ADVENTURES IN FS LIGHTING

[Tiki]

OK, all the experts are recommending this thing so I guess I better jump on the FS bandwagon. 8) Off to Bunnings Hardware--oh no! Not on shelf! :o Nice man rings light supplier, get rerouted through to call centre in India. Namaste, sir! "How can we help you madam?" :? Which fluro tube has a CRI of 98? Lilting Indian voice gives part number.
We do our best to understand and write it down.
Ooops, not a regular stock item, need to special order. :( $11 per fluro light. Also need fixture-$30 with
own plug-in cord, $22 for hard wired version. What? Me try to get a sparkie out for such a small job? They wouldn't
give me the time of day. OK, plug-in it is. Place order, leave deposit. On way out of store spot sale on fertilizer-
large bag for $25, will last 6 months. OK, good deal. Screwdriver $1 each-pick up a few. Gardening gloves-$8, but will need
for summer weeding, grab 2 pair. Make escape before total gets too high. Oo

One week later, Bunnings rings-my order is in. Yayyy!!
Run down and pick it up. Nice man shows me how to screw the thing into the batten. Birds will be very happy! Go back home.
Make hubby leave football watching to bring ladder up-grudgingly does so, then back to the game. Up I go, balancing fixture on shoulder,
drill in one hand, screws in my mouth. Mangage to get one screw in then drop the others. Back down ladder, muttering curses.
Retrieve screws, move ladder to other side of fixture, back up again. Drop screws again, more #$%^! Up we go again! YES! 2nd screw in neatly!
Back down, pick up fluro tube, back up ladder.
Insert tube. Hey birds-you guys better appreciate this! Uh oh! Cord doesn't reach to wall socket. @_@ D**m! Back to Bunnings. Find extension cord $6. Just
remembered I need hibiscus food, grab two bags $7 each. Hint of fragrance wafts in. :) I peek at new plants-hmmm gardenias $14 each! Look for hibiscus, not many on display yet. Ooooooh, water features! YES! Natural looking pond with 3 tiered drop. $250! Arghhhh, credit card says no!

Back home with new extension cord, plug the thing in. Let there be FS light! Manu anxiously asks "What are you doing?" :?:
over and over again. "Just a new light, sweetie"! Light comes on-look anxiously at birds. They are not impressed and
continue to chew on bottlebrush branches. Ungrateful little wretches!!! :disbelie:

Oh, well! Score one for DIYer!

[cgrite]

LOL....great story Tiki....sounds like me @ Walmart....you can never get out of there w/o spending at least a $100 bill.....good job....good job!!!!! :D

[TooLover]

Cute story Tiki - I have yet to do my lighting. Am waiting on hubby to have some time off and ask him (nicely) to please do it for me! Give him a choice of rearranging furniture or setting up lighting; lighting will get done soon! :D

[The Outlaw]

I feel your pain. I really do. I found my Ekkie having a field day PLUCKING her new chest feathers the day AFTER I installed her lighting. I DID it because the end of last winter, she plucked her chest to fuzzy down. I wanted to avoid that, so I made her the FS fixture in the photo.

I removed it yesterday after 2 full days of frantic plucking. Today, for the first time in 2 days, I uncovered a cage with no feathers on the bottom. I can't win for losing! I think it simply frightened her. That's really odd for I've found my Ekkie hen to be among the most tolerant of any change.

I have now installed it on the cage next to hers. My Severe could care less.

No matter how hard we try to improve their lives, we STILL have to deal with the X factor.

THE OUTLAW