Birds of Praise

Send your Bird of Praise today

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:42:33 +0000

Doves apply to join Birds of Praise flock

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:41:26 +0000

A new species is on the verge of joining the Birds of Praise flock. The Doves from Above, once well known as contributors to a beloved television comedy show, are the chubby newbies seeking their place in the sun. Their ample bosoms filled with scented lavender and featuring some dainty florals and eccentric wingspan, the doves have made a very good first impression. They are now undergoing a full MOT and price check before they can be formally included in the catalogue.

When the real thing comes to visit

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 10:15:00 +0000

Big Garden birdwatch 2010 [ The Guardian ]

"Average amount of food a woman would have to consume daily in order to “eat like a..."

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:15:00 +0000

“Average amount of food a woman would have to consume daily in order to “eat like a bird”: 134 pounds”

- Harper’s Index

Samuel: From Lusaka to Liverpool ... for love

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:38:00 +0000

He’s always been a snappy dresser, our Samuel. His “saga” as we now refer to it (he does go on and on about it) starts in Lusaka, Zambia in the late 90s when he fell head over heels in love with a visiting supply teacher from the UK. Brenda would fill her car up at Samuel’s family’s petrol station every day and they struck up a friendship. One thing, then another, and before you know it our Sam is planning his long journey north to be reunited with his beloved. Sigh! Gets you right there, doesn’t it …

** Samuel will be available in our store soon, in time for our Valentine’s Day promotion

Sirocco becomes new official "spokesbird" of NZ

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:38:00 +0000

New Zealand’s prime minister has given a government job to the country’s most famous — and probably most sexually adventurous — parrot. Sirocco, one of a rare species of flightless parrots called “kakapo,” has been appointed as the country’s “spokesbird for conservation.” Sirocco became famous last year when he was filmed trying to mate with BBC wildlife presenter Mark Carwardine’s head.

“He’s very media-savvy, he’s got a worldwide fan base — they hang on every squawk that comes out of his beak,” Prime Minister John Key told the Telegraph. “He’ll be a great official spokesbird for New Zealand.” Sirocco’s attempt at inter-species romance may have come from desperation: with his species numbering just 124, lady kakapos are few and far between.

Love is in the air: Valentino is warming up ...

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 10:37:00 +0000

It’s only early January and the permafrost shows no sign of thawing, but there is at least one bird in our flock keeping the place warm. As soon as we opened the borders of our nest to the rest of Europe, it was only a matter of time before a lovelorn Italian would land. And would you believe it, he calls himself Valentino. Yes, he has the usual patter and is prone to leaning casually up against any vertical surface while adjusting the rakish angle of his sunglasses, but deep down is really is a sweet boy with a heart of gold. In fact he wears it not only on his sleeve but all over his body, a scarlet suit of hearts that he commissioned from the Rosablue workshop soon after arriving. Benvenuto, ragazzo: I hope you will be a busy flier come February 14!

** Valentino will be on sale in our shop from January 11

Personalise Your Birds

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:05:00 +0000

You can now personalise your Bird of Praise with the initial of the recipient. We thought about it when one of our store customers needed something special in lieu of a bigger gift that would not make the Christmas deadline. We decided it worked rather well so now people can choose up to 3 initials, as shown above. The personalised birds cost £12.50, inclusive of EU postage. Have a look.

Birds in training: To Europe ... and beyond!

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:46:00 +0000

Our birds have embraced the Lisbon Treaty & in the spirit of Shengen they have begun preparing for what we hope will be regular journeys across the Channel to the mainland. So far, we have an Italian and French contingent in training. Soon we hope to have a German and a Spanish flock too … (btw: anyone who spots a translation error or can “hablar Espanol” or “sprechen zie Deutsch”, please get in touch!) Back in our training camp we even have some long-distance ones hoping to make the long trek to South Africa for the World Cup next year (they will come dressed up in their national gear) …

** Il Nido degli Auguri

** Les Oiseaux Généreux

Welcome home! The twins are back in town

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:14:00 +0000

Welcome home, Peter. Welcome home, Paul. The flags have been waving and the bunting swaying for the return of the Dickey Twins, without a doubt the most patriotic avians of the flock and both decorated fliers. It is not immediately clear how long they are staying. You can ask but you won’t get a dicky-bird* out of either of them. One thing is certain: Peter is not one to hang about. And wherever Peter goes, Paul is sure to follow.

*Dicky-bird: cockney rhyming slang for “word”

"I never wanted to weigh more heavily on a man than a bird"

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:14:00 +0000

““I never wanted to weigh more
heavily on a man than a bird””

- Coco Chanel

"Wow! You’re a dreamboat …"

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:07:00 +0000

““Wow! You’re a dreamboat …””

-

… and what Cilla says, Cilla means

"A wonderful bird is the pelican His bill will hold more than his belican. He can take in his..."

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:44:49 +0000

“A wonderful bird is the pelican
His bill will hold more than his belican.
He can take in his beak
Food enough for a week,
But I’m damned if I see how the helican.”

- Dixon Lanier Merritt

Et voilà Jacques, free range king of Brittany

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:43:00 +0000

You might be wondering whether gingham birds (like this little red and white number) are officially classified as “gingas” in our flock? As if we would tolerate any banter based on species classification? Jamais! All creatures great and small get the same open-hearted welcome around our parts. This Jacques happens to be on a whistle stop visit from his pad across the Channel in Britanny, where he deals in fabulous free range eggs. By the way, did you know that Jacques is derived from the Late Latin Iacobus, from the Greek Ἰακώβος (Septuagintal Greek Ἰακώβ), from the Hebrew יַעֲקֹב‎.^[1] (See Jacob.) James is derived from Iacomus, a variant of Iacobus.

*** Psss: C’est vrai. Il parle en Francais et tous nos oiseaux peuvent parler des langues differents (Eng, Fr, It, Sp)

Pixar meets Betty Boop ... an anthem

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:55:00 +0000

Eureka! We may have an anthem …

Download the Birds of Praise wallpaper

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:55:00 +0000

Download the Birds of Praise wallpaper

"You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow flying over your head, but you can prevent them building..."

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:42:00 +0000

““You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow flying over your head,
but you can prevent them building nests in your hair.””

- Chinese proverb

A little bird music

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:36:00 +0000

A little bird music:

Birdland by Weather Report: Stadthalle Offenbach Concert, 1978 [ video ]

Gilbert, a most distinguished flier

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:36:00 +0000

Apparently, the oldest known meaning of the name “Gilbert” comes from the language records found in an abbey close to the Scottish Isles. Dated from between 115 Bc to 255 Bc the Gilbert name is defined in those records as simply “God of Men” or “Gilb-dea-moros”. [ wiki ] This Gilbert is a frequent flier with the most charming disposition. A compliment from him has been known to leave a smile that lasts a week.

"It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds"

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:29:34 +0000

“It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds”

- Aesop (620 BC - 560 BC), The Jay and the Peacock