Below 265 SQ/FT TwoBytes Stuff

[drivesitfar]

TB: just an FYI. i know you've thought about replacing or pressure washing or painting your fence and wanted to let you know that instead of doing any of that you might also put this thought into your thinking. do you own a plane eithter hand, small electric or a bigger version? you might have to take it apart to plane, stain and then re install, but you might like the results better than the other options.

i just made 5 year old wood in my cedar pile look like new with my little Craftsman hand plane and i'm going to stain it and make a mailbox stand out of this batch.

best of luck with both the Supervisors and i'm a bit jealous cause those were crazy fun years, but happy they are over and our little ones are now 27.

take care

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks for the idea Drives. The timber in the fence is pretty weathered, a bit rotten in spots, and probably not decent enough quality to justify that level of effort, but I'll give it some thought.

The fence is pretty low priority on the old to-do list at this stage in any case.

The neighbour is selling up, so I've been helping with some repairs to make the place look a bit better ready for sale.

One thing that's needed doing for a long time is fixing up the letterboxes.

They've been run into many times over the years, had significant damage, and were both doing leaning tower of Pisa impersonations. The neighbour's in particular was on about a 20 degree angle.

They're solid brick, so straightening them up was no mean feat, but I eventually got them both level.

I forgot to get pictures before I straightened them up, but here's one mid-repair...

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That concrete bit on the top had fallen off a few times, after being hit by numerous cars, and had two corners snapped off.

I glued what was left of that slab down with Liquid Nails so it won't fall off again, and made up some formwork to pour some new concrete corners...
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(Super Boss had been working hard, he needed a rest)

I dug right down to the hard stuff, and got plenty of concrete underneath to try and stop them leaning over again, and made a mowing strip around them for good measure...

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A bit of render repair and a paint job and they look good as new...

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They really are straight and level, it's the camera making them look like that!

I even sprayed the numbers gloss black and put them back on with shiny new stainless screws (clocked of course)

 

[TwoBytes]

To demonstrate how many times they've been run into, I found at least half a dozen pieces of red plastic tail light lens when I was digging out for the mowing strip

 

[drivesitfar]

TB: first of all i love the picture of your son (Super Boss) helping then laying flat out on your lawn!!

so i have to say even without the before pictures your new address and mailbox monuments look great.

speaking of the tail lights and them being hit quite often was there any thought of you maybe moving them a few feet to the side or have the drivers improved after a few hits?

how about a pole or a good marker cause guess they are getting hit cause they are too low to see?

nice work

cheers

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks Drives

I haven't done anything to stop them getting hit again, so it seems likely that it's not going to stop happening unfortunately.

The main problem is that we live near a school, so there is dozens of cars doing 3 point turns around there at school drop off and pickup time.

The main aim was to make them look nicer for the upcoming sale, so I'm hoping it's at least a month or two before they get damaged again. In the 5 years since I've been there it's only been once or twice a year, so we should be OK...



I couldn't move them easily, as there is a large concrete drain beside one, and a garden next to the other, and I don't want to ruin the symmetry (and it was hard enough just to straighten them up, moving them, even a short distance, would not be easy).

I think I've reinforced them enough underneath that they shouldn't tilt over again (unless it's a really big hit), so any future damage will hopefully only be cosmetic, which is easier to repair (on the letterboxes anyway, car damage is likely to be worse!)

I have considered putting some reflective black and yellow (or red and white) adhesive tape on them to make them more visible, but I think you're right that they are probably too low to be seen when people are reversing. I flag in the middle, or a pole on the corner (for protection and visibility) might be a good idea.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Mat, top job on the letter box. Its great to get projects like that out of the way.

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks Steve, great to see you back posting on here mate, hope your ongoing treatment and recovery is going as well as it possibly can!

 

[drivesitfar]

TB: i don't blame you for not making major changes and maybe the light pole or some sort of marker might help. good luck with that and maybe since they are better looking the drivers will also pay attention more too.

speaking of mailbox stands I'm not sure how much time you have to visit a few of my threads so here's the "little" mailbox stand i'm almost finished building. it's 8x8's cedar posts that are 6.5 foot tall to start and it's a bit nicer than the old rotted one i built over 20+ years ago. don't you think?

yes with a little planing and staining cedar boards that look a bit worn can come to life as i was saying for your old fence, but some are too far gone like you say.

cheers and hope you and the family are having a great weekend!!

 

[drivesitfar]

TB: i'm betting the Supervisor and his sister are keeping you and your bride busy, but just wanted to see if there are any new updates on the playhouse or your life. i bet it's probably 90 degrees (30c) there while it's snowing here today. any updates to post pictures or talk about?

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

 

[TwoBytes]

Hey drives,

Letter box looks great mate, good job.

Yep, kids are keeping us very busy. My son has really taken off on his bike so we've been doing heaps of riding lately.

I think I've posted a photo previously, but my daughter goes on a seat on the front of my bike. It's a Mac Ride and I'd definitely recommend it...
http://www.mac-ride.com

No progress on the cubby house lately, but I've got two weeks off work, and it's on the list. The kids have been using it, as it's had walls, a roof and a door for quite a while, but it would be great to actually say it's done.

Hope everybody had a great Christmas day.

It's my birthday today (Boxing day). The kids have been up since 5:30. Just having a coffee and working out what we're going to do for the day.

 

[TwoBytes]

And yep, it's 30c here today and heading for 35 (95f) tomorrow.

 

[drivesitfar]

TB: thanks for the update and we're just getting ready to eat lunch and watch a rented movie Kingsman Inner Circle cause we liked the first one and this is the second one in maybe a series. I'm not sure if you watch movies much or if you've seen them, but these are not really for kids and a fair amount of 007 type action in an English version. my bride and i go to maybe one or two movies a year at the theater and I think maybe Star Wars might be the first one this year if we go next week.

here's the finished cedar mailbox and one of the snow on the ground last night that maybe will keep you cool on your very warm summer day. i hope you don't mind me cluttering up your thread with a few of my pictures and if you'd like me to delete these or any of them just ask. just to put the mailbox stand to scale the posts are 6.5 foot tall 8x8's.

sounds like the kids are doing great and you are doing well on the roller coaster ride of parenthood.

cheers

 

[TwoBytes]

No worries about the pics mate, post away. Looking good (and cold)

I have seen the first Kingsman movie and thought it was pretty funny.

I got movie tickets for my birthday today, so now I just need to pick a movie and find some time without kids! It'll be the first time we've been to the movies in years!

 

[drivesitfar]

tb: Happy birthday!!

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks mate!

 

[Lyndon]

Mat

Happy Birthday, & all the usual greetings for the season. Enjoy your 2 weeks off (I’ve got till the 2nd, but Irene is having to work (even today - everyone expects their pays done!), so it should be possible to get some QST in.

Hope you & the family have a great New Year.

Lyndon


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[1/2 Cup]

Mat, happy birthday and all the best for the new year

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks Lyndon and Steve!

Had a great birthday with the family.

Hope you guys had a great Christmas. Looking forward to some QST over the break.

 

[dlcwent]

Happy belated birthday Mat. Glad you had a good day. Enjoy some QST with your time off. We'll be looking for another update soon.

 

[Bob Heine]

Happy Birthday Mat!

You share a birthday issue with my wife. Hers is on the 18th and a lot of her birthday presents were Xmas presents a couple of days early. At least Boxing Day is a big party day in most of the British Empire so you can always be sure of a special birthday celebration.

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks Dan, QST and project updates coming soon (I hope)

Thanks Bob... My family has always tried hard not to do the "birthmas present" thing, and made a real effort to make my birthday special even though they'd rather sleep all day after a big Christmas! At least my birthday is always on a public holiday, so I never have to go to work.

 

[dlcwent]

I knew a guy that was born on Christmas and also got married on Christmas. I guess he could never use the excuse of forgetting his anniversary.

 

[TwoBytes]

That's an interesting strategy for never forgetting a special occasion... just put them all on the same day!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Happy birthday a day late and dollar short!

I only learned this season what Boxing Day was all about. Interesting, and I'll bet you were a great gift on that Boxing Day.

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks Andy!

I hope I was a good gift, I don't believe my arrival was a surprise.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Maybe they wanted a girl?

 

[TwoBytes]

You could be right Andy!

They did get a girl after two failed attempts (ie. my brother and me)

 

[drivesitfar]

TB: you and Andy could go on the road and if you make it to his place in Oklahoma i'd like to show up just to watch and listen (and learn).

have a great 2018 and best of luck with the little ones that will always keep you guessing.

cheers

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks Drives!

Best wishes for 2018 to you too mate, I hope it's a cracker.

I'd love to go on the road with Andy but I'm not sure I'd be able to keep up...

 

[Lyndon]

Mat

It's the Bob and Andy show I'd pay money to see!

Have a great New Year.

Lyndon
In hot Sydney!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Me too! But big brother Bob is a bit shy. Come on up and we can go on the road. You can drive days and I'll drive nights, we could get a lot of material delivered.

 

[TwoBytes]

I'd pay to see that too!

It's amazing to think that you two are long lost brothers, reunited on garage journal.

This road trip is going to be great. Have we got room in the back for a 3 and a 5 year old?

 

[Bob Heine]

Andy, I'd love to do the road trip but I've already spread all my material on the flower beds. Mom warned me to keep Liane away from you -- she's a sucker for a warm pair of socks and a good listener.

 

[TwoBytes]

Bob and Andy, my dear friends, I keep all my best material in my trailer...

Because the garage, the shed and the attic are all full

 

[drivesitfar]

TB: Hey I saw you posting on Andy's thread giving him (us) the 411 on backing up our computer STUFF which is probably a good thing that is for certain, but i hadn't seen any pictures of your (or your supervisor's and his assistant's) PLAYHOUSE in a while. since it might be too hot to work on it has it had any progress or is it done and i missed those posts?

hope all is well in your world and also need you to spur on the Andy/Bob show for more of they plethora of stuff they seem to post while you are at the helm.

cheers

 

[TwoBytes]

Hey Drives!

Life has been busy here and there's been little to no progress on any projects of note.

I have finished painting the cubby house though, and I've got the top bits of the walls ready to go on, and the frame ready to attach them to, and then I'll call it done. I'll get some pics once it finished, as there's not much to show past the last pic I put up at this stage.

My son started kindergarten yesterday, which is going really well, he loves it. He's also getting into gymnastics, and getting pretty strong, which is good to see. My daughter turned 3 recently too, man time flies.

 

[drivesitfar]

TB: best parenting advice i could pass on to you is to pay attention to the kid's friends and try to guide them to hanging out and playing with other kids with good manners. your kids will become like who they hang out with so I managed to guide (drive up to an hour sometimes) our kids to hang with other kids that they liked and we liked them and/or their parents.

and JUST ENJOY THE RIDE OF PARENTING cause it's better than any theme park and hopefully you'll have two adults sooner than you know.

cheers and post up a few pictures of the new paint on the playhouse when you get a minute. are you still loving your new patio cover maybe more now since it's maybe 100 degrees?

 

[TwoBytes]

Thanks Drives, sounds like good advice!

I haven't got any pics of the cubby house since I put the fresh paint on, but it doesn't really look much different to be honest! It looks a lot better in person, but not much different to this photo which was taken just after Christmas...
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The cubby house hasn't changed much since the last photo I posted, this one that I took at the end of Winter, but the garden sure has!
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Soon after I took that recent photo after Christmas, the backyard got completely taken over by the kids' Christmas present...
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I resisted for a long time, as I didn't want to lose most of the yard, but they do love it, so I guess it's worth it.

I was expecting the grass to struggle once the trampoline went up, but it's actually doing great!

That shadecloth on the top is a home made contraption and that's working really well too. I stitched a 3m x 3m square together from a 6m x 1.5m piece I had.

On an unrelated matter, we found this book at the library recently...
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It's fantastic! The kids loved it (though perhaps not as much as I did)

 

[oldironfarmer]

I love the book!!

Looks like a must read...

 

[TwoBytes]

Haha, yep, it sure is!

Speaking of heavy machinery, I don't think I ever posted any pics of Murrumbateman Field Day when I met Terrick.

Checking out some old iron...
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That was just after we got there and about 5 minutes later, my son said "I don't like this, it's one of those ones where you just look at stuff and don't get to touch, I'm bored, let's go home".

It steadily improved, and 6 hours later he didn't want to leave!

The first tractor sales display we walked past, he boldly walked up to bloke working there and said "so, can I sit on any of these?"

The guy said "yeah, as long as you're careful". He said "alright, what about that big one with the cabin" and the answer was "maybe not that one".

The next place was about the same, but the third place, he asked the guy if he could sit in an excavator and the response was just fantastic...

He said "nah mate, you don't want to sit in that one, that's tiny, come over here and I'll get you in this big one!"

He proceeded to give both kids a guided tour of all the biggest best tractors, bobcats, and excavators, they were in heaven!

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Climb all over it? No worries, go for your life!

If I ever get a chance to buy any big machinery I know where I'm going to go!