other day and now she doesn't feel brave enough to take her so she has to stay at home. I'm sure she didn't mean any harm but Mum is too nervous of it happening again. Now as you know, I have a small cage that just fits through the caravan door but Phoebe doesn't. We have the travel cage (aka Dog cage) which will just fit through the door but is barely long enough for her super tail so we are taking the stand from the kitchen and Phoebe will live and sleep on that (except during the days when we are out, of course).
Dad has bought a new double cage and as Dad keeps measuring the wall behind our cage, I think it will go there. What will happen to me & Sydney? Well between you and me, I hope we can go in the new cage as ours is a bit old, but only time will tell. The trouble is it is being delivered to the farm we are staying on this afternoon so we have to make sure we get there early. Mum is finishing work early today and Dad wants to leave by 11:30 (so he'd better get on then!). Now the plan was to put Sydney in a different cage so she didn't get too possessive over ours. I want to see if that happens because IF it doesn't, then it MIGHT mean that me and Syd will go in the new cage :-) . Well I'm hoping for nice weather in Devon and I'm looking forward to showing Phoebe the ropes. Phoebe can't fly so when she is on site she wont need her harness on but I can fly (and, foolishly, I keep showing Dad that I can fly), so when I'm out of my cage I shall have to have my harness on. Still I don't really mind - it makes me feel safer. Dad says that when we're off site Phoebe will have to have hers on too in case anything frightens her. I know she'll feel a lot safer that way. Well this will be my last post before our holiday so watch this space when we get back (in June) and I will tell you all about our holiday and all the places I showed Phoebe! ttfn. Well on Sunday we went to Castle Combe Car Boot sale (that's Sydney & Me along with Dad & Stacey). We bought quite a lot of stuff (or was it junk?) including, would you believe, a new Kitchen Sink! In the afternoon Dad & Stacey took Phoebe and Jasper to Lacock Abbey. They tell me they had a great time and were both very good - Phoebe is getting better and better in the car and she no longer feels the need to flap her wings when she sees the scenery passing by!!!
In the evening, Phoebe had an accident. She managed to rip off one of her toe nails. It bled a lot and it must be very sore because she keeps standing on one leg, holding the bad foot aloft. Our parrents don't know whether she will grow the nail again or not - only time will tell. Poor Phoebe. On Monday our parrents went to Swindon on the bus so me & Sydney went with them. After collecting a new cable they took us to Coate Water reservoir where we had coffee and biscuits (yum yum!). Today is Tuesday and Dad had us fids all fed and watered quite early! We wont be going out today because our parrents have a very busy day. Dad has to go to the caravan to have a tap looked at, followed by a hospital appointment. After that they are going to Radstock to collect a cage Dad bought on eBay. He is not sure yet whether it will be an outdoor cage; a spare indoor cage; or a new cage for Jasper - it depends what condition it is in when he sees it. After that, they are going to collect a couple of large cactii from Bath and then coming home for tea! Phew! Now to the heading of this post. There are a few decisions being made at the moment. Stacey thought it would be a good idea if Phoebe went to Devon at half-term. This was because, if there are any problems or she seems stressed, Stacey can drive down and take her home. It's a sort of dry run for the summer in case she goes to France. Our parrents haven't decided yet. Dad says he wont decide until the night before. I don't like this - how am I supposed to pack if I don't know if I'm going? So Phoebe is definitely going to Devon and I will have to give her some tips on packing light! Dad says I can go too because a lot of kids want to hold a parrot and Phoebe isn't calm enough for that but I am! So it looks like it's going to be me and Phoebe. But, Sydney is a bit sad about this and Dad doesn't want to upset her. The problem is Phoebe and Sydney both like to sit on Dad's shoulder and Phoebe keeps changing shoulder which is bound to upset Sydney. Now Sydney isn't too good with Mum so Dad is going to try to get Sydney & Mum to be good friends so that Syd can travel on Mum's shoulder and then we will all be able to go - yippee!!! Dad say's they might go back to Lacock again tomorrow with Mum holding me and Syd and Dad will take Billie as he hasn't been out for a while. I think that'll be good - as long as Sydney behaves herself!!! Well its been a varied week, this week. On Monday our parrents went to Swindon shopping. Nothing too unusual there except they bought a new small flatscreen TV for the Birdroom. Mum has wanted rid of the big 25" CRT one for ages so Dad finally weakened and they bought one. [Whispers] Dad hasn't told Mum yet but he wants one of those HUGE 2 metre wide double cages for Phoebe and Max and without the big TV, there is now room for it! I wonder how long it will be before Phoebe & Max get a new cage to share!
At Mum's school there is a child called Bud who also likes Parrots. He has a parrot at home like Sydney - a Blue-fronted Amazon. Mum arranged for Dad to take me & Sydney in to see Bud and some of the teachers. We went to Calne on the bus as usual and on the way in we were accosted by a group of children who wanted to meet us. Dad was really pleased because the children were so well behaved. One of the helpers came across to see what was attracting all the attention and then Dad took us to meet Mum and Bud. Bud's parrot is just called Bird as they don't know if it is a little boy or a little girl (how embarrassing is that?) and Bird bites sometimes so Bud was a little nervous at first but he soon plucked up enough courage to hold me. He didn't hold Sydney because she was nibbling Dad's ear and Bud didn't want his ear nibbled. Afetr I had my photo taken with Bud and another with John, one of the Teachers, we had to go off to Swindon to collect a new sink (Dad told Mum to put it in her handbag then she would have everything including the kitchen sink in her bag! Mum wasn't impressed!! When we got to Swindon and made the collection we went out to Coate Water Reservoir where we saw the Ducks and Geese and near where we sat for Coffee and Ginger Biscuits (my favourites!!!) there was a family of Geese - the parents and 8 goslings. On Wednesday it was Phoebe and Jaspers turn to go to Lacock. Dad told Mum it was to further their harness training but Dad knew they didn't need any more training really!!! Lacock was quite busy and all was well until Jasper decided to ask every single person, Horse and Sheep, "you alright?" Mum kept telling him to put a sock in it but he wouldn't and all the people thought it was so sweet! (Well I suppose it is quite sweet really!). Thursday was a home day and a day for swapping the TVs and Friday, Dad & Stacey are going to try to get another outdoor cage for us Fids to get some real natural sunlight instead of our full spectrum bird lights! I hope they do because me and Sydney really enjoy the sun and it'll help those of us fids who aren't well enough behaved on a harness to go on the bus, see the sun. Well that's all for this week. See you soon! PS Dad & Stacey saw the cage but the mesh was too thin for us fids! When they got home they took Magic, Oscar & Tahla out for a walk. It is the first real outing for Tahla and she definitely needs a bit more harness training!!! My Dad has been a bit silly! He bought a new stand for Oscar & Magic on eBay. It was collect only from Malvern. He did it because he thought Stacey could pop round and collect it after college. He then went on to win it! Great, he thought....until Stacey pointed out that she doesn't go to college in Malvern; she goes to college in Monmouth!!! Hence the heading, Silly Dad!!!
So, as he had to go to Malvern, Mum drove and they took me & Sydney for a day out. Once the rain stopped it was quite a nice day. We arrived in Malvern in the dry and then went to Upton-upon-Severn where we had our lunch by the river. Our parrents like Upton and it was a nice place. After lunch we went to another favourite place of our parrents - Tewkesbury! We had a wander around the shops; bought some more dinner plates in a charity shop to replace those that mysteriously break in the dark when no-one's around! We then sat by the weir and had a coffee. While we were there we saw a Heron. Now if you ask me Heron's got a bit confused in there evolution! They obviously don't like the water as they have got long legs to keep themselves dry when they go paddling (actually I wish me and Sydney had had long legs when Stacey took us for a paddle on holiday!). Well, if they don't like the water perhaps they should have stayed out of it rather than just grow long thin legs!!! They are also quite ungainly when they fly, making their long necks into the shape of an "S" but our parrents find them fascinating so we had to sit and watch this one on the weir looking for fish! Actually, we saw a fish jump right out of the water! (What was he trying to do? Reach the Heron's mouth at the top of those long legs? I don't think so!). Still we have to agree with our parrents. Tewkesbury is a nice place. Today our Dad had to go to Bath on the bus. It was such a nice day, he decided to take some of us Fids along. Now Sydney & I are the only 2 of the fids that are generally acceptable on the bus because we sit still, don't flap and don't mess on the floor! None of the other fids, although probably OK, can be guaranteed not to flap and some of the other passengers don't like flapping birds. Also we are the only "house-trained" fids and the bus drivers keep moaning in case we mess so, whenever Dad is going on the bus it's Sydney and me who go with him.. When we got there, we sat on a seat outside McDonalds for a coffee and there were loads of kids from a local school doing a survey who all came up to talk to us and to hold me (Sydney is still a bit unpredictable for being held) and a German family came up and Adam started speaking German to them (show off!!!). We then had to get on another bus to go to the outskirts of Bath and back again and then back home!
When we got home and Sydney & I went back in our cages; it was Jasper and Phoebe's turn to go out. Stacey and our Dad put their harnesses on and took them for a short walk to see how they got on. Jasper is an escape artist and unfastens his usual harness so they had a "special" harness for him which he couldn't undo (Parrents 1 : Jasper 0). Phoebe had the normal harness but a bright yello one to remind her what her pink front should look like! She found it a bit difficult to balance in the wind to start with but soon found a comfortable place on Dad's shoulder. All in all the first outings for Jasper & Phoebe were a great success!!! Yesterday our Dad and Stacey went to collect Jasper. Jasper is a Goffin's Cockatoo who we have adopted. He is a lovely bird who insists on asking everyone, "you alright?" My Dad has created a separate page for Jasper under The Birds so please read all about him there as my beak is getting fed up with all this typing! Jasper is fine with us smaller birds but seems a bit nervous of the bigger ones (although he did fly and land on Max's cage this morning - not for long mind you!!! Jasper is here on trial but we all hope he will stay. Dad loves Goffin's so I think Jasper is here for good! See Jasper's page for more updates. After a short break at home, we were off back down to Devon again for the Royal Wedding w/e. On the Thursday afternoon we stopped off to see some friends of our parrents, Tony & Helen. Our Dad had loads of clock spares to give to Tony as us Fids take up much too much of his time to allow time for messing around with clocks! Tony had just loaded his new camper-van to the roof with stock to take to a 2-day Antiques Sale at Builth Wells (we don't think Helen was too pleased with all the spares we took!!!). It was a lovely afternoon so we sat out on their decking beside the canal. Our Dad shared his hot-cross bun with us (of course, how could he resist our pleading eyes!) and the adults drank tea. While we were there some swans came to the canal bank for feeding. Swans are a bit like a bigger version of Billie only without the noise!!!. Shortly afterwards a group of ducks waddled up the steps to the patio where they know the food is kept. Ducks fly a bit like Sydney used to fly when her wings were clipped - clumsily and with a lot of effort!!! We left Tony & Helen about half five and drove on to the caravan. Friday dawned and guess what? Our parrents didn't wake up very early. By the time they had dragged themselves out of bed and had breakfast it was almost 11.00 so our Dad decided we all should watch William & Kate get married. It was a grand affair but I couldn't help thinking, "why wont Sydney marry me? I mean we do live together!" Then we had lunch by the lake on the camp site (that's a picture of me and Sydney by the lake) and you'll never guess what they did after lunch! Have you guessed it ye? Yep! They took us to the local pub where we spent the afternoon sat in the garden in the sun. Saturday we set off for Tiverton as Stacey wanted to check out the charity shops but, on the way, we saw a sign to a local recycling centre. Now Tony and the man on the next pitch both told our parrents that in Devon they sell things! So our Dad wanted another parrot cage - an older one that could stay in the garden so that the other fids can go out and get some natural sunlight. We did manage to find one....along with a seed bin, a fishtank, some artificial flowers, a new double caravan step and a couple of vases - total spend £42!!! Well after that we went to Tiverton for Stacey and then went to Knighthayes Court where they have some absolutely stunning Rhododendrums. We had a good time there and mum even bought some Cucumber plants from the Kitchen Garden. Sunday was showery. We got most of the awnings down in the dry but the roof was still wet. We were going to go out in the afternoon but the skies cleared and the sun came out and soon dried the awning roof so our parrents decided to take it down and come home a day early. By seven o'clock Sydney & I were back in our big shared cage at home telling all the other Fids about our week-end away Well on 8/4 Sydney and I set off with our Mum & Dad for our Easter Hols. Our destination was a small CL site near Truro. We were both soooo excited – when we arrived on site they uncovered us and we didn’t stop talking for hours! It was a nice site and we were the only ones on it! One problem for our parrents was they couldn’t receive any TV but they made up for it by staying out later with us and watching DVDs. We had a brilliant time in Cornwall visiting loads of interesting places and many beautiful gardens. It was not just the colours that were beautiful (I mean, us fids have got loads of beautiful colours between us!) but the smells of some of the flowers were amazing. Not just in the gardens either – the Gorse and Bluebells in the countryside were very strongly scented. The following Wednesday, Stacey came to stay with us for a week until it was time for our parents to move back to Crediton for the Easter week-end. On one particular day we went to Trebah Gardens. They were very nice gardens that used to be owned by Donald Healey of the sports car fame. The gardens go down to a private beach and Stacey took me and Sydney in for a paddle. It was a bit cold at first but I enjoyed it but Sydney, the wuss, was not so keen at first – I think she feels the cold more than me. She soon got used to it though and we had a good splash about! I’ve been to Crediton before and told Sydney all about it. She hasn’t ben because we were in Europe last year. There have been some changes to the site – the lake is smaller and there is more seating including a nice seat which our parents used most days right beside the lake. The weather in both Cornwall & Devon was superb most of the time and our parents were wearing their shorts to get some colour before we go to the south of France for the summer! We visited some old haunts like Okehampton, Meldon, Crediton and Sourton and, guess what, our parents even took us to the Waie Inn at Zeal Monachorum (my! That’s a daft name for a village!!! I suppose Suki might manage it but there’s not much chance of me and Sydney getting our beaks around that!!!). All the staff took it in turns to come out to the garden to see us. We felt so important!!! On Monday 25th we had to come home for 2 and a half days as our Mum had to work but this afternoon we are going back down again for another long week-end. Stacey is coming as well this time. I will update more next week! |
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
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