the kids have named the baby budgie....

[gussiegrips]

For reasons which have passed me by, we seem to be having to hand rear a baby budgie.

It is very small and wasn't responding well yesterday. It appears to have grey feathers, like it's dad.

I warned the kids that it was likely to die, and they were not, under any circumstances to give it a name not after the rabbit debacle.

Naturally, I overheard "well, he's grey. We should name him after something to do with grey".

uh oh

"Graeme"

Graeme the budgie. So named, because he's grey. Hope the fecker lives now. Cheered me up no end.

Graeme.

And, whether, actually, I look after Graeme better than I look after my kids...that's a bit of a worry. Wonder where the kids are, they probably should brush teeth or similar.

Graeme's been fed, bathed and is having a wee snuggle in the crook of my elbow...oh dear. Mumfail again.

Fuckery - report him.

He deserves it.

The wee fucker.

Kerala - pro-choice rabbits, I love that!

We should get Wendy Davies onto the case. She'd sort out neutering female bunnies in a flash.

Epic posting, gussie

Oh Great Graeme, the Best Budgie Evah, I bow to your refound perching skills, your feather-growing and Brilliant Budgieness

Just get comfortable with the idea of shitting yourself being part of your future. I will admit this level of comfort will be difficult to achieve. But not impossible.

Gorgeous Graeme the most amazing Oliver Twistesque budgie in the universe is growing on me. He does remind me of a pathetic ex dp but I'm trying to get over that.

gussie thank you for the excellent advice.....I am coming up to Edinburgh in a couple of weeks' time to visit my sister- perhaps I could pop in and pop out

What on earth is Graeme sitting on on your most recent photo?
A StarWars thingumajig??
Budgie in Space

I can't see any links to photos and I SO want to see the pics of Graeme!! I'm on an ipad- do they not cope with such things?! Help someone please!!!

Notso - click on Gussie's username, you get to her profile and can click a link to photos from there.

Thank you small- I didn't know you could do that! Simply marvellous.

Just noticed your profile says 'I do a wee bit of stand up comedy (started as a bucket-list thing'

Been absent for a few days- MiddleyGrip pulled a corker, ambulance job and "Huzzah for the Sick Kids and their marvelousness". All good now, he is home, complete with an origami dinosaur set and enough drugs to make an elephant feel woozy.

Actually, I feel kind of woozy myself (not my only elephant-esque quality) - sleep deprivation gets kind of groovy after while.

Anyhoo - Graeme the Exasperating Budgie.

His foot went funny on Monday. Back toe was flopping about in the morning, weird. By night time he couldn't move it at all - he was like one of the tragic pigeons with a mutant foot you see and give extra crumbs to.

Vet Google told me it was likely a cancer pressing on a nerve. Uh oh.

Now, why would we not be surprised if Graeme got cancer? Who knew that birds can get cancer? And, if htey can, well, Graeme That'd be blardy typical.

Anyhoo, I was all set to take him back to the vet when MiddleyGrip was poorly...budgie/kid kid/budgie - not exactly Sophie's Choice, but, still, ugh.

Then, high drama with the kid - and, who was going to feed the fecking bird?

So, once MG was on the ward I came back to get jammies and BiggestGrip solemnly promised to take responsibility to feed G before and after school.

And, do you know what? He got hungry without his lunchtime waitress service. And, do you know what? He figured out that the stuff in his cage floor wasn't decorative - it was edible. So, he has learned that he likes grated carrot and boiled egg and millet.

Foot's still a bit squiffy, but he can grip it again. And........

HE CAN FLY!

Not well, he's sort of like an ugly Bambi slipping over ice, but, he is airborne!

So, dunno what's up with the foot. But, am relieved that he seems ok. Vet's on hold - will take him if once I'm safe to drive (currently almost manic with sleep deprivation)

Photo to follow.

Blardy stupid bird.

Errol - that's not meant to be a bad joke about pelvic floors. But, that's definitely how the daft idea landed up.

Good things about it are: going out at night to bars and folk having to listen to what you say because you have a microphone (most days I feel like a figment of my own imagination for all the attention anyone pays me at home. Pathetic, I know)
Bad thigns about it are: working mens' clubs do not find me amusing. So, that's easily sorted.

It's good fun.

Actually, wonder if ther'es a 10 minute set about pets needing written...

gussie and graeme brighten my days

Thanks for the updategussie

Graeme flying is brilliant. Graeme feeding himself is brilliant.

But feeding a bird an egg, isn't that a bit like cannibalism.... . Even QPootle5 had Ray (the bird) look anguished when Bud D (the robot) offered him a boiled egg when he was ill

Yay! Fly Graeme, my lovely, fly!
Soar like an eagle!

(Have visions of Graeme warbling You Are The Wind Beneath My Wings to Gussie)

I am ignoring nerve cancer, the Bastard

Hope your middleygrip is better again.
My wheezer is away with a friend's family for the weekend....

budgie cannibalism is how we landed up with the stupid bird in the first place...

MiddleyGrip is a shelpit sort of allergic kid. So, the birds had to go outside, and to sweeten the blow of the loss of their pets we said we'd try to breed them (2 pairs) over the summer.

First lot didn't hatch, second lot did but the hen didn't feed them, Third lot of 3 chicks she kicked the first two out at 2 weeks...so, we pulled the remaining one to save him from certain infanticide. Honestly, these female budgies are even worse mothers than I am.

Eggs are just baby-bird-formula in a shell. And, a quail's egg is exactly two portions for a budgie. But, now, I've got a bit of "ewwwww" going on.

He's ticking over - but, still a bit guff. I've been tricking him into feeding himself, fingers crossed he'll wean soon. I can't see him surviving if he won't. stupid bird.

Foot's a weird thing - he's able to grip if it's in the correct position but otherwise just clumps along.

I wonder whether his crop's still infected - today it's very big and full of air. We gave him a bath, and he's very thin under his feathers. Is now sitting on my daughter's lap, wrapped up in a towel, sitting on a hot water bottle. She's spent 30 mins tickling his cheek.

He's like a pathetic lap bird. But, he's started mimicking a whistle I do to him. Which is overly exciting - I have visions of him saying "put your shoes away" "say sorry" and "yes, a cheeky wee prosecco would be lovely"

Back to the vet next week. Ouch.

Birds are gruesome creatures, aren't they?
Then again, your bunnies were not much better...

gussie, could I be very rude and forward and ask you to cast an eye over this thread please? Started by yours truly??
Your expert advice would be appreciated x.

going there now, Pacific...

Graeme has developed a dangerous liking for shoes and socks. Still refusing to fly, prefers to hop onto a foot and catch a ride. A bit like Marty McFly on a skateboard.

He's going to get squished.

Stupid bird.

hes not stupid:)

thats genius!!

HE FLEW!

He's been flapping about for a week or so, sort of buzzing along the floor like a feathered hexbug. And, he's been hopping and flapping wings at the same time from one perch to another (though, that may be because of the wonky foot)

But, today..........he was perched on my hand and launched himself off into the blue. It was wonderful. Majestic, almost.

Unfortunately, he flew straight into the window. He's ok, just pure embarrassed for himself.

Stupid bird.

Genius: I have laughed out loud. He's now flying.
Isn't this a thread for classics?

oh gussie your updates make me giggle