Today was an interesting day. Like most Tuesdays, Sambo and I went for a riding tour, had a great workout there, and after that I finally managed to get myself to the vet with our malign bird. No, there's nothing wrong with him, thank God, but he had to have his talons shortened. This bold venture is not to be set about at home, because there I have only two options: either I choose to shorten mine and his tortures and do it quickly, which means that after 5 min he has his nails done and I have all my fingers in a state as if I had put them in a meat-grinding machine, or I take my time and do it in 10 min and he chews on only ¾ of my fingers. My folks at home are completely useless – my mom doesn't dare to touch him even with a stick, my father doesn't give a damn about his talons, while Gregor actually makes an effort, but we still don't always manage to do an optimal job. So I decided to pay a visit to my dear vet after a long time.

The start wasn't very promising. The bird didn't feel like going out of the cage, so he mauled my left hand for a start, but then he saw I was serious and accepted my reaching hand. Once we got to the car it was a whole different story. He is a roadtrip maniac at least as big as Sambo and he started singing and whistling even before we left our yard. So we came to the clinic and entered the waiting room where we had to wait about 15 min. To my great surprise Čompo was completely relaxed, he combed his feathers and even whistled at Marko the technician when he passed by (he was probably reading my mind). Finally it was our turn, we entered and when I saw the vet's inquisitive look I told him that I brought our harpy for a pedicure. This time the procedure was much more successful than the first (and only) time, when I didn't know exactly how to hold Čompo so he half disentangled out of my grip halway through the procedure and stroke towards the vet, who barely dodged the bite. At that moment Čompo started to laugh at him and the vet, who probably though he was already being delirious, asked me if my bird is actually laughing at him by any chance. I could only shrug my shoulders and told him he was correct. Anywho, as already said this time everything went on swimmingly, the first foot was done in a minute, after which we gave him a short break because he struggled against my grip so hard that he almost twisted his head for 360 degrees. After a minute we managed to do the other nailjob as effectively as the first one and the mission was completed with success. To my great astonishment the bird (who was tousled as if I had put him in the spin-drier) let himself be petted and touched after all this trauma, first by the vet and then by the assistant. On principle he doesn't have any big difficulties in piercing someone, so I was really suprised by his model behaviour. Now I know that I definitely won't torture myself anymore with his pedicure, but will take him to the vet as soon as his claws reach the limit (well, and the fact that my vet makes Bon Jovi look like the president of a chess club doesn't hurt…).

Secondly, Sambo and I started clicking after a long time. The weather was more or less rainy and morbid the last few days, so appart from the doggie-walks it isn't all that nice to be outside. So we started with tricks and clicks again and Sambo is thrilled. I have a few new skills in mind and we already started training them, while the other nigger watchfully observes us. Soon his time will come too…