This is going to be the last entry is Dandy's Diary... and it won't be done by Dandy this time... for today he passed away. We got him when he was only 5 weeks old and hand raised him into one of the sweetest Greys in the world.

Due to circumstances described in his diary, when he was 3 years old, he got to live in one of the largest aviaries in the world, where we visited him whenever we wished and knew he was happy as can be. It was a good decision; he just absolutely thrived being with his own kind. (their website is http://papegaai.org, and they are such wonderful people there, all volunteers)

However today we got sad news from the aviary's vet. Dandy was taken ill to their sick bay, where sadly shortly thereafter he passed away. They did an authopsy, and it was reveiled that he died from a malfunctioning stomach gland syndrome. It paralyses the nerves within the stomach so
that the animals dies; presently there is no known cure for it.

Our baby would have been 9 years old coming November.

Dandy originally kept his diary on a different website, but I have slowly started to convert the three years he has been busy writing to this site. I will be adding more and more entries as time permits.

Please note that since, sadly, Dandy has passed away (see last entry)

I like money. The coins shine so brilliantly and they make such a nice sound when they fall on the ground. Paper money is nice too: the sound when I rip it apart gives me the kicks! But money is not everything. When given the choice between one sunflower seed and ten thousand bank notes I'd always choose the former.

My family said to each other that I'm beginning to be a chatterbox. I chat and chat and chat, but so far the only thing they understand is "eat" (and I'm sorry to say that they are the only ones who recognize it - all visitors only hear "Ew!"). I said it this morning, but instead of baby formula they gave me some parrot seeds, fruit and fresh water! Bah, being a toddler certainly has disadvantages. Ah well. I can still look forward to my baby food tonight. I am still not ready to be weaned and my family appreciates that fully.

This evening, I practiced my flying again. I flapped my wings frantically and finally stood on one toe. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to lift that last toe as well, but I'll keep trying. So far, the only things that truly fly in my vicinity are the sawdust, pieces of newspaper and empty toilet rolls. The family had visitors and proudly I showed them how skillful I can make a complete mess in less than a minute. Somehow I don't think Hilke appreciated it.