GreenMetropolis.Com

OK, hope no-one minds my jumping the gun, here's Lottie's new thread combining Wendy's brilliant idea with Lottie's name :-)

Full approval, thank you.


www.freewebs.com/missingdonkey
Lottie Harris on Facebook.

Brilliant, especially for the incommunicadoes confined to internal messages like I am.

Glad you're OK with it Wendy, and Marie, you're welcome :-)

A lift for a lovely new thread. Well done Bernie :)

Please can WendyHouse give a description for new members exploring the forum for the first time, I know it is clear if they go to the website. It is likely that they will scrollon down and go off to another thread. It takes time to work out that each post puts it back on top so every newbie could sign in their second post.

Sacrificing time on this free L day, to say to those like jpbo sending abroad for charity, I heard Sandi Toksvig's Sat a.m. Travel Prog. discuss with Kate Humble stuffyourucksack.com (uncertain spelling so Google) got the impression it was a way to donate freight and stimulate visits.

www.stuffyourrucksack.com/

Well done Marie and thank you so much!
It's a fab website, you click on the map for the country you are going to and they show you all the local projects that need help and what they need. So you could be going to see the Pyramids and offer to help The Sunshine Project by taking some children's clothing, DVDs or art materials. If you were going to see the Angkor temples, you could assist Schools for Children of Cambodia by taking some text books or if you are off on safari in Kenya, how about helping The Vipingo Village Fund by taking some pencils and exercise books.

We have spent a lot of time with children in such projects and the smallest gift brings the biggest smiles so I hope some holidaying GMers stuff their rucksacks this year :)

Is that a forward slash after the com? How did you manage it? Does anyone else know about helpful freight?

I don't know how I did that forward slash - have never been able to before but here is another before it disappears forever / But no go for a back slash!

Tell me what you mean about helpful freight please?

Edited to say one forward slash is permitted, any more is forbidden and back slash is strictly verboten!

Most ex-pats in R.0.C (this includes Hong K, Kowloon and Taiwan Macau etc ) have no recognised organisation ,but somehow they manage to ship out container loads of stuff like Heinz Beans and Marmite They can usually make room for eccentric ma-in-law requests like the odd cooker,play pen, or Zed bed, a few crayons, WOULD HARDLY BE WORTH MENTIONING. Try an appeal in Anouncements Before August e.g. I bet if it had oil there would be some company willing to offer a corner of a container to a local charity. I am not sure all members read this thread.
Up you go to the top Lottie!

Anyone else got eBay eyes? The only break I took was to recharge the camera. Yes, I should have taken the photos on Friday... Is there a recognisable pattern to FL wekends?
Never organised.

Re StuffYourRucksack - I think if you have a stack of something that you think might suit you can put a notice up on their board, for anyone travelling who could take it. Too tired to rewrite that - think you know what I mean!



Up you go again Lottie.

You could scroll back through announcements and note the dates, at least you could at one time, granted that was in the days when it seemed always to be on a Thursday, one day motors were at the week end 2 days, and regular maintainance was advised.
More and more I despise myself for using ebay. I think it is responsible for demise of Jumble/rummage/charity sales,and the organising structure that supported them. Incidentally to the poor use of village halls, and the reduction of quality in goods displayed at car boots. Their profits have greatly increased since subsidiary Pay Pal was introduced as a compulsorary offer by sellers. All their costs and profits come from the seller. Good Luck!

Am looking into that one Marie and thanks so much for the idea.

WendyHouse - I had such good intentions of an ebay weekend but got lazy and only listed about 20 items so I bow to your greater dedication.

Annuals - I don't think I have seen a jumble sale since I was a child and that was a long time ago but sadly I live in a city so definitely no village hall here. I have found a really nice car boot sale to go to - small, friendly and real carboot stuff rather than new market stall tat so that is my new Sunday morning pursuit. I too often swear to no more ebay but it still brings in some money for projects which I could not afford to support without it, so I will stay there until there is something better. I did look at ebid but does anyone buy/sell anything there? It seems very quiet.

A little lift for lovely Lottie :)

jpb - it's desperation not dedication! Need the space!

We're rural and there are local villages still having jumble sales, usually booked after a table top sale and the unsold items get donated to the church or whatever the jumble sale is for. If you have an NCT group or Boy Scouts group nearby it might be worth looking out for their fund raising events.

To the top Lottie!

I need the space too, am thinking of a car boot sale on Sumday so if I do it, am hoping half my GM books may disappear by Monday!

I don't need an excuse for another lift for Lottie but wanted to re-open an old forum discussion which I can't find despite searching for hours.

Does anyone use courier services for sending larger parcels instead of using Royal Mail?

So far, I have tried:

www.parcel2go.com/
www.parcelmonkey.co.uk/
www.myhermes.co.uk/
www.interparcel.com/

MyHermes was a little slow but had the advantage that they allow you to leae the parcel "somewhere safe" for them to collect so you don't have to stay in all day waiting for courier to arrive. And they are very cheap at a 2 - 5kg parcel for just £4.99 plus VAT

Interparcel offer amazing rates for large and long parcels that other couriers will not take. For example I sent a blind to Scotland, it was 195cm long and weighed approx 3kg. Interparcel quoted TNT UK Express at £9.35 plus VAT and TNT's normal price is around £40 so this is an absolute bargain.

Parcel2Go starts at £5.95 plus VAT and ParcelMonkey offer 10kg parcels at £5.85 plus VAT with next day delivery.

As Royal Mail now charge £9.58 for a 5kg parcel and £12.61 for 10kg and these prices are standard parcel rate so do not include tracking, I think these couriers are offerinf super value.

Does anyone else have any experience of using other couriers who offer good rates?

I always use Interparcel great rates, never had any problems

I must confess to ignorance of this field I always insist on ebay (since they capped postage) the buyer instructs and prepays own carrier so I cannot be accused of overcharging as royalmail.com willcharge £x standard parcels! I cannot guess the post code of the buyer so I tell them my initial letters, for their estimate. They never bother with carriers just stick with RM.
I have copied your list jpb and tomorrow and weekend will explore any parcel offices I can locate to compare prices

Thank you, jpb, for that very helpful summary and assessments.

Yes thanks jpb .How is the hunt for free freight going? Rabbit says on Holiday Drstinations she has just finished filming in Morocco Does she know the overland routes or surfacemail trails for freight?

I sent out a multitude of emails yesterday enquiring about freight to Cambodia so will wait and see if I get any results. Watch this space ......

Up you go Lottie :)

Lamely I motored past the parcels and shipping office, stopping was impossible, but at least I know it is there still. Victoria Woods has done something on the amputees of the bombing, soon to be shown on Tv and I think Nick Dunlop will be showing some of his work soon. Perhaps someone else has more details?

Yes Victoria Wood was filming in Laos, a country which bears the ignominous title of the world's most bombed country. Approximately one third of the 270 million bombs dropped there during the Vietnam war failed to detonate and these have claimed thousands of lives since. Victoria Wood spent time with the Mines Advisory Group, who are actually based a litle nearer home in Manchester, and their expert UXB teams.

Nic Dunlop is based in Bangkok now, I suppose this is the nearest practical base to continue his crusade against the regime in Burma, now that he has seen Comrade Duch brought to trial.

I think I should shut up now as Lottie's thread is starting to sound like an Amnesty International newsletter!

Phew! What you might call a successful eBay weekend. A mega wrapping day tomorrow and funds coming in for a re-print of LOTTIE'S leaflets and maybe an advert in one of the horsey mags. Someone somewhere knows of a donk who turned up one Christmas....
Did you do a car boot jpb? I enjoy browsing them (tho' do prefer events later in the day!) but think selling is torture - all those bodies crowding round, pushing and shoving and trying to pull your stuff out of the boot - urrrgh!

ps Happy August everyone! Where IS this year going???

Just wanted to add my best wishes in finding Lottie, it's just sickening that anyone would have taken her.
An advert in one of the horsey mags is a good idea, Horse mag has a regular missing column if I remember correctly. You might have thought of this before, but how about a leaflet handout at the agricultural showgrounds, lots of horse/donkey owners milling around, someone somewhere might just remember her.

Yes, I did the car boot sale. It's a nice small friendly one and doesn't open to buyers until 10:00
We managed to sell some of our granddaughter's baby toys which were taking up a lot of space and actually did quite well clearing out our music and video cassettes. Even sold a few books too :)

Well summer is here and the weather is dreadful but in Liverpool, some eejit has taken the decision to turn the city centre into a "holiday resort" complete with rollercoaster, helter skelter, a sand beach and .... donkey rides. I am sure the lovely little animals do not want to walk through a busy city centre and would rather be in a lush green field but what choice do they have.
It made me wonder where doneky ride owners purchase their donkeys and on a quick google discovered that donkey rides have also recently returned to New Brighton (across the Mersey from Liverpool). I can't add the URL here due to GM's dislike of symbols but a quick search on Liverpool Echo plus donkey will bring both stories up. One mentions buying donkeys and a donkey welfare course that donkey ride owners have to attend. It could be worth trying to get in touch with these people to ask them to publicise Lottie perhaps .....

Up goes Lottie

Lottie has slipped down again :(

Where are you Marie? No sign since this last post. Are you on holiday?

Hi jpb, thanks for keeping Lottie in view. I'm ok now with pics of donks but up close is a bit painful - the eyes, those big ears, the whiskery muzzles and the smell.... Aren't they patient putting up with what they do? But it has to be said that they live better lives than in other parts of the world.
I think the courses are those organised by the Donkey Sanctuary (Sidmouth) They started for would-be adoptees of their donkeys. Their inspectors check out all the owners of working donkeys and the donkeys are screened before the working season starts.

Paul Martin on Flog It! yesterday visited Redwings in Norfolk - they've had a reminder email from me and I'm thinking of trying to contact Paul too. I know he's an animal lover.

Are you alright Marie?

I think it would be a great idea to contact Paul Martin, he's definitely an animal lover, have seen what a big softie he is with his dogs and horses. Also he once did a show (can't remember the name) buying and selling antiques to raise money for various causes, one was a charity which gave riding lessons to disabled children and he was a great supporter of this, saing he would feel terribly guilty if he let them down. I bet if he loves horses, he has a soft spot for lovely donkeys too so it's got to be worth a go.

Marie? Where are youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu??!!

Busy being timed out fom this site.....but I swiped!
Wendy Ho. Yes! thanks for asking!I have been busy doing some of the things I was reckoning to do with loads of time to spare! LOL
jpb. I go last week of August, to sit on a boat on the Broads cannot say where until I get there. I cannot think it will be as impressive as last years boat trip to Carcassone. Rest of party have been away in Antigua,or Aus. End Aug.seemed remote and details unecessary. I will be even busier when the Meads and Persians return.
I had been keeping an eye on Lottie Lift intending to press button if she was too far down.XXX

Talking of ebay, which we were not, has any one detected a difference in ebay's attitude to buyers? I sold some heavy antique bread boards UK postage £4.50 and some poor girl in US bid and won She sent regulation request for postage and I emailed her explaining it would be far too expensive We agreed no sale. Eventually I took it for a test weigh to PO and forwarded the invoice pp £25 Now she is emailing me begging for me to do whatever is necessary to stop ebay threatenning her. First time I have heard them hustle a buyer.

Marie, there you are! So you have not been carried away by boat yet, the Broads sounds fun but I am desperate to go to Carcassone and surrounding area. I have visions of Cathar strongholds by day and copious quantities of local vin rouge by night!
Ebay is odd lately, I sold a book last week and buyer paid me instantly by Paypal, payment showed on Paypal but not on ebay. I sent message and told buyer issue and he said it looked odd to him too and maybe it was because he used iPhone to pay. I withdrew money from Paypal and sent book, all was great, we even exchanged feedback. Several days later ebay opened unpaid case against buyer! Appears to be some automatic thingybob that they are doing, another unbroken "fix" perhaps?

It was incredible, to me unbelievable that it had been so long undiscovered by me. Every last inch deserves a TV series I must have been informed about it but seeing was believing. Makes me snap my fingers at the Tower of London and think, Tis pity there was a great fire!
Oft have I wondered in the last decade when will ebay start charging a buyers premium? Now the seller pays for the whole carnival parade. Perhaps this is the first stirring of the wind of change.
Good to talk to you again! I did not get thrown off!

Thinking, if you both do nothing will they automatically refund to you their commision or finalvalue payment? 'Nothing' is quite difficult in some circumstances but with ebay when I have contacted them, my inability to communicate causes some trainee to rack their brains to misunderstand me at great length and it inevitably leads to a frustrating questionaire and a terrible waste of time. All this may be deliberate!
Up goes Lottie!

My message said that if nothing happened within a number of days, 4 I think, I woud receive listing and final feee credits and buyer would receive a black mark as a non-payer.

Communicating with ebay, Amazon and Virgin Media CS departments usually leaves me feeling like somewhere between pulling my hair out and committing seppuku with a rusty razor blade. In my job, I speak with clients and colleagues worldwide every day but never have the communicaton problems that "Customer Care Call Centres" seem to induce!

That is the curse of 21 Century(GM is the exception)

Two years, since first listing, an odd list of titles,judged by me to be unsaleable on gm, I am having success on BookMooch after failure e.g.Title:Regulations ... with a list of the fellows, etc
Author: Royal Statistical Society London
If this is an 1835 copy and not a reprint, I would love to have it for myclassroom's English literature hands-on display! Would you consider sending? Thank you much.
Theres a turn up for the book!

Do donkeys clear land of thistles? Is it just a myth that they like them to eat? Does presence of thistles mean there were possibly Donkeys there once upon a time?














































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































Up you go Lottie!

..........

Ummmmmmmmm, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr .....

Marie? How did you make that HUGE space?!

Sorry!I do not know! Tried for AGES to get rid of it . Ate up the line of dots Then put in the Lottie lift and tried to bring bits of text together. Gave up with a shake of the head and a muttered 'Loco' Someone is bound to find me a Waste of Space! Perhaps the ever tolerant GM will reduce it in case it breaks out like a rash on other threads.

Chuckle chuckle.

Well you know I think Lottie deserves a LOT of space so I am quietly admiring it :)








Trying a little space and may go on to greater things!

Pegasus in Space
Anne McCaffrey

Is this what you mean?

Another free weekend on eBay BUT in the terms and conditions it states that it's only open to those who have an e-mail invitation from them!!!

Unicorn you've beaten me to it again!
Maybe everyone will get an email and it's just to make us feel special? but it does say the invitation is non-transferable. Hope all who want one will get one!

Up to the top Lottie.

No invitation here, I am sulking - waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah :(

So am I! But thanks for explaining life and ebray to me
it certainly pays with star like Wendy H and Unicorn watching out for us.

Not Wanted
Frank Ottman

Still sulking!

I asked ebay about it and got this response:
"Thank you for your email with regard to the free listing weekend promotion.
Yes, we are currently having a weekend listing promotions, these promotion is being sent out reandomly by email to private seller's on the site."

Looks like we are not on the random email list, Marie :(

Random ! unlikely! it is probably some deadly lethal sieve applied to exclude certain classes like those with an on going dispute, or dodgy email, ebay fees not paid by Paypal,never join in the discussion boards, too few buyers feedbacks, not wildly enthusiastic about the monitoring questionnaires? What do you think?

I don't want to rub salt.... just finished another marathon listing stint. Hoping my daughters (same initial surname, similar feedback, same part of country) get their turn soon cos they're sulking too! Haven't found anyone else who was selected this time - just Unicorn and me?

Where are the questionnaires Marie? Or is it best not to know?!

Hoping Lottie is somewhere dry....

If one dares to query e.g why are you pestering me to leave feedback when I have been paid by Pay Pal so cannot deny it The buyer has not the courtesy to tell me it has arrived safely I cannot leave feedback until I know I have no need to claim. Particularly since Pay Pal assures me I can still suffer chargebacks I get some desperately well meaning sycophantic trainee busting a gut to be gently misleading. Then there is the request to say if it was helpful folowed by questionaire alleged to take only few minutes

I hope your weekend of listings brings ripe rewards WendyHouse :)

Yes Marie, I got one of those questionnaires when I dared ask re the free listing weekend. I did complete it but perhaps needless to say, my response was not positive and that was without me mentioning the atrocious English used by the ebay representative:
"Thank you for your email with regard to the free listing weekend promotion.
Yes, we are currently having a weekend listing promotions, these promotion is being sent out reandomly by email to private seller's on the site."

This rain is atrocious and I join Wendy in wishing Lottie is somewhere safe and dry.

Thank you jpb.

Un-bloomin'-believable! My daughter has just opened her email to find she has Free Listing all day today and tomorrow. Not only short notice but a very limited opportunity.
Anyone else had the invite?

Would you Adam and Eve it? I have just had one for 24 and 25

sorry to hijack Lotties forum, but as you are obviously animal lovers I would ask you to take a look on YouTube at the woman dumping a cat in a bin. Hopefully someone can identify her and she can be prosecuted. Just put woman, cat, bin into the search and you will find it. I cannot believe someone could be so cold and calculated.

It's also on the Yahoo news page.

EVIL.

Coventry, clear footage, shouldn't take long to trace her.

It was appalling, as was her claim that it was a joke.
I think someone should put her in a wheelie bin and leave her there!

Think she's going to need a new ID?

Wish we'd had a similar effect (size-wise!) on Facebook.

Hi WendyHouse
I don't do facebook or any social networking sites but I do check out music and other clips people send me from YouTube. Have you already got some Lottie stuff there or could you add some and then link it to your facebook page and other Lottie sites? If you don't have a video of Lottie, I have seen a few very good YouTube clips where people have added a photo stream with appropriate background music. It could be worth a try ...

This might cause a giggle jpb - there may be some video footage somewhere. On Betamax!
I'll have a word with the younger members of the family to see what they can do with photos, that's a lovely idea for our own records too.

Did eBay send out any more invitations last week?