Hills

I'm glad you all enjoyed it, I'm sure Granny would have been a keen contributor had this forum been around in her day. If you ever visit Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula in SA, go for a walk out along the jetty and Granny and Grandpa's ashes will be beneath you. :laughter:

Alas Granny died many years ago so that one will have to remain a mistery :laughter:

Wow, that'll be an amazing experience for you! Have a great time!! Perth is a great place. Second best city in Aus!! :party0011:

My mother has found the article my granny wrote back in 1967. I have transcribed and copied it verbatum below. Your welcome to have a read, but I realise its quite long. Granny would be chuffed to know after 40 years she has finaly been published and to such a "budgie-centric" forum :party0011: For many years my husband’s job took him away to the country from Monday to Friday each week. Our children were all married so he decided to buy me a budgie for company. He consulted an expert breeder and arrived home one day with a budgie just out of the nest. I fell in love with Bimbo at first sight – a beautiful cobalt blue, with grey flecked wings, a very bright blue cere - his smooth sleek lines as he sat so straight and still on his perch, made him look a real little aristocrat. In a very short time he was finger trained and seemed happy to perch on my shoulder after flying round the room. I then started teaching him to talk when he was covered for the night – he would sidle along the perch to listen intently with head near my mouth as I spoke clearly and distinctly. I started by repeating little phrases like “Hello Darling” and “Pretty boy” until to our delight in two months he said “Pretty boy” among his natural budgie chatter. Bimbo was quick to learn and very soon said practically anything – he had his favourite phrases and used them most aptly. Fortunately he learned our telephone number (before numerals were used) which later proved helpful. Relatives and friends were amazed at Bimbo’s large vocabulary – he’d never just talk to order, but had his favourite spots and would entertain and amuse everyone for long periods. Bimbo was a happy playful little bird, had his favourite toys and was accepted as one of the family. He seemed to feel we really were his parents, becoming as fond of us as we were of him. Like a spoiled child he was not keen on going to bed and this became quite a ceremony. I had to fill his containers with seed and water as an inducement, then he’d say “Bimmy go bye-bye”, “Goodnight sweetheart”, “Night night darling” with big kissing noises until finally he’d strut majestically into his cage and up on the perch for the night. We could never hurry this performance which often took fifteen minutes – he really enjoyed it! Bimbo had his set habits and I did most of my housework with him on my shoulder – both of us talking all the time. As I made my bed he’d invariably say “Mummy go bye-bye” and when I cleaned up his haunts “You’re a dirty little boy” before I had a chance to say it. Incidentally, my husband made little wooden perches in front of the dressing table and bathroom mirrors with tissues underneath for his convenience! If he couldn’t find me he’d fly from room to room whistling shrilly. When Bimbo was five months old I went out to get the morning paper without realizing he was on my shoulder. As I stooped down he flew off and was a little blue speck in the sky in a few moments. We were heartbroken and advertised his loss in papers and on radio. There were many replies and I saw dozens of budgies but, alas, no Bimbo. I was shocked to know that so many budgies were lost. On the fourth day however, my husband answered the phone and a lady said we have your budgie here” and my husband said “There’s a 5 pound reward, but we have about given up hope”. The caller went on to say that the budgie had started talking and said he was “Bimbo Nickels” and kept repeating “where’s mummy X1676” and “Where’s pop – away in the bush” and several other things. My husband immediately went to the address two miles away, and was overjoyed to see our Bimbo sitting up sedately in a brand new cage! The lady explained that she had found Bimbo four days earlier walking on the footpath near her home, utterly exhausted. She had not read or heard our advertisements and her children wanted to keep the pretty bird but she had to ring when he gave his phone number repeatedly and so clearly. It was such a relief to get him back as I felt very guilty at my carelessness – could visualize the poor pet in a cat’s mouth saying “Hello darling”. Bimbo was happy to be back and we were extra careful thereafter. The wee bird was popular with all who visited the house, an elderly widower called and Bimbo perched on his shoulder saying “Hello darling”. The old gentleman said he’d not been called “darling” for many years. At supper time he seemed compelled to run though his complete repertoire. My sister and her husband on holiday from England became very fond of our little pet who imitated my sister’s voice even with a slight lisp when she called him a “cheeky sausage”. They took back a tape recording of a night session in the kitchen and people at home could hardly believe it was a tiny bird talking so clearly and well. Of course Bimbo was a tie but well worth sacrificing holidays together, and we would always come home before his bedtime. Bimbo would watch for us at the window becoming excited as the car pulled in. He’d run up and down the window ledge then fly to the door to perch on the first shoulder with a cheery “Hello dear”. As the years passed Bimmy became less frisky, gradually talking less and sleeping more for like us, he was getting old. Last November he became very listless and ate hardly any seed and seemed happy to be held in my hand quite a lot. We dosed him with brandy and water from an eye dropper with little success until he spent most of his time nestled into my neck saying weakly “Bimmy wants to go bye-bye” After nine and a half years our faithful little budgie went “bye-bye” for good – to our great sorrow, leaving us happy memories of wonderful companionship. To all who are lonely I thoroughly recommend a pet budgie as for as small outlay one can aquire the perfect pet, giving affection, entertainment and real companionship.

Don't you love it when a plan comes together. Sounds like she's in the best of care!

Ah perfect, how did I miss that!?! :rofl: I have my reading for tonight and tomorrow when you talk about split cinnamon pies it won't make my mouth water!!

Thanks Sunnie, that's a good idea, will do.

Is there a thread on here somewhere that describes what all these terms mean like cinnamon, opaline, spangled, clearwing, lutino etc etc? I've had a quick look through FAQs but couldn't find one.

Thanks Sunnie By the looks of it, the cage we're looking at is the same size except only half the height. Eventually after Claude has had enough time to bond with us, we'd like to get another male for my other son. If they get along together, then I assume our cage should be fine for 2?

Its a dirty job, but someone has to do it. :doh: I'm still trying to work out what a split budgie is??

Most likely baby budgies I'd suggest Sorry this whole genetics subject is a huge science isn't it. I'm keen to see the answers, especially for the last grey couple.

No she did it in the Stirling Hospital. An anesthetist gave the anesthetic and she did the dental work. Poor little fellow has had 4 generals now, 2 for teeth and 2 for grommets in the ears. He seemed to wake up pretty quickly and was fine afterwards although not overly impressed by it all. If your daughter will sit quietly they might not have to do it, but there was no way my son was even going to let her look in his mouth at that age.

At around 5 or so both our boys have had fillings and the dentist was fantastic. She gave them chocolate flavoured gas and then snuck the injection in without them seeing it and they didn't even realise she did it. Now neither of them are in the least bit afraid of the dentist. I guess the lesson here is to choose a good dentist who works only with kids. Unfortunately she was quite expensive.

Our youngest had problems with his teeth at that age too. He didn't have any enamel on his front teeth and had to have them capped. Unfortunately at that age it meant a general anesthetic.

Ah I see, thanks for that. How many budgies would you accomodate comfortably in that?

Whats a 604?? Now that Liv has a budgie for us the urgency to get a cage has increased a bit. Another of our local pet shops has good sized flat top cages for $69 or $89 for the largest one, so I think we'll just get the largest one and I'll make a nice wooden stand for it.

Far out Liv!! I have just read this whole thread, there's no way I could put myself through the emotional turmoil you breaders put yourselves through! Well done, they all look great (especially Calude!! )

Hehe, sorry Sailorwolf :hap: My in law's family are from there, i love the place!

In the going down of the sun,. and in the morning,. we will remember them,. LEST WE FORET.

Go fish... -well yes but we're on rain water in the house and bore water in the yard so we don't touch the main water Have you implimented any water saving initiatives around your house?

just then (thanks for reminding me ) When did you last go to the dentist?

only just, My wife and I are in our second house and when I was with my parents, they only ever lived in the one house. Have you ever lived in another country?

only a couple of days ago, we had a cold spell When did you last have your air conditioner on?

last weekend When did you last have a BBQ?

diva