The End of the Blog

Harvey would like to say.................

 

"I can't think of anything else to write in my diary so I'm not going to start a new one next year.

 I've been doing it since I was five and have made a lot of friends but I need to take more naps  these days now I'm ten and it takes me longer to sort things in the house to keep everything in rabbit order.

I'm still going to chat about things in Bunny Mad magazine and I think I might join some of my friends on the Rabbit Forum. It's nice to keep in touch with other house rabbits who are loved and understood and whose owners bond well and take notice of the things we tell them.

 

I have loved all the comments you have added and the support you have given to all my sensible and sometimes naughty advice. If only everyone in the world knew how clever we are and how much fun it is to have us around the house.

It's a simple thing to watch our behaviour and learn from us. I'm not qute sure what sort of a furry person I am after ten years living with humans. I know I could never manage to survive in the wild.

Although I'm a rabbit on the inside my outward behaviour is a mix of things. I have learned how to fit in and communicate with humans, how to let them know what I like and what I don't like, how to beg for treats, how to pull their socks off or tug at trousers to get attention. I know how to tell them I love them and how to let them know how happy I am.

 

I will be thinking about you all while I hop and binkie around my house.

I wish all my rabbit friends a wonderful, long and happy life until we meet again with the Great White Rabbit on Rainbow Bridge.

 

Love to you all,

Harvey"

Changes

My apple leaves have gone a bit tough and there's not much mint left. The parsley gave up a few weeks ago and there's a shortage of dandelion leaves in the garden. We thought we'd left enough this year but they are disappearing quickly. I wonder if supermarkets would stock them if I asked.

My worry is, now there's a shortage of my favourite things they might try to sneak sprouts into my veggie dish.

There was a  lot of banging and swishing of  fireworks about the place a few days ago but they don't bother me. I was too busy trying to unwedge a cardboard box from the side of the fridge freezer. It's probably meant for me so I decided to get it into shape with a frill or two. I can make such a great noise when I work on it.

 

I had to stop making the doors into my hidey box any bigger to make sure nobody can reach me when it's poop-check time. As soon as I see feet coming towards me first thing in the morning I dash through the Harvey size hole to safety. I know it annoys them because they say, " No poop-check, no banana." They can be so unreasonable. For the time being I'm sticking to my decision for as long as I can. They have to be trained..........but......

Banana. Mmm.

Me and my book

Oh dear, some people can't find me now I am famous world wide so they can't buy my book.
This is especially for Phyl in California. We have been trying to find you through rabbit links in your area but have been unsuccessful.
If you are still interested, Phyl, contact for me is still on my blog if you page down the "Its Here" entry.
Please email if you have any problems,
Must dash and scrabble in my clean litter. I like it to look homely.
Love,
Harvey

More training sessions

Dark days are for training the family. It's all retraining really. We've been through it all before.

It's my rule that every time I'm picked up for cuddles or for checking things out I get a treat. Raisins are good, or banana. As soon as I'm put down I stick to their feet in case they forget and I need to give a nudge.

I was a bit naughty last night. My treat ball was empty and J was dozing on the sofa so I pushed it all the  way across the carpet and put it at her feet. She didn't notice so in the end I had to give her a nip on the leg. That woke her up. She knows I wouldn't do it for no reason so she checked my treat ball and took it away to fill.

I'm always told to stay when she gets treats for me so I played my part and sat down to wait.

The doors in my cardboard hideaway are coming along nicely. Not too big and not too small. Just the right size to stay safe when it's poop-check time. I'm in charge.

Hello America

I'm trying to work out how to post my books all over the world. So far I've reached Malta and Paris .
Don't go away Phil, my family isn't much good with computers. The machines never seem to answer the questions I ask but we will get there.

Love, Harvey

Boring books

Books, books. It's all about books here. I had to sit on a box of them just to point out I need a bit more attention.
I had to do the same sort of thing at Bunny Hops when I had my holiday the other week.

The place was full of youngsters, not one of them anywhere near my age, so had to give them a bit of instruction of how to behave when they get to ten. When I was put in the holding pen on the lawn while my place was being tidied, I did a high-sky escape jump and raced round in front of their hutches flipping binky after binky. Julie didn't see me until I shot passed her for my third lap of honour. After a while I let her catch up with me. I wasn't a bit tired you understand. I just don't like to cause her any worry.

This week has been Rabbit Awareness Week but it hasn't been too good for me. I've had the tummy problem again. It lasted for five days this time. I have been so uncomfortable but was still eating although more slowly.My Metacam helps a bit, mmm it tastes of honey and the pro-biotics. Anyway things are back to normal today so I've been demolishing my cardboard hide-away to prove the problem wasn't with my teeth. I know them! They can think up all sorts of reasons for taking me to the vet and I hate having that 'scope in my mouth.

Cooling off

It's me! I'm under the wet paper towel. It's supposed to cool me down in this hot weather. If I wanted to cool down I would go into the utility room and flop out on the cold quarry tiles beside my big bowl of water. J should know how sensible I am by now surely but she likes to think she's taking care of me so I let her get on with it.

We knew a cat once who used to lie on a pad on top of the Aga whatever the weather. I don't get that close, I like a bit of a breeze from the window while I'm snoozing.

There's been too much rain lately so it has been too wet to go out. Now it's too hot for my paws on the paving. It doesn't matter to me, I love it under my table whatever is going on outside. Phew!

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?348579-Wish-Harvey-Happy-10th-Birthday!!
Thank you everybody.
Love, Harve

I love........

Fresh litter, clean cuddle blanket, new hay, firm bananas and a newly changed bed. All this happens every morning so its my favourite time of day. I try them all straight away. I drop a few messages into each litter tray to make sure nobody else uses them, tidy my cuddle blanket into a good pillow shape, check out the hay bag and remake my bed, scrabbling and pulling it about with my teeth until I'm satisfied. I can then settle down for the rest of the morning. When all this hard work is finished and I've tucked into my breakfast, the rest of the day is for relaxing, nibbling greens, stretching out and dozing. All I have to do later is make my birthday list.

I'm starting my celebrations tomorrow and they should last for a week just to make sure the actual arrival of yours truly is covered thoroughly. When you get to ten you have tried most things in life.

My pet country mouse who lived most of the time in the garden drowned in a green plastic waste bin. We found him this morning. Also my blackbird has gone now there are no more babies to feed. I'm getting much more attention and have been allowed to explore the rest of the garden.

Peace

I've been outside a few times lately just to make quite, quite sure there are no ducklings hiding in the flower borders. You never know with ducklings. They can be quite sneaky even at three weeks old. Anyway, they've gone for another year. Daisy won't be able to have any more offspring until next Spring. I shouldn't say this but I'm glad she isn't a rabbit or my garden would really be in trouble. To give her her due she is a very good mother.
Nothing much happening here apart from tidying the garden. Lots of stuff has been flattened by dozing ducks but my carrot seeds are slowly sprouting. That's something I can look forward to. Also visit to vet for new combination myxie and VHD jab. It didn't hurt but hope I don't get a temperature and go off my food. I will complain if I don't feel well.

My vet said I must be doing everything right as I will be ten years old this month. It could be towards the end as we are not sure whether I was six weeks old or eight weeks when I was bought from a pet shop.

Princess Peaches

I didn't go to Princess Peaches Jubilee garden party. Somebody had to stay behind to keep an eye on the ducklings so I offered to do it. It was a good way of having a quiet afternoon to myself. We all slept for most of the time and Daisy didn't quack any noisy orders to her brood so it was very peaceful.

Her family is growing like mad. They won't be here much longer then we'll be able to clean up my patio and I can go out if I want to. Probably won't in this weather.

I'm quite proud of the way the chicks deal with that blackbird. They chase him then eat his chopped grape. He doesn't run at them the way he runs at me when I try it. They gang up on him. Safety in numbers I suppose. I enjoy watching the antics from the back doorstep.

Queen Daisy

Last year when my duck hatched her chicks we called her Duchess Daisy because it was the day of the Royal Wedding. Today is Diamond Jubilee day and she has done it again so we now call her Queen Daisy. She always has to be one up on other people. What a show off. I could call myself Lord Harvey of Houghton but I don't want to be as pushy as she is.
I knew she was a show off as soon as she walked through the kitchen door for the first time years ago. You can tell with ducks. They strut about all over the place and don't care about other people's stuff.
It's the same with that blackbird. I went out again yesterday just to share a bit of his chopped grape......I wouldn't have eaten it all.......but he put his head down and ran at me! It's not worth trying to be friends with him. I had to hop back inside pretty smartish.
The walk-in-pantry door was open later so I walked in and found a spare bag of hay tucked in a corner.. That was something I could sort without any interference from anyone. I made an excellent job of it. I think J was quite impressed.

A bit of sad news

My friends Spike and Poppy have been separated. Poppy didn't like Spike any longer and kept fighting him and pulling his hair out. They have been together for about three years so I can't think why Poppy suddenly decided to bully Spike. Putting them in different parts of the house was ok but as soon as they were back together poor Spike was hurt again. The vet said they were both perfectly healthy so it must have been one of those rabbit things. Anyway they took Poppy back to the Wood Green rescue centre and she has now found a new home and is bonding with another bun. They have already been sharing a litter tray.
I wouldn't like that. I have two litter trays which are emptied and cleaned every day. I'm a bit fussy about these things. Well, I do have this ..er.. problem in that area.
Closer to home, guess who thinks Daisy duck's drinking water is his own private bathroom?

The Bunday Chronicles

Sorry, can't stay to chat. Very, very busy. I've mislaid a couple of pages of my book and need to find them quickly so my secretary can finish writing. Autographs available soon.

Lost for words

This is the very last straw. He's sitting on my chair at my table in my kitchen.
He does know I'm not a cat. Help!

Too many cooks

My garden is too full of other furry and feathery people at the moment. What's wrong with the farmer's fields around me? There's plenty of room there for birds and ducks so why is my space so popular all of a sudden? I was so fed up today I kept an eye open for that blackbird and when he came begging for a chopped grape I dashed out and ate it right from under his nose. He hardly moved. What if I had been a cat? How does he know I'm a rabbit?
As if my garden weren't enough to take everybody's attention away from me they have been glued to the computer watching an osprey lay eggs. How boring is that? Why, when they have an intelligent, gentle companion like me, do they want to watch a bird with huge tallons and a dangerous beak that could tear me apart, lay an egg? Can she make decorations out of her droppings like me?
I'd like to see her try! Springtime is a very odd time of year when weird things happen. I can do without spring.

Manton Bay osprey web cam. Rutland

Easter Bunny Time.

I've just had special e-mail from family in Canada saying, as this is the busiest weekend in the year for me, I am not to work too hard. They want to make sure I get extra attention so they sent instructions to my lot to make sure I am given a special bunch of my favourite things to nibble. It looks perfect to me.
Apart from something in there called comfrey it's exactly the sort of thing I like.
So far this morning I've had a brocolli leaf and a dandelion flower. I threw the comfrey out so they put in the green bin. It's going to be a tasty weekend.

Then an extra special present came this afternoon. My friend Twigs baked some bunny biscuits just for me, all sugar and cereal and crunch. Mmm. I like Easter.

General house rabbit things.

Nothing very exciting this week, just the normal run of things for a house rabbit to keep his eye on.
That duck laid an egg on my gravel patch instead of making a nest for it then she laid another under a bush and left that one as well. She's next door now but still comes for food and a drink every day and has a snooze with us.
Don't know what she's thinking about this year. Wish she would make her mind up.

Had a very busy evening listening in on gossip while fifteen people came into my kitchen to eat.
I didn't stay under the table for long - there were too many big feet about so I hopped it back into the utility room for a bit of peace.

Brocolli leaves are good at the moment. A friend brings them for me from her garden. Leaves are the best. I won't eat the flowery bits.

Edward's coming to see me today. He lives with Spike and Poppy the lion head buns so he's used to house rabbits. He's two now so he probably won't want to play with my things under the table. I have nothing new anyway. I don't dash around after kitten type toys these days.

There's an awful smell in my kitchen now the decorator has gone. The utility room isn't too bad so I'm having my afternoon snoozes in there. My sense of smell is superb. As soon as a banana has the skin peeled, my nose goes into sniffing action. I can track it down in seconds. My eyesight is not as good as it was but we're all in the same boat in this house so it doesn't matter much. We understand one another and make allowances.

It's ok in daylight and when the house lights are on, otherwise I hop from one room to another more slowly than I used to and stop more often to get my bearings. I was a superb speed runner in my kitten days. I'd dash from room to room like a flash of lightening. They once threatened to tie a bell round my neck like that chocolate rabbit so they could hear me coming. My excellent sense of smell makes up for my poor sight as long as my familiar tracks from room to room are clear.

I'm still a bit messy every morning and need a regular rear end bath. That's when J grumbles about her sense of smell being too good. I don't suppose that will change now. I can't bend that extra little bit to reach right down there to clean myself properly even though I try so hard for ages and ages. J asked the vet if he saw many bunnies with my problem. He said he did, mostly buns with flat faces who were a bit over-bulbous at one end. Like me, they all come for a regular rear end shave.Things could be worse at my age. I'll be ten in a few months time. That's not a bad age for a rabbit. I love my life and my flat face.

I can still see well enough to help with the clean curtains. Got to put my smell on them first though.

Samantha

More unusual news from Canada for my diary. A gorilla called Samantha who lives in a zoo in Pensylvania has a new companion. Her bonded partner died and she is too old to make friends with another gorilla so Panda, a Dutch rabbit felt sorry for her and has moved in to keep her company. They share food and Samantha tickles Panda under her chin. I like a chin tickle myself

It's raining hard today so that duck hasn't come out of her hiding place. She doesn't like rain. Niether do I. We've decided to keep the back door shut just in case. She has such messy feet. Does she know she's a duck? Daffy would have been a better name than Daisy for her.

Daisy

Oh, bother! That duck is back and she's marching in and out of my house as cheeky as you like. I think she must know I'm not a cat or a dog because she looks straight through me as if I'm not there. She has been looking around for a nesting place but it's a bit too early and there's nothing tall enough in my flower borders for her to hide in. Well, she's not coming into my kitchen to lay eggs that's for sure.

A few well executed binkies should give her the hint if she tries that on.

I can't understand why my family is so pleased about it. They keep saying how clever she is not to have been shot. I suppose I'll just have to get used to the idea of sharing my garden again this year. I don't use it much anyway. A house rabbit has other jobs to do.

Breaking the rabbit habit

I am being de-conditioned, de- sensitised and detoxed. It's hard to admit it but I have to face the fact, I am a fringe addict. All the carpet fringes have been turned under because I'm chewing them all the time. Chewy mat, hay bag, willow ball and lots of other once interesting things are all being ignored while I sit and chew and nibble the carpet fringe. There's nothing I can do about it. I'm hooked. It lies there, tantalising and tempting, compelling me to pick it up in my mouth and nibble, nibble, nibbleNobody seemed interested to start with until they noticed some of my droppings were coming out attached to a piece of carpet fringe like a string of Christmas tree decorations. They know I'm an arty sort of chap so I thought they would have been pleased but when it happened more than once they decided to take me in hand.Why do I do it? Am I imagining I'm in a field of juicy grass or trimming my pot of parsley by the back door? Who knows.
I sit beside the carpet edge where the fringe used to be and I wait and wait and wait.
It's all making me have bad dreams. The last one was so awful I shot out of my bed and flew to my hidey hole and stamped my foot over and over again. Maybe I was dreaming I was being chased by a fox or a greyhound. I've heard about these things but thought they were just fairy tales to frighten kits when they were misbehaving.
All was well though. They heard me and cuddled me on the floor until I felt better. Thank goodness I don't live in a hutch. I could have had an apoplectic fit or something even more dramatic. I enjoy a bit of drama.

Cut and blo dry.

There's one thing about going to the vet, you realise you are not the only one with problems. Mine was the usual one this time, the rear end shave. It took ages because they chatted about all kinds of things instead of just getting on with the job and getting it over. I lay there in the most ungainly and unmanly position while they discussed new web sites and how to take a cat's blood pressure instead of concentrating on me. My skin around that area is tissue paper thin and needs very delicate handling. I was very impressed with Cleo the cat who was in the waiting room with me. She made a huge fuss and palava in her carrying cage to let everybody know how much she objected to being there. She shredded her newspaper bedding and spread it all over the place. I knew just how she felt.

She is nearly nineteen so is very experienced at showing her displeasure. Her human mum just smiled and said, "She always does that when she comes here." Of course she does. How else can she explain she isn't happy and wants to go home.
I'm going to practice my shredding technique today.

Not good news

There's going to be a new vaccine for me later this year. They have combined my myxie jab with the VHD so it will protect me from both horrible diseases.
The trouble is, I don't have the VHD vaccination because it makes me quite poorly. I used to get a very high temperature which lasted for days and I didn't feel like eating or drinking and everybody was worried. My vet said because there was no VHD close to us and as I'm a house rabbit I didn't need to have it until he knew the disease was coming to my area then he would let us know. Anyway, I won't have a choice from now on. I expect they will take good care of me so I'm not going to worry until it happens.

I'm making a list of special treats to have if I'm not very well. Mashed banana with sugar will be number one then maybe crunchie nut cornflakes and then digestive biscuits. I bet they won't let me have them, because they'll say it will be bad for my teeth but I can dream.One thing's for sure, I will get a bedtime story about my favourite Tom Kitten.

It's a rabbit!

The day isn't going well. Here I am,just getting ready for my afternoon snooze when some people come to the house to collect things for a raffle. They haven't been before and they spot me under the table.
"Oh, look, it's a rabbit!"

"Yes," agrees J. She's heard this before.

"That's unusual isn't it? A rabbit in the house. Where does it live?" (IT?)

"He's a house rabbit. He lives wherever he wants to."

They are country people and still don't understand so she explains again."He lives like a cat."

"Doesn't he run away when the door's open?"

"No, he doesn't like going out much unless we're gardening, then he might. If it's warm."

I think the penny is beginning to drop but they keep on digging.

"Um, doesn't he make a mess? You know, rabbits do don't they?"

J tries again."He has a litter tray, like a cat. Sometimes there are bits about the place.

This is getting personal so I turn my back, flop out, yawn and close my eyes.

"Do you let it wander all over the house?" (Still, IT)
"He used to but we don't let him go upstairs since his hernia trouble. The climbing could make it worse.."
"Hernia, in a rabbit, oh wow!"
I snore loudly.
"It's SNORING!" They make embarrassed giggles of disbelief. Hey, spot on, I think.
"Yes," J agrees. He does a lot of that."
They shake their heads. "A snoring rabbit with a hernia. Well! That's a first."

They pick up the raffle prizes and leave. I don't bother going to the door to see them off. I don't even open my eyes. I snore loudly again.

"Hush, Harve," J says waspishly. "Don't be so rude."

Me? Rude? Me? That's rich.

I'd forgotten.

My cardboard roll is back again thank goodness. I thought I'd lost it. I'd looked behind the sofa and my curtain hideaway and had just about given up when there it was, in the middle of the floor in front of the TV where I usually flop out. Best of all, it still had bits of carrot inside!
It took me a moment or two to remember how to flick one end up in the air then look to see what had fallen out. To start with I thought my carrot came out from the end I flick but then realised I have to go to the other end where it falls out.
Because of my little problem with, you know, not recycling my caecotrophs, I thought they might have decided not to give me any treats in the evening so I'd be squeaky clean the next morning. They tried not giving me anything but hay. They tried everything but I just won't do it. My magazine, Rabbiting On should have a piece about my problem in the Spring edition. Also, since my hernia, I'm not allowed to jump up onto the sofa to see if they are nibbling anything I might like. They think it might be too much of a strain
I wonder if they have remembered about my screwed up paper towel with one or two raisins inside? I haven't seen that for ages. That makes for a very good scrabble. Must try to drop one or two hints.

Is it Spring?

I'm in a digging mood. It's great. I can scatter my litter yards from my tray while I find just the right place to use. Normally I just give a gentle scrabble before I settle but for some reason at the moment I want to throw it in the air as high as I can. Because I've been giving my litter a lot of attention they wondered if I might have cystitis but I haven't. It's just exuberance.
It's the same with my bed. Usually a bit of a tug and scrabble gets it into place but just now I want to toss my cuddle blankets as high as I can, all over the place.Wheeee! My hay bag is the best though. You can see below what a grand effort I make every evening. I don't give up until it's practically flat.

It's very good exercise for me but there's something else I just can't put my paw on. I feel a bit more excited and there's something at the back of my mind and deep inside telling me I need to re-organise things in preparation for something. Problem is, I don't know what.
While I'm waiting to find out I'll tackle my greens. Can I get through it all? Course I can.

Every picture tells a story.

I'M IN !

IT'S ALL GOING ACCORDING TO PLAN.

IS THAT ENOUGH?

SHORT NAP TO GATHER MOMENTUM AGAIN.

FINISHED !!! PERFECT.