European open Golf

On Thursday we went up to the Europeqn Open First round.
It was a cracking day and well worth going the course was in excellent condition and we saw some brilliant shots.
Got a little bit sunburnt I have a bright red face and my forehead is blistering but I won't complain (to much).
As you can see from the pics it stayed nice all day we found the bar(surprisingly we did not use though) and the BBQ but at £6.50 for a gourmet cheeseburger I was glad we took a picnic.











































This is Darren Clarke coming up the 18th which was a good hole to watch as it caught several players out including Montgomerie seen here in the bunker and not happy wit his out shot(still it was better than I could have done)
































































And here is the two old ones discussing how the holes should have been played
Thanks Del,Alf and Dad for a brilliant day.

In the drink AGAIN

As promised a couple of videos of attempted canoeing I am pretty sure that this canoe is not the right way up. But gladly me turning it over was missed by my cameraman.(again)
Still at least I can swim and that is good exercise and I need all the exercise I can get.


As you can see from this clip Thomas is better at this than me( but that can't be hard) he managed about twenty mins in the canoe without getting wet also got in and out and stayed dry I must be doing something wrong?????????

In The Dog House(sorry cat house)

At present we have a mum cat and four kittens in one of our pens they are only three weeks old.
Lou came down the garden with me last night to feed the cats while I fed the birds.
She asked me to do the cats water while I was there so I did passing the bowl back in then closing the pen door using the outside bolt.
I went indoors started playing on the PC when an hour and a half later she did not reappear I decided to go and see what she was up to only to find Thomas and Lou shouting to be let out.
Now I am not allowed to go near the pens while she is there just in case I feel the need to do it again(believe me my life would not be worth living if I did)
SORRY LOU & THOMAS

First Trip Into the River(literally)

Well as promised above are the photos taken by Simon of our first trip into the river Medway at Maidstone (Teston).
As you can see I got in no problems......
Then got out into the river ok so far....................
Then attempted to turn around but turned over instead ??????
Had to push the canoe over to the side to climb out as attempting to right her in the water only succeeds in half filling it with water(which although gives good ballast makes it more wobbly than me after ten pints).
All in all it was a bloody good day enjoyed by all can't wait to go again.

New Toy

Last weekend I gained a 17ft river canoe,It was in need of a clean up and a coat of paint but all seemed intact.
Well worked hard all week and saturday getting it ready to plop in the water today.
She did not sink no leaks apart from me going a@$e over tit out of it three times all went well.
Only problem is it sits to high in the water thus making it very unsteady will have to work on some form of ballast to see if that works.
Could not resist the sticker for the bottom and am waiting for some more decals to go on the top.
Was a good day managed to get two of the boys out in a friends canoe they both enjoyed it so will be looking for a couple more for them.

Bird Update

Morning all have been working hard to get the house straight and garden sorted.
Have been trying to get abbot fighting fit again but he gained a few ounces over the winter he is just over 5lb am slowly getting him down will hopefully fly this year at around 4and 1/2 lb.
Have done a beaver visit with Abbot and Chelsea he had no intention of flying that night just sat and looked at me (owls can be so frustrating).
Chelsea keeps attempting to make little hollows in the quiet corners of the aviary so fingers crossed she might lay.
Am working frantically to get the new shelter added to the aviary asap as this may encourage her.
Will keep you posted.
Just had arrive ( Saturday ) a cat and four 1 week old kittens will post some pics later.
So will have them for a few weeks till old enough to be rehomed and then hopefully mum will also find a good home.

We Are Back at last

Well got back in about two weeks ago bought a new pc so will start blogging again each week will get the birds sorted hoping they wll settle down to breed this year but will see but its good to be back

Sorry going to be a shortage of updates:

Blogs are going to be a bit slow over the next few weeks due to a house fire on sunday 16th dec we are not able to use pc etc I will try and do updates as I can when I have access to a pc.
Belive it or not the fire was caused by some clothes I took from the tumble dryer and left on a chair as we went out the combusted and this resulted in a gutted living room and smoke throughout the rest of the house.
Thankfully we were not in at the time but our dog had to rescued by the fire service the cats legged it out the kitchen door.
Keeping doors and windows shut has proved they do there job as the fire damage is limited to the one room but smoke gets every bloody where.
Its going to be a long clean up job awaiting new doors and windows before anything can start and now they think there is asbestos in the ceiling so that will take at least three weeks to do if this is the case.
So its christmas with the mother in law (good job we get on).
So hope all have a nice christmas and a good new year will post again as I can.

Baby Ella

Ella arrived on the 13th November at 23.58 weighing 9lb 3oz

Mum and baby are both fine she is doing really well we even get four to five hours sleep a night.

Hermit crab pics

Sorry there not brilliant but I think my camera is giving up the ghost.

Hermit Crabs

Strange name for a post but its our newest additon to the pet zoo we have made a crabitat and bought a couple of hermit crabs.
They are great little things(about the size of a golf ball) altough about a week after getting them it appears they had a fight and one lost we found it in the morning with all its legs off.
The one left is quite friendly but will need another one or two for company.

Still Awaiting Baby

Sorry no posts been trying to sort the house out for our new arrival although now the baby is 6 days late we are getting impatient will get pics on when its born to keep all posted.
Hopefully in the next couple of days Will See ...................................

Flying Again

Well got Abbots weight about right now 4lb 1oz he still sits on the perch looking at me but will do a few passes to get his tea.
Gave them all rabbit last week abbot thought he had to kill it and spent half an hour throwing it around the aviary the other two just tucked in happily.
Found out though rabbit adds loads of weight so will be treats for him during a moult & mainly and in the winter when its difficult to get out in the evenings.
Will get out today or tommorrow (both if I get time) am going to see if any chance of getting Chelsea to free fly doubt it but no harm in seeing how she responds.
She is good on the glove and with people just never been flown to my knowledge.
Will have the aviaries swapped ready for breeding next year so will keep fingers crossed for some little ones.

Sorry for slow posting

Sorry been a bit hectic last few weeks been decorating like mad and working will get a proper update on this weekend.
Have been trying to get Abbots weight below 4lb 2oz to get him flying well again but he sees a mouse and gains 6oz then don't bloody take it off again and although he flys overweight it makes him lazy and slow so I try and keep him round about 4lb which is a good weight and he responds well.
Chelsea and Brian are both doing well am going to try them on rabbits this week she is starting to try and make small nesting hollows so fingers crossed they will breed, I am hoping over next two to three weeks to get there new shed sorted but with baby due 1st november may be a bit tied for time still will see how I go.

LEGOLAND

Not been able to get out much with the birds to bloody wet. Will get some more bird bits on soon as poss.

Did go to legoland though and what a good day we all had boys loved it could have done with another day really but as the new ride is now open may have to venture back again soon think will go later in year when the ques may be a bit shorter.(two hours for the waverunner did not que for that one)

Flopsy

Not been a good day got home this afternoon to find the boys rabbit Flopsy had passed away.
Just had to bury him and give him a good send off Bless Him.

Pics & Bits

Abbot Sitting soaking up the rain

This is Chelsea trying to hide from me

Well its been a quiet week have managed to paint one bedroom(just the floor to sort now)

The weather has been a real pain its been difficult trying to get out with Abbot I don't mind the rain but as he sits in getting soaked its hard to get an accurate weight and he just looks at you when you take him out to fly(strange bloody animal)so I thought I would get some pics instead.

Have managed to put Chelsea's split ring on this morning she was not bothered by me doing it but Brian kept attacking my hands and going for my face if I got to close still he never managed to get me.

New Aviary Design

Well having now got a breeding(well hopefully)pair of turks I am going to redesign the aviaries.

I have a 6 x 4 shed which I am going to add on one end of the aviary extending the aviary by three foot plus the shed. I will remove half of the front to allow them access and put a full width half length shelf in the covered section and touch wood they will settle and maybe lay eggs.

the other aviary will now have a 5 x 4 x 3 nesting box (an rabbit hutch that was used for 3 giant english) this also will have the front mesh panel removed to allow abbot access it will be raised off the floor about two foot and put into the side section of the front aviary.

well that the next few weekends planned also while trying to redecorate all four bedrooms as we are having a room shuffle to accomodate the new baby ( weel at least I have till 1st November to do the rooms unless it arrives early).

Well its been fairly quiet this week had one small crisis early on this week Chelsea managed to get some aviary wire wrapped around her foot,(made repairs to aviary not sure how it got damaged)
We managed to get it off ok but not before Lou copped one of Chelsea's feet grabbing hard into her hand (not much damage done cut palm two dinks in the back of her hand and then one in her arm for good measure)and Chelsea is no worse for her ordeal.
This coincided with taking the birds to a local Beaver Colony so We only took Abbot as not fair on Chelsea.
The Beavers loved seeing him, was not able to fly him as it had rained hard all day and he was soaked so getting a good reading of his weight is neigh on impossible as he loves sitting in the rain and getting soaked.
One thing to note is make sure none of the kids have a yellow bobble hat or a coat with a fur collar.

A mornings work

Well a normal Sunday morning with these fellas is cleaning day.Normally they have water changed daily and a quick tidy up of the aviaries but Sunday mornings(rain or shine) I strip out the aviaries disinfect the baths rake all the floors and collect any bits of rubbish that should not be there.
All there equipment is sterilised (its washed after every use) to ensure its all safe as the main food is chicks so I take no chances.
the aviaries are also sprayed with a disinfectant solution( the birds are boxed whilst doing so) to minimise any chance of infections.
I always check the birds right over for any signs of damage or injuries that I may not have noticed during the week.
Then weather permitting I go out flying for an hour or so.
That is my Sunday mornings mostly taken up but its well worth it to see them free flying it give me a great sense of satisfaction and pleasure to watch him fly and he really seems to enjoy himself as well.

School Trip

Well nice start to the weekend taking Chelsea and Abbot to our local school.
Abbot did attempt a couple of trips up the hall but kept veering off to sit behind the kids.
All seemed impressed with the birds and asked some really sensible questions.
I will have to work on my speech bit to go with the demonstration though.
Will try and put the newsletter clipping on when I get it.

Never work with kids or animals

Well as the saying goes never work with kids or animals.
Having taken two owls a harris hawk and a barn owl to the local cub troop I now know why they say this.
We got Abbot out it was very hot in the hall and he refused to fly got him to go from end of the hall and back well sort of back he found the ceiling and then sat next to one of the parents.
Boris(the harris hawk) then decided to fly up into the rafters sit on a windsurf board for ten mins then move to the other end and do the same, Much to the amusment of the cubs.
Blueberry(the barn owl) and Chelsea(the turkmenien eagle owl) were shown to the cubs and all had a chance to ask questions and have photos taken.
All in all a good evening even if they thought it amusing to do their own thing and not fly.
Will try and get some photos on when I get them.

Derwent6

Check out the links added at bottom of page And DEL WHAT DO YOU MEAN MAY HAVE TO DO AWAY WITH BIG PC AND SURROUND SOUND I IS SHOCKED !!!

Owl Walking

well got a couple of flights on Sunday but not to keen is getting better took him to Hamlet Woods scout campsite Monday evening it was lovely spent a couple of hours in the woods getting him coming from trees to me he did ok but took a keen interest in the wood pigeons and a dog which he managed to scare (seeing a large dog run from a bird is quite amusing) He has got two displays next week so will keep all posted.
The picture is Matthew with one of Neils barn owls taken last year at the Whitehouse my local and flying grounds.

Young Abbot

Morning hope you have recovered from last night still stuffed though hope all enjoyed.
Anyway this is a very young Abbot about twenty weeks old will have him out flying this afternoon if he feels like doing anything he weighs in at 4lb 1oz this morning his normal flying weight is 3lb 12-14oz and Monday he just sat on his post in the field and looked at me for half an hour he can be very frustrating at times but whatever he does its still a pleasure to take him out flying(or walking in some cases) right got bits to do more later.

This is Abbot about two years old in this pic he is a male european eagle owl one of the largest species of owl in the world.
I have had him from a baby (about 16 weeks old) he is now three and weighs just over four pound. He is able to be free flown and is excellent for doing small displays.

This is Chelsea and Brian (Brian on the right) They are a pair of turkmenien eagle owls we believe they are about thirteen years old but not a lot more is known about them.
she is very friendly and Brian is sort of but he protects Chelsea and lets you know if he does not want you there.

Had a few of these Sunday !!!

Hello

Right after much bugging thought I should set up a blog So here it is !!
Not much on here yet but will get there.
Thanks to everyone who came to Sundays BBQ hope all enjoyed and no one got food poisoning (as if I would allow that)
Right will leave it there by next week will try to get some owl pics and info on here and then start using this properly.