JillyBeanz

In plan English Ryan, Bernie is trying to imply that people like myself from the classier end of England drink Champagne (stuff out of a bottle from France) and he bets we don't "chew straw" - he's right - I don't mind the odd tipple of fizzy (but can sink a beer just as well)!!! Oh, I love the fact that you're half way there Ryan!!!

Great news - only you will be able to read Ozzy's body language and nip the bad behaviour in the bud. He'll soon not have to grip on so tight and you'll be able to twirl and dance around in no time!! Glad to hear things are moving on - thanks for the update

Don't go leaving me.............!!!!! You lot will all be "facebooking or poking or whatever other claptrap you call it" and I'll be here, all on my lonesome............actually, sounds quite good!! Ha Ha - only joking - don't go!!!!

They're plastic! Never mind from a petrol station!!! Oh Bernie - you are such a big softie! I'm sure you could gather all of our addresses and interflora us some goodies! PS. Watch that Dobbin doesn't get a nibble!!!!

Oh my goodness - now I didn't know that! Wish I'd known that tip when I was younger (terrible traveller)! I'm sure this would work on "humans" too!

Ha Ha Ha! I don't have any other pets, but would find it absolutely hilarious should Harvey start imitating one of them! He's going to my parent's on his "holidays" soon for two weeks - perhaps Suzy their Weimaraner may pass on a few traits

I've got absolutely NO patience with forums. I've never been a member of one, don't have a Facebook account, don't do, well, whatever others do on forums - but when I was deciding whether I could offer myself as a good parent to a parrot I lurked on this forum for ages before plucking up the confidence to join. All of these people knew too much - I was this minion who'd had a cockatiel for 17 happy years. This was a forum full of vets, trainers, pet psychologists and world renowned breeders.......Of course it wasn't - but to me, from the outside, these people were clever, clever people. Harvey is the happy little chappie (who's now just chewed a pen to bits right next to me) because of the constant guidance and care shown to me by these members that I previously thought were "in the profession". They of course weren't - they were just very caring, loving parronts who were able to guide a newbie into the world (and beyond). I've had constant running battles (which you haven't come across yet with Francis) with regards to biting, blatant naughtiness and downright rudeness, to a point where I've taken myself off and cried (and I'm not on about with our forum members, i'm on about with Harvey!!!). They've been here for me - they've cared for me, they've shown me their compassion when I needed it most. Harvey doesn't tolerate my husband much - and he's devastated and tries and tries and tries, but I am just the chosen one. There's more than just you and Francis embarking on a new life - your husband has to pick those toys up off the floor and put them back in his pram, and just accept that this is the way Francis is.

Harvey's like everyone else's birds - prefers the "junk" to the "good". I've tried many a way to entice him on the merits of veggies, and he does eat them (with resistance).......UNTIL NOW!! Having chopped it, sliced it, chipped it, curled it, mixed it, cooked it (you get the picture) and having added herbs and spices (particularly chilli powder) I've found the Holy Grail...... GROUND GINGER!! I thought I'd give it a go on Monday when I was making his veggies, so after chopping up his courgette, green beans, carrots, kale, broccoli and celery I gave a little sprinkling. Well, the bowl on my return was empty, and there was MINIMAL waste on the floor of his cage!! So, go on, try Ground Ginger!" It's the future!!!!!

Paul - I can hear Harvey from here to the bottom of the street when I leave him! He doesn't do it from his cage, ever, but if he is out and flying around and I say "back in two minutes" - say, if I'm nipping to our garage (which is at the bottom of our garden), then I can hear him (continuously) until I return. He shuts up when I return though, straight away. It doesn't matter who else is in the house at that time though - if I leave, he calls! I don't mind it - I'm not there to listen to it!!! I see it as a sign of great affection and I don't try and stop him, merely reassure him I won't be long, or I'll be right back. He seems to accept this, but he's never left for anything more than a minute anyway - oooh, I shudder, Harvey in an empty house!!!!

I sure hope our "clicks" from here in the UK are counted too!!! I've clicked away!!!

Ha Ha! Mint! I love these type of films!!! I honestly, honestly will go to the movies (taking my nieces of course) to see this! I loved Ice Age, Madagascar, and my favourite SHREK!! Seen all of them too! Brilliant Lyn - can't wait!!

Howardine - this is not a joke ~ Bernie's right! This is proper, stupid British news! Have you ever !!!

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! What are you like!!!

It is such a joy when the Aviator is accepted and you have that "freedom" without having to lug the travel cage around! They do enjoy trying to "help" you by getting their talons in the way - part of the game for them! So pleased that you have found the Aviator a great experience - the greatest advice I can give is that you must keep putting it on every couple of days though, getting Houdini in the routine, as I learned the hard way and didn't put it on Harvey over the winter, and I am now struggling to get it on him. You'll have to get some pictures posted of Houdini looking handsome in his harness.

Ha Ha Ha! Perhaps he's imitating you drinking your coffee Bonnie!! Harvey "knows" how to drink out of a cup too, and I often tip my juice up to the edge - he puts his beak either side of the lip too and drinks "like a human". I'm going to introduce the knife and fork next week though - see what happens Harvey still bobs his head and he's nearly 18 months old - I suspect they remember every aspect of their life x

Bloody hell - don't have kids then!!! Harvey makes a million "irritating" noises (as do my kids and husband) - but it's just something we have to live with!!! Harvey has made the "squeak" of the dining room door since he was introduced to my house (even though the squeak of the door was remedied within days of me discovering his new noise) - a year on though and he still makes it!! The others are bang on though - they are birds, they make noises - but there's one thing I don't think you've considered - you can't "domesticate" a parrot. You can domesticate a dog, cat, gerbil etc, so the timescale of two months you talk about are pie in the sky. If such a slight problem is going to get your husband's BP rising though, I'd say I agree with Dan - let Francis go before the next irritating noise - because I guarantee that this isn't the last he'll have, and your husband will "dread" coming home to the next one. I must say though, for something so insignificant to rule his life, then camomile tea is a great invention

You know what strikes me about this - birds are the only animals who can talk and reiterate the experiences "shared" by their owners. It makes me think of all the other animals who can't speak out The rescues talked about on here are the lucky ones - they've found you lot - and I thank you from the bottom of my heart

We knew that! Of course she's more important!!!! We all know that - the outer world is just beginning to realise this too!! Great story - thanks for sharing x

She's got that flying lark to a tee hasn't she! 200 foot is one hell of a distance - what a lucky, lucky girl - just a shame you're going to have to put an hour in at the gym each morning to keep up with her!! It must be such a joy to see

......when Great Britain was such an empire that we ruled the world!!!! Ha Ha! That's long gone!!

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! Kept in line by a parrot! Whatever next!!! This, of course, would never happen in my house - I'm far too sweet, innocent and naive to use such language............!! I always thought that things had to be said or heard a few times before they "repeated" our actions - but after one episode of sneezing, Harvey now "sneezes" - so between him and Paco they've proved me wrong Love the police car bit though Ryan! Mint!!!!

I've just sat here at 07.00am, Wednesday 26 May 2010 and read this thread from the start (again)! Every single member here who has posted encouragement and support have no doubtedly kept both Tanya sane, and these babies alive. I'm now waiting for their first flight, and their first words!! Come on Tanya - what's your bubba going to be called? I'm rooting for "Jaybird".

Ha Ha Ha! Didn't do much good this time did it! But yes, I probably still will vote again! If you could visit one famous landmark in the world, where would it be?

OMG! You're right Ryan (either that or it's yet another incredible talent of mine)!!! As for the skype conference - none of you would understand Bernie - he's from the South of England - they tend to talk quite funny down there - us up North can't understand them - so the Americans & Canadians won't have a cat in hell's chance!!!