29th April 2026 - Starting the Aviary and Athelstan

Thought for the day :"Pyromaniacs need love too. Find your match here."

Dry

Seems I didn't take many photos today though we managed five hours of pretty hard work.

The parking area is now clear of firewood - the last in the new lean to where the BBQ used to sit

Pictures show the cleared area. 

After that Chris and I set the bonfire in the lower quarter and cleared a lot of old wood from by the Gents toilet, and cleared a lot of bramble while we waited for the chicken carcasses to burn - didn't want the dogs trying Kentucky Fried Chicken if we left them untended.

Also cleared the hose for Doris and set up the water feature. Still can't get the controller to register correctly. Read the youtube and the manuals and can't find the errors that I am getting and beginning to think that I may have damaged the controller itself . It is very clear that you have to connect in the right order - battery, panels, output.. or it can damage the controller.  I am pretty sure that I connected the panels first when we first put them on. Of course it has worked before so this may not be the problem.  Controller costs over £35 so want to be sure before trying a new on.

Then to finish the day - we started putting the metal poles into the ground for the aviary. Today was more a proof of concept to see whether the poles will be strong enough without postcrete and I think they will be suitable. Photos to follow tomorrow.

And finally a trip to Narberth for Castell Penfro Athelstan meeting where we had a candidate and an excellent meeting with 22 attending and 16 dining.  A good meeting. Photos tomorrow I think.

Cheers