The NFC B-Day Chat Thread

[CapricornFarm]

Remember me? I'm so sorry I haven't visited for ages. You'd think it would be the simplest thing to put a brand new transportable house on our property!

Here you cannot do anything without a Geotechnical report. Well our geotech was useless. The guys doing our site works are great - they've been super helpful. But they cut our site only to discover fill, and you can't build on fill, even if it's over 40 years old from when the highway was put through. There was a dark, organic layer noted in the soil samples but we were told by the geotech they see that all the time. He didn't believe DH when he rang up to tell him the whole platform was fill, but had to admit when he came out to site that yes, it was. Then he charged us for the site visit before we'd even made it home! So we spent $22,000 on useless excavations and had to move our building platform up the hill. We have to play nice until he signs off the things we need him to for our homes 'code of compliance certificate' but after that we will be making an issue of it as it's not only cost us in money, its set us back by about 6 weeks.

It also meant DH had to find a job quickly so we could get a small loan from the bank as that muck up meant we wouldn't be able to pay for everything. He's now spending 5 days a week in Auckland working there but splits his days off so he's never away for more than 2 nights a week.

The bank took forever to get the paperwork through to our lawyers so we couldn't pay for the house in full in the gap the house movers had. If we had been able to the house probably would have arrived on the truck today, but now we are waiting to hear when it will be moved.

So I'm still in a caravan at the top of a very windy hill (I really don't like it here). We had thunderstorms one night awhile ago and we must've got hit with a bit of a whirlwind. Sadly our aviaries (which weigh a tonne) got blown over - they didn't just fall over, they got rolled over their roof and onto their opposite side. We lost 4 of our cockatiels and some of our other birds. We were heartbroken and it's so open here that they were just gone.

So we are (call me crazy) currently raising 8 cockatiels - in a caravan. They've been a good distraction while DH is away. There are 5 we want to keep! We had 6 then the breeder asked if I'd take 2 more - 2 beautiful, pure white clear pieds (no grey feathers whatsoever). They were both from different nests with 2 chicks with extreme age differences between them, so the younger ones weren't getting fed properly. One is still very much a baby and s/he had to go on a road trip to Auckland when we had to go sign stuff at the lawyers. I'll try and get some photos of them but I can only use my phone camera which isn't very good.

So that's my epic tale.

How's everybody doing?

We missed you! Keeping busy quilting and building.

 

[N F C]

Hello everyone, how's everyone's Monday been?

Hi Sue!

Had 3 of our favorite golfers come out today, always nice to see them. This is it for them this year, but we'll see them again next season.

And now I'm off for the next 2 days. DH told me he was bringing home a "little" bit of laundry from the project house in Casper that needed washing. Let me tell you, looks like Santa has dropped his fully loaded bag off in the kitchen. Guess I know what I'm going to be doing for the next 2 days

Did you have a good Monday?

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hello everyone, how's everyone's Monday been?

Hi!

Pretty good so far, a bit busy. Mostly hanging with family. Went out to dinner with everyone then also hung out a bit before and after and watching football now. And this afternoon DB2 and I went and looked at the waves at the beach then drove around town a bit haha

Remember me? I'm so sorry I haven't visited for ages. You'd think it would be the simplest thing to put a brand new transportable house on our property!

Here you cannot do anything without a Geotechnical report. Well our geotech was useless. The guys doing our site works are great - they've been super helpful. But they cut our site only to discover fill, and you can't build on fill, even if it's over 40 years old from when the highway was put through. There was a dark, organic layer noted in the soil samples but we were told by the geotech they see that all the time. He didn't believe DH when he rang up to tell him the whole platform was fill, but had to admit when he came out to site that yes, it was. Then he charged us for the site visit before we'd even made it home! So we spent $22,000 on useless excavations and had to move our building platform up the hill. We have to play nice until he signs off the things we need him to for our homes 'code of compliance certificate' but after that we will be making an issue of it as it's not only cost us in money, its set us back by about 6 weeks.

It also meant DH had to find a job quickly so we could get a small loan from the bank as that muck up meant we wouldn't be able to pay for everything. He's now spending 5 days a week in Auckland working there but splits his days off so he's never away for more than 2 nights a week.

The bank took forever to get the paperwork through to our lawyers so we couldn't pay for the house in full in the gap the house movers had. If we had been able to the house probably would have arrived on the truck today, but now we are waiting to hear when it will be moved.

So I'm still in a caravan at the top of a very windy hill (I really don't like it here). We had thunderstorms one night awhile ago and we must've got hit with a bit of a whirlwind. Sadly our aviaries (which weigh a tonne) got blown over - they didn't just fall over, they got rolled over their roof and onto their opposite side. We lost 4 of our cockatiels and some of our other birds. We were heartbroken and it's so open here that they were just gone.

So we are (call me crazy) currently raising 8 cockatiels - in a caravan. They've been a good distraction while DH is away. There are 5 we want to keep! We had 6 then the breeder asked if I'd take 2 more - 2 beautiful, pure white clear pieds (no grey feathers whatsoever). They were both from different nests with 2 chicks with extreme age differences between them, so the younger ones weren't getting fed properly. One is still very much a baby and s/he had to go on a road trip to Auckland when we had to go sign stuff at the lawyers. I'll try and get some photos of them but I can only use my phone camera which isn't very good.

So that's my epic tale.

How's everybody doing?

JAE!! Hi!! So sorry to hear you’re still having house troubles hopefully it gets sorted out soon. and so sorry about your birds. your new birds sound great though!!

 

[bruceha2000]

Remember me?

Jae!!! You are alive

I "liked" your post, not for all the problems but because you are at least living, breathing and moving ever so slowly forward. I really hope everything comes around soon so you can get into the house.

 

[JaeG]

I've been working hard this afternoon getting the cutest photos of our babies. So here they are for your enjoyment:

Pixel who loves a cuddle so it was hard to convince him/her to sit for a photo rather than hiding in my hair or under my chin


Banana whose front looks scraggly because he's such a messy eater, but he's a real sweetie


Ivory who is quiet and beautiful and ever so sweet


Lemmy (shortened from Lemonade) who is DS's favourite. S/he loves a scritch, and from the start hasn't been intimidated by DS's enthusiasm.


Owl who is feisty but snuggly too and has white streaks in his/her crest and a little white star under his/her chin


Pineapple with his/her cutest face on - this one just loves being scritched and is so sweet and gentle, plus, at 6 weeks, has almost weaned! DD's favourite


Snowdrop who got her face out of the food bowl long enough to pose! This bird can eat!


And my little Piglet who I adore having spent so much time cuddling him/her because s/he is so much younger than the rest. S/he is quite a little character and very chatty, squeaking back when you chat with him/her.


They are a much needed distraction at the moment and are keeping us entertained while we wait to hear when our house will finally get here. It's going to feel like a palace when we move in after more than 6 months in a caravan!

 

[drumstick diva]

Jae do you still have some of the Java Rice Birds?

 

[JaeG]

Jae do you still have some of the Java Rice Birds?

I'd kept a pair and both escaped when the aviaries got tumbled, but miraculously the hen came back and I was able to net her after a short chase (requiring me to climb a fence a couple of times)! It was a miracle considering how bad the wind was at the time. But sadly her mate never appeared so I'm trying to find her a friend, though they aren't that common especially in the colour I have.

 

[rjohns39]

Good morning folks

Jae, it's great to hear from you, so sorry about the issues, but you're moving forward and the birds look spectacular as usual.

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning everyone

Tired, but getting some good work done! How are you?

I'm doing good, busy at home and work

Hi Sue!

Had 3 of our favorite golfers come out today, always nice to see them. This is it for them this year, but we'll see them again next season.

And now I'm off for the next 2 days. DH told me he was bringing home a "little" bit of laundry from the project house in Casper that needed washing. Let me tell you, looks like Santa has dropped his fully loaded bag off in the kitchen. Guess I know what I'm going to be doing for the next 2 days

Did you have a good Monday?

Hope you get to enjoy your days off That's great about the golfers and not so good about the laundry pile.
My Monday was good and the kids were not to bad for it being a Monday either

 

[drumstick diva]

So glad you are back with us Jae .Always loved your bird photos- especially when the subjects were tiny and featherless. You have the patience of a saint.