Sudokuaholics Anonymous 7

Suzy, she will not be getting a lobster! We have a place near here that has 1/2 lobster for $20 and I am sure that is what my daughters will have so Laura can have some 'bits'.

I am upset as we have just been outside and found a dead 'Noisy Minor' (a native bird).Laura wanted to know if I could put a battery in it to make it live again.
The neighbour found a dead one the other day so I am wondering if someone has put some poison out for the Indian Minors (Imported pests!).
The local Minors come into my garden as soon as they see me and ,of course, I have been feeding them. They repay me by eating the grubs on the plants and the spiders around the yard. Also by their friendship!

Are you talking about Mynahs?

They're a close relative of the Starling, and are popular as pets here because they can be taught to talk so easily.

I just lost a long post about how horrible the poisoning is. The person doing it obviously doesn't realise they are hurting the native birds as much as the indian minors are hurting them! I'd call the Rangers to see if they can find the offender. They may be 'known' to them.

Could be myna Heidi, and they would definitely not be good as pets!

Mostly black, with some yellow around the ear area? Yellow beak> Short tail?

I have a question regarding dog training and would appreciate your input.
Since we had to put Bella's mate BJ down last year then JD died, Bella is becoming more protective of me. If anyone else or other dogs are in the park sometimes she will charge at them growling she never used to do this but is becoming a tough tart. Even though I know she is not serious about this I would not want a 30kg dog charging at me or my dog. I am just not sure how to break her of this habit without giving her more attention which will defeat the purpose. Normally she is cautiously friendly with people and other dogs. Any suggestions would be helpful.

I'm NOT a professional dog trainer. But it sounds like Bella now thinks that SHE's the leader of your pack. The pack leader is the one who wards off threats. She needs to learn/ re-learn that YOU are the pack leader. When another dog and/ or person approaches, make her sit or lay down when they approach. Keep her there while you greet the visitor. Then let her join in.

Thanks Heidi, knew I had a problem just didn't want to go about rectifying it the wrong way.

You see, Broni, while you were mourning, Bella realized that you were more vulnerable, and she felt that she had to assume the leadership role to keep you from being hurt any more. Very sweet of her, wanting to protect you, but It doesn't work well in human society.

Mariana, Suzy is correct at higher costs for construction over here in the UK. I believe that costs in the UK are even higher than Australia. Basing that belief on what my niece paid for her home in Oz compared to what she would have had to apy for a similar thing in the UK.
Heidi, ceiling is attached to the roof spars so we will lose it.

Mariana, this problem is already on an extension of the original house. It is a two storey 12ftx23ft extension which is our lounge downstairs and master bedroom upstairs. The house has been extended as much as we would be allowed to extend, so that option is not possible.

I just decided to buy the hats for myself. If IH decides later that he'll get them for me, he can reimburse me. This was a group of 5 hats, of different furs. All were gorgeous. I was afraid that they'd be gone if I waited for IH.

June how horrible to find the dead bird. I hope no one is poisoning them, but if they are I hope they are caught and prosecuted

Hope you enjoy your new hats Heidi, even though you have had to buy them yourself.

Well things will be changing Heidi, the pack leader is back with attitude! hehe!

I just put a picture of them on my page. They look SO warm.

What is the link to the hats Heidi, would love to see them?

Good morning lovely SA7 people.
Mariana - I love Christian Bale too, ever since 'Empire of the Sun' when he was a kid. Great actor who's grown up to be very handsome. It seems I missed a lot of preferred choices, but it doesn't matter as my naughty puppy won the vote anyway, followed by George Clooney, Clive Owen, Colin Firth and last but by no means least JD!! BTW I voted for GC not Jewel.

That's only because you already HAVE Jewel!

Broni.... PM'ed you the link.

Heidi -nice hats. And your description sounds like what we call noisy mynahs. Sorry that June found one dead but they are real pests here.
Brenda - not good about the roof, hope your insurance covers it.
Stella - hope your shoulder improves.
MizT - poor kitty-cat Phantom.

When I was growing up, we had a pet Mynah named Charlie. He loved to cause trouble by imitating peoples voices. He started a LOT of arguments and misunderstandings. I remember one evening when he got into it with an uncle who'd had one too many drinks. I don't remember the conversation they had, but it went on for half an hour and got pretty heated.

Hehe, would have loved to have seen that Heidi. Well off to do some ffuts, catch you all later.

The indian Mynah's first cousin is the Starling (which can also be trained to talk well, if hand reared as chicks). Starlings are an introduced species here, and MANY people consider them to be major pests, and some cities even poison them until there is enough of an outcry from decent people. But Starlings have a major use here now. We also have serious problems with Japanese Beetles, which were also introduced. They therefore have no natural predators that are native. The Starling is the ONLY bird in the US that will eat them.

The dead bird was a Noisy Miner. It is an Australian Native bird. Eats grubs, nectar and fruits. It is grey in colour and was known as a Soldier Bird when I grew up.(My book also says Mickey and Snakebird)
The Common or Indian Myna is the one that is the pest. It is a dark brown bird with yellow around the eye. It has been introduced into Australia from Asia.
Although very different people who do not know confuse the two birds because of their names. Miner/ Myna. They are also about the same size and both make a lot of noise.

you gals are just a wealth of knowledge! my hubby now regrets all the starlings he shot out of the apple trees with his beanie flipper when he was a boy. after much krow i need to rest. i get to go to for my therapy. we were on a holiday break, but now we get to go back. we will be introduced to the upcoming music. ta ta!

Have fun, Mariana. See you later!

Just stopped in for a minute. I have papers to grade. End of semester is Thursday so I have to catch up. This is the price I pay for not grading any papers over winter break. If I don't get back, hope everyone has a great day/night.

Wish I could help you, Tami. Have a chocolate, at least.

Chocolate helps. Thanks Heidi.

Here is the updated TOPP list:

Suzy34
Tami33
eaa23
June23
Julie20
CynB14
Dizzy Lizzy11
Gail10
MizTricia9
Rolanda 8
Brenda7
Nola7
Stella 7
Viv 6
Broni6
Bean6
Judy6
Heidi6
Vici4
Mariana4
Mamacita4
Susan4
Becky2
vdV 2
Rena1

The goblins are striking again. My last post has disappeared into cyberspace. To repeat myself "I think I scared all my friends away."

Afternoon everyone!
We have been off trying to buy a school uniform for Ally. In it's wisdom the school changed the uniform 3 years ago and the only place it can be purchased is from the school. It's not available anywhere else. The company they contract to make the clothes .... well, lets just say that I don't think super-low rise is a good look for a high school girl... I didn't buy the pants...

Not good, Suzy. When I was in school, our uniforms were very conservative. Black Watch plaid wool skirts and slacks, and navy blazers. They did have to change the dress code a few times because of me, though. I kept finding loopholes.

I watched an entire movie (a pirate one with Errol Flynn and Anthony Quinn) and there were only 3 posts in the meantime!

Hey Tami! I just noticed that you're only one TOPP behind Suzy!

And Heidi is not game to post until we are over the page.

This one is for you Heidi!

One more . It is hot here