Catherine

That is amazing!! I'd like to do that, too.

Yes, it's bad. I think that has come from the mis-hearing of could've and a disinclination to read. Readers would discover their error. Rapid change in written English is happening as a result of texting (a brand new verb derived from a noun) etc.. Fewer people will be comfortable with formal written English but, at least, they will write. In my opinion, that is not a bad thing. Some innovations are very clever and useful. There is confusion while new standardisations evolve. Of course, once we get the new ways standardised, language will evolve again to accommodate changing needs.

Flattery will get you everywhere. I agree with you about then and than. Maybe they do not proof read before posting. I've never heard anyone say "I like budgies better then tiels", for example. At the risk of blowing things out of the water and never getting to bed tonight ... what about saying "apples are different than pears"? Macquarie says its becoming so common, that it's probably acceptable. It still makes me shudder. "An historic event" is correct, if you do not pronounce the h. The use of a or an is determined by pronunciation, not spelling. Hour and honour take an because the initial h is not pronounced. Historical/historical can have a or an. If you pronounce the h, you must say, " a historic event". I've had fun tonight. We have come so far from my simple comment that plurals don't have apostrophes.

I agree. There are a few of those e.g. neighbour.

LOUD, hearty chuckles. I wish they could do instruction sheets (for using modern technology) like that. Yes, it is a British rule and very British it is too. I was brought up to use British grammar. Since becoming an Aussie, I've tried to use only Aussie forms. I checked your Jess example in "Macquarie Writer's Friend". There was no reference to it.

Yes. Showing my age. Did not think of that. Being a pedant, I would have put an r and an e in it. The attorneys generals' hats. Yes? Did she ever! rofl. My budgies loved them. You are welcome.Shouldn't that be "youse are welcome" Isn't it, "Ewes are welcome"?

.Why did they edit what I wrote about a politician being a pompous ***? It's not a rude word and I did not name anyone.It means donkey, so there. OH NO!!. LOL They had got themselves into the contractions confusion which Hills did not want to go near.

You are welcome. How right you are. Poor, poor Henry.Why did they edit what I wrote about a politician being a pompous ***? It's not a rude word and I did not name anyone.

It's confusing if you put the apostrophe in the wrong place. The budgie's feet can only mean the feet of one budgie.It's all getting complicated. Plurals are so simple. They don't have apostrophes. So why put them in and muddle something simple? But then poor Henry doesn't get a mention at all Poor Henry.... rofl. You are so right. I agree. Stay on the stuff with no apostrophes.

What you learnt was correct. You say "Henry and I walked..." BUT there is a grammar point that even a former Rhodes scholar such as a former ALP leader got wrong. Example: They gave the pie to Henry and me." This is correct. Why? They are the subject of the sentence (the main actors). When you are not the subject of the sentence, you are me.This is probably the point they made (badly) in the program you watched. When you are the subject (the main actors) of the sentence as in "Henry and I walked..", you are I. So, what does the I and Me business matter? Not a lot in my opinion; unless you are doing some formal writing. I think it is better to be colloquial and always say "me", than be a pompous *** (like so many of our politicians) saying "He gave it to Boggs and I" and being dead wrong.

Yes, you would, if you were talking about more than one budgie. The budgies' feet = feet belonging to more than one budgie. The budgie's feet = feet of one budgie.

Indulge an old bird and let me recall what I learnt at school. When I say, "The budgies have sore feet", there is no apostrophe in budgies because it is a plural (more than one). When I say, "The budgie's feet are sore", I use an apostrophe because I am talking about feet which belong to the budgie.

Not too much lettuce though. It has no nutritional value and gives them the screaming s...s (can't spell the d word).The idea of the whiffle balls is terrific. I'm going to try it.

Well done!!

I LOVE it. Shades of "Paulie". When I see that movie, I just want it to be possible. Of all creatures, parrots alone attempt to imitate our speech. When I read your script, it was easy to see how your visitor could have wondered whether your bird had in fact moved on from imitation.

Yes, I'd agree about experimenting with the way you present the vegies. Some of my birds like theirs in a dish, others on a fruit skewer and others like broccoli etc. just stuffed through the bars somewhere.

He is a beautiful boy!

That is amazing! What fabulous pictures!

RIP, little Twinkletoes.

Parasites? Have a close look at a recently discarded feather under a magnifying glass. Don't delay getting help. I don't like the panting.

Fabulous pictures!

Daz, do you mean that would be so because we'd have eaten the budgies or that we'd be rich in budgies? Welcome, John. You will have a good time here. Looking forward to your photos.

The article is a wind up, surely?