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Post by Learner on Jul 29, 2013 15:18:48 GMT
I think you are doing very well, also. It's not like you have nothing else to do with your time. Now there is an idea - pension cards for budgies .........  Pensions & Bus passes for budgies...now you're talking!!! Mine would be up, up and away for more than the odd day... we could see the world! Or, at least, nip off to town to buy millet spray, gather cuttlefish bone on the beach and have a coffee before belting home for tea. Back to reality... Today we (minus budgies) cycled to the supermarket bought weekly shopping for 5 then cycled home again. Now waiting for the Outstside Clinic to deliver my mother's new specs. After that I need to dig potatoes for dinner then measure up for two aviary trays (in the bottom of the inside flight). Help please: Should I varnish the hardwood ply in the bottom of the flight, paint it with emulsion or simply leave it as it is? |
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Post by Hezz on Jul 30, 2013 0:41:54 GMT
I think you are doing very well, also. It's not like you have nothing else to do with your time. Now there is an idea - pension cards for budgies ......... Back to reality... Today we (minus budgies) cycled to the supermarket bought weekly shopping for 5 then cycled home again. Now waiting for the Outstside Clinic to deliver my mother's new specs. After that I need to dig potatoes for dinner then measure up for two aviary trays (in the bottom of the inside flight). Help please: Should I varnish the hardwood ply in the bottom of the flight, paint it with emulsion or simply leave it as it is?[/font] Oohh, listen to you, waxing lyrical there! It sounds great ..... I want to go too!! In my mind (what I have left of it ) the varnish would leave a smoother surface, therefore making it easier to clean up and wash/wipe/mop down. Ply can be a bit on the rough side even with being sanded ...... rough is probably the wrong word, but I can't think of another way to describe what I am thinking ....... the varnish fills all those little timber grains that the paint doesn't do as well.
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Post by Learner on Jul 30, 2013 9:18:16 GMT
Today it's raining and luckily... 1. I spotted the side window on the ground yesterday evening.. 2. The glass hadn't smashed! (heaven knows how as the wind had obviously flung it violently from its hinges!!) 3. I decided to replace it with bigger screws straight away and add a button to keep it closed - did the same with the other one too 4. I won't be going to the allotment to pick raspberries or tackle the weeds (they grow so well with rain!) 5. I think there's some varnish in the garage - thanks Hezz - decision made!I can also fiddle with the outside flight as the corrugated roof keeps the rain off. All this once the morning chores are done.  |
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Post by Hezz on Jul 31, 2013 0:38:28 GMT
Yikes! Lucky for you it has happened now, before the birds have gone in!!!  No worries, Learner. I am all for keeping the chores to a minimum. I just hope it works the way I am thinking it should. |
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Post by Learner on Aug 1, 2013 5:40:10 GMT
Yikes! Lucky for you it has happened now, before the birds have gone in!!! Had the birds been in the potty shed the missing window may have added to the ventilation but they would have been secure. All windows accessible to / by birds are wired.  |
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Post by Hezz on Aug 2, 2013 0:14:16 GMT
Phew! Wasn't sure if you had gotten them all done or not. I was having a re-think on the way home this morning regarding varnish v paint. If you didn't have any varnish or didn't want that look, a high gloss paint (especially the oil-based ones) would give a good smooth finish as well. I was only thinking about the flat matts and semigloss before, and I usually avoid the oil-based paints as I hate the turps clean up afterwards, so they weren't in the front of my mind either. |
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Post by Learner on Aug 2, 2013 13:56:48 GMT
So far, Hezz, the varnish idea has worked well. Easy to apply and relatively quick, brushes wash out in soapy-water and it has a mahogany stain/colour so looks good. It says on the tin "for internal use" so I'm not sure just how durabel it will be but it appears to repel water - that has to be good. More to do today now that the doctor has visited my father and after I've nipped out to get the antibiotics. Nothing serious - mild chest infection but it's not worthi taking chances. We'll see what the afternoon brings.  |
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Post by Hezz on Aug 3, 2013 1:47:21 GMT
Oh good! Glad it worked, then. Hope Dad gets over his infection "real quick". |
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Post by Learner on Aug 5, 2013 3:03:44 GMT
We've moved!
It wasn't too hot and we weren't too busy so everyone lent a hand trundling / carrying and guiding a rather large two wheeled (because two had fallen off!) indoor aviary across the road. The move took place at midday on Sunday 4th August after weeks and weeks of waiting. The gang of 6 were kept in the dark about the event until it was over. We covered their tall cage with a sheet so they continued to chatter quite unawares until we reached the other side. Now let's not get too excited. Although the move took place they are still living in their old cage until they become accustomed to the new surroundings. They seemed very interested in what was going on out through the potty-shed's door and crowded around the end of their cage to get a better view of the outside world. Charlie joined them in his cage later after a brief stop off in my parents sitting-room as they wanted to know what we were up to but didn't want to move from their arm-chairs to see just yet. So there we are... gradually becoming accustomed to the new sights, sounds and probably smells of a new home. Nothing much seems to phase them and Charlie perked up once he was back in hearing distance of his 6 friends in the bigger cage. Photos to follow tomorrow...
It's been a busy last few days but, now that the antibiotics have begun to kick in, my father is back to joking and taking a good deal of interest in what is happening. At 3am this morning when I nipped over to check on him and give him the next lot of medication he wanted to know if the budgies were sleeping well and were they alright. My mother suggested she might get more sleep if she went out there to join them - my father was just starting on his bed-time cheese sandwiches
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Post by moonkira *Julie * on Aug 5, 2013 9:15:06 GMT
Glad to hear you have finally moved them over and looking forward to seeing the photos , its a relief for you knowing your dad is feeling better . you must be shattered having to go over at 3am in the morning cant the medication be given a little earlier than that ?
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Post by Learner on Aug 5, 2013 20:03:33 GMT
Glad to hear you have finally moved them over and looking forward to seeing the photos , its a relief for you knowing your dad is feeling better . you must be shattered having to go over at 3am in the morning cant the medication be given a little earlier than that ? 2am to 3am is a seven day a week pattern for me... after a while it becomes "the norm". I think if I had a holiday I would still be awake until gone 3. I sleep after I have been over to my parents and usually feel fine on about 5 hours sleep a night especially if I have a short nap ofter dinner in the evening before their bedtime which I quite often do. Now the budgies have moved to the aviary I will miss seeing them snoozing on the other side of our kitchen window as I make my early morning coffee.  Last night I looked in through the aviary window - they obviously weren't missing me... although I couldn't hear snoring they were well away. |
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Post by Learner on Aug 5, 2013 20:21:14 GMT
A bit of photographic evidence.... or "how I done it" Aren't sheets of ply difficult to move, balance and cut at times!  As Hezz suggested I sealed the inside of the inner flight cage with a varnish to make it easier to clean.  Quite pleased with the results:  Two inner trays made - later varnished with the same woodstain again to make them easier to keep clean.  And I enjoyed doing this bit - the budgies aviary access door - rather like a portcullis. I'm not too sure it's exactly symmetrical - I drew around a plastic food container rather than search for my large bar-compass.  It should keep the drafts out - I hope  More later. |
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Post by mizloco on Aug 5, 2013 20:36:38 GMT
Very well done! |
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Post by Hezz on Aug 6, 2013 1:07:03 GMT
Great work! I do love the little "mouse hole" door to the outside (the budgies won't care if it isn't symmetrical), and so happy the varnish worked out well. It all looks really, really good. Well done everyone involved. But best of all, glad your dad is feeling better. |
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Post by Learner on Aug 6, 2013 2:35:08 GMT
Help please... Moving into the new inside flight: Who would you put in first? 1. Charlie (new to the flock - presently living in a cage on his own)  2. The Gang of 6 - friends and new to Charlie (in the aviary but in their own cage)  I can't decide which would be best... stick the lot in together in one go (The Gang and Charlie) or put Charlie in first and let the others join him. Any advice would be welcomed. Decisions, decisions... |
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