Cheap neighbours

[silentC]

I will allow this site to speak for itself: http://www.bonsaikitten.com/

[ozwinner]

Its all a hoax, I dont like cats in the least, but I complained about this so called cruelty 2 years ago to the RSPCA, and the police.
They told me the whole thing is a big hoax to get you and me upset, seems to work!
At least you wouldnt lose your cat.
Cheers, Allan

[silentC]

It didn't upset me at all!! :eek:

[Eastie]

Wouldn't have anything to do with the fact your one very sick unit would it? And implying that my good self would ever hurt an innocent litlle cat is ....... pretty close to the truth actually.

[silentC]

I didn't create the site, I just laughed at it

Besides, isn't it just as cruel what they do to those poor little trees, in fact as woodies, we should protest.

I used to have a cat, his name was Tiddles. I taught him to be tough and he could jump six feet in the air from a crouch. He went a bit wild in the end and used to leap out from behind the pot of chrysanthemums and attack my poor old gran. It took about 15 ticks and a fight with another cat to kill the old bugger in the end.

[silentC]

I hasten to add it was the cat that died. Gran lived a long an fruitful life and passed away peacefully, free of parasites... umm that's excluding the kids and grandkids of course.

[derekcohen]

Wongo

Love them or hate them, they're your neighbours and you will be living next door for many years yet (or unless you choose a more drastic path!). So you have to deal with them.

You cannot ignore the money and "put it down to experience". It will eat you up from the inside. You have to go and ask for it.

This can be done diplomatically. Try saying something like, "Bruce (or whatever), it has probably slipped your mind, but will you let me have the money for the CD rack please". If he gets evasive, just let him know (gently but firmly) that you laid out the $$ for the materials, $$ which you now need. If he says he does not have it then-and-there, agree on a time when he will bring it over. Don't become defensive or aggressive. I'm sure that it won't go further than this point.

In future, don't be so quick to volunteer your time for these people. They sound like users not givers.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Christopha]

At last count there are 4 cats on my bonfire pile, and that's just this weeks tally!( True!)
If they don't have a cat do they have any small children? I have heard they are delicious roasted and served with stacks of gravy and spuds.

Seriously, just don't do anything for the lousy blighters again, you have done your part, nw it is up to them to be good neighbours.

[Iain]

If you have a similar model/colour car, create a number plate and find a few speed camera's................

Don't agree with the cat theory, one killed my German Shepherd, he choked on it

[ozwinner]

Tell them you have a mate with something that fell off the back of a truck, digital camera or something that they would realy like, and its sooooo cheap.
You need cash up front or you cant get the item.
Get $100 of them, then youll be in front, them let them chase you for their $50.
If they come good with your $50, plus the other $100, grag it out for a while before you give them their money back, tell them the deal fell through.
Cheers, Fagen

[DarrylF]

I'd write it off an walk away - cheap lesson really. Now at least you know where you stand.

Life's too short to care about 50 bucks - and it's way too short to have anything to do with people who'd rip you off.

I have a little rule with my woodworking - I never make anything for anyone for money. If I'm not perfectly happy to give it to them for nothing, then I'm too busy to make it. This is my hobby. If money gets involved, it ceases to be fun.

[AlexS]

What Darryl said.
I figure my neighbours are tolerant of my noise, so don't mind doing small jobs for them...seems to work well.

Hate charging friends or neighbours money, so suggest they pay me what they think it's worth in red wine. Mostly find they pay more in good wine than I'd feel comfortable charging friends.

[RETIRED]

Gooday.

Has been most interesting.

I have 2 prices for friends or rellos.

Full whack at $60/hour or nothing.

The full price also means 50% up front, balance on completion before delivery and includes all the guarantees of a full retail job.

Nothing means just that.

It took me 20 years to realise that ex-friends and rellos are the most likely to "hang" it on you if something goes wrong. They are also the ones that forget that they weren't charged for that "5 minute job" that occupied 2 weeks and cost you.

I will give anyone a hand but where money is concerned it is business.

Just my thoughts.

[Geoff Sims]

Silent C

I don't like cats much either, but if the Bonsaikitten website made you laugh, you are one sick puppy.

Hoax or not, such cruelty should never be condoned or viewed as entertaining.

Don't have a problem with disposing of unwanted or unwelcome cats, but it has to be humane.

Not funny at all!! Its sick!!

[DarrylF]

Guys,

I use three different outfits to service my cars, depending on what needs doing & where I want it done etc. Two of them charge $75 an hour, the third $95 an hour. Sure they got some guys who've racked up 20+ years, but it costs the same for the apprentice to change the oil.