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Today was a family day… well, except for Belinda. She is at an all weekend team building seminar at a hotel up north somewhere.
The Parents left just as George and I were getting out of bed. We had come home rather late after being out with George’s childhood friend, Song, and his lovely family. They have the greatest two little boys (2ish and 4ish). They are the kind of children that make the womb ache. Anyhow, we slept in a bit and they were pulling away from the curb. We assumed they were off on a garage sale adventure. Aba loves to collect all kinds of good stuff and he excels at garage sales. It’s a family event. Today, they came home with a van full of stuff, most of it was even free. Quite a bit were things they already have but bought another of for George and I when we have our own place. They’ve been very good to us.
When they settled in and ate, we all decided to go out to Windsor which is on the outer northwest of Sydney. It used to be all farmlands but now they are building brand new subdivisions and selling a lot of new homes. Aba wanted to go out to an animal auction place and buy a bird because he had purchased a big birdcage without a bottom for $2 a week ago. Yes, yes, I know… and I totally agree. I hate the idea of caging an animal, especially a bird that needs to fly freely, but I said my piece then I shut up because I really have so very little influence in this family at this stage that it really doesn’t matter how I feel about captivity. So, my morals aside, we went up to Windsor to buy a bird. George also wanted to go that way because they are having open houses of many different models of new homes and he wanted to see what Australia had to offer.
Aba bought a little yellow canary. He was like a kid in a candy shop. He wanted more birds than that but aMa and George laid down the law. When they showed me what they bought, my first comment was, “just one? Won’t it be lonely?” I think aBa appreciated my support of getting more than one bird. Hey, if they are going to cage up a bird, at least give it a friend. I went into the auction area where all the caged animals were and I was far too compelled to create a diversion and then open all the cages. It took much of my strength to leave the building without committing a crime. I waited outside.
After that, aBa saw two more yard sales and we had to stop. He is compelled by forces greater than we can hold back. You should see the garage and the storage space under the stairs. Phew.
We stopped at a big pet store in the area to buy birdseed. It also had a large selection of very well maintained fish and supplies. Apparently, aBa also has a fondness for fish but has not been terribly successful in keeping them alive. When George and I get settled, I’d like to set up a nice big tank again. I think that may score big brownie points with aBa. It may also score points with aMa if I have the tank and prevent aBa from setting one up in his own home. The last time he had fish he killed a tank full of $10-$28 per fish. Ama was not happy. She groans every time he mentions fish.
We quickly checked out the area with the show houses, looked in a couple and decided to come back another day when we didn’t have a traumatized little bird in our hands.
We stopped for lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant and smuggled the little bird in so it wouldn’t be too hot in the car.
We came home and then started the project to fix up the birdcage aBa bought. As I said, it was really nice but completely devoid of a bottom. Aba had some wire grating that I snipped to a round shape and created a wire-wrapped bottom for the cage. It was a rougher job than I would like, but they don’t have all the tools I’m used to in my garage. They don’t even have duct tape. *gasp* I’ll have to fix it better later. I did make a few other little improvements on the cage to make it a bit homier for the bird. I’d like to put a little plant in there or something so he feels a little more like he’s in a jungle. Actually, we don’t know the sex of the bird. How do you tell? I know very little about birds.
All in all, I think the day went extremely well. Everyone seemed very happy and upbeat. Aba was happy in my ability to fix the cage and in discovering I love fish. Ama and I seemed to have the same opinions in the houses we looked at. George was thrilled because everyone was getting along and there weren’t any rough spots today. I’m going to go downstairs and have some fruit and maybe talk some more with The Family.
Joy and happiness for good days.
The Parents left just as George and I were getting out of bed. We had come home rather late after being out with George’s childhood friend, Song, and his lovely family. They have the greatest two little boys (2ish and 4ish). They are the kind of children that make the womb ache. Anyhow, we slept in a bit and they were pulling away from the curb. We assumed they were off on a garage sale adventure. Aba loves to collect all kinds of good stuff and he excels at garage sales. It’s a family event. Today, they came home with a van full of stuff, most of it was even free. Quite a bit were things they already have but bought another of for George and I when we have our own place. They’ve been very good to us.
When they settled in and ate, we all decided to go out to Windsor which is on the outer northwest of Sydney. It used to be all farmlands but now they are building brand new subdivisions and selling a lot of new homes. Aba wanted to go out to an animal auction place and buy a bird because he had purchased a big birdcage without a bottom for $2 a week ago. Yes, yes, I know… and I totally agree. I hate the idea of caging an animal, especially a bird that needs to fly freely, but I said my piece then I shut up because I really have so very little influence in this family at this stage that it really doesn’t matter how I feel about captivity. So, my morals aside, we went up to Windsor to buy a bird. George also wanted to go that way because they are having open houses of many different models of new homes and he wanted to see what Australia had to offer.
Aba bought a little yellow canary. He was like a kid in a candy shop. He wanted more birds than that but aMa and George laid down the law. When they showed me what they bought, my first comment was, “just one? Won’t it be lonely?” I think aBa appreciated my support of getting more than one bird. Hey, if they are going to cage up a bird, at least give it a friend. I went into the auction area where all the caged animals were and I was far too compelled to create a diversion and then open all the cages. It took much of my strength to leave the building without committing a crime. I waited outside.
After that, aBa saw two more yard sales and we had to stop. He is compelled by forces greater than we can hold back. You should see the garage and the storage space under the stairs. Phew.
We stopped at a big pet store in the area to buy birdseed. It also had a large selection of very well maintained fish and supplies. Apparently, aBa also has a fondness for fish but has not been terribly successful in keeping them alive. When George and I get settled, I’d like to set up a nice big tank again. I think that may score big brownie points with aBa. It may also score points with aMa if I have the tank and prevent aBa from setting one up in his own home. The last time he had fish he killed a tank full of $10-$28 per fish. Ama was not happy. She groans every time he mentions fish.
We quickly checked out the area with the show houses, looked in a couple and decided to come back another day when we didn’t have a traumatized little bird in our hands.
We stopped for lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant and smuggled the little bird in so it wouldn’t be too hot in the car.
We came home and then started the project to fix up the birdcage aBa bought. As I said, it was really nice but completely devoid of a bottom. Aba had some wire grating that I snipped to a round shape and created a wire-wrapped bottom for the cage. It was a rougher job than I would like, but they don’t have all the tools I’m used to in my garage. They don’t even have duct tape. *gasp* I’ll have to fix it better later. I did make a few other little improvements on the cage to make it a bit homier for the bird. I’d like to put a little plant in there or something so he feels a little more like he’s in a jungle. Actually, we don’t know the sex of the bird. How do you tell? I know very little about birds.
All in all, I think the day went extremely well. Everyone seemed very happy and upbeat. Aba was happy in my ability to fix the cage and in discovering I love fish. Ama and I seemed to have the same opinions in the houses we looked at. George was thrilled because everyone was getting along and there weren’t any rough spots today. I’m going to go downstairs and have some fruit and maybe talk some more with The Family.
Joy and happiness for good days.