Monday, January 18, 2021

OUT ON A MISSION TODAY

 Well today I've got a mission.

A very dear blog reader/patchwork customer has offered me a car!

Yes, a car.

It has been stuck in Airport Parking for over a year, as they could not come back here to New Zealand due to the damn Covid virus.

So ... long story short, it arrives in Hamilton today on a transporter, and will be getting it's old petrol drained and a new WOF.  If all goes well it will be coming home with us in a few days.

In return, I shall be packing up all their personal effects (mostly clothes) and posting them back to her in Australia.

WIN/WIN for both of us, as they did not want to continue paying huge parking fees on a car they could not use.

And we can either use the car within our family circle, or sell it.  I'm inclined to think it will stay in the family.

So, this morning I will go down to the garage where the car is due to arrive at, and make sure they know what's what with it.

I have never been just given a car before!  So thank you ever so much Heather!  Fingers crossed everything goes well with the fuel change and WOF.  😉😊

One that is done, I shall come home and get on with the housework.  There's quite a bit to do... vacuming is top of my list.  I find it fairly difficult now with my lower back playing up, but if I spread it out over a few hours I should be fine.

I tried putting epoxy resin on two ceramic, alcohol inked tiles yesterday.  Messy.  Not perfect.  Bloody difficult.  Not doing it again!  The epoxy resin is damn expensive and I can't afford to be wasting it on stuff ups.  Lesson learnt.

I've seen videos where artists put it on their acrylic pour paintings too.  I'm not even gunna try that!  Spray on varnish is all I'm doing, it WORKS just fine.

So, I have this epoxy resin just sitting there... hmmmm.  What to do with it?

I'm tempted to try getting a couple of silicon moulds to make some epoxy resin coasters in?  Dunno yet.  Could be a fun project... or just a messy, sticky, 'should not have done that' thing. 

Our son Steve is 'on call' during after hours with his company.  He has to attend and fix up 'Insurance' jobs.

Like, if someone drives into their garage door (Oh, I've done that!), his job is to make the house secure until a proper repair can be done.

Yesterday he got called out to a Hamilton Mall which had suffered a ram raid.  Some dicks had driven a stolen car into the Liquor shop!  So Steve went over and erected a temporary wall and door.

ABOVE:  This was the mess that greeted him.  Hopefully he will send me photos of his 'temporary' fix.  He's had a few jobs over summer so far, after hours.  It's a great gig, he gets paid heaps more than 'normal' for these jobs.

And well... that's me for now.  I'll catch ya later.

ABOVE:  And THAT is how ya secure a ram raided shop!  

I'm about to ring the garage about the car... hopefully they know what I'm talking about?

WOW!  Some pretty strong views 'out there' from ANON'S today!  I'm at a loss how to reply to them.  How about.... NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS? 

Well, I'm glad I decided to ring the garage instead of driving into town.  We got things sorted just fine over the phone, and I didn't have to get hot and bothered trying to get into town during peak traffic time.

I WAS going to explain in more detail about the car and how we shall end up owning it... but NO!  I don't owe anyone an explanation!  In fact, I wish I'd never mentioned it at all.

It is much cooler today... even though it is looking to be a nice day.  Better get on with the vacuming before it gets too hot.

DOGSTARS:  Thanks for the nice comment.  I did not ASK for this car, Heather contacted me with a request, and I accepted.  End of story really.

AUDREY:  Heather and her husband are NZ citizens.  But thanks to Covid, if he wanted to come back to visit his Mum (very elderly), he would have to go through two lots of Quarantine, pay two quarantine fees ($6,000) and to add to it all, he probably wouldn't get a Managed Isolation Allocation for months!  Heather herself is unable to travel for the foreseeable future.

So, they simply cannot come home, and the car was raking up parking fees worth more than the car!  Hence why she approached me to get it out of the airport car park.

ABOVE:  I decided the vacuming had to wait... the tomatoes couldn't!

We had so many I'm making spaghetti sauce.  I'll freeze most of it for later on.

The goggles?  Stops me eyes from crying over the friggin onions of course.


ABOVE:  how good does that look?  Not cooked yet of course.


ABOVE: These ones are not ripe enough yet. I'm thankful we are coming to the end of this year's crop!  We got so many, we couldn't keep up with them.  And I'm running out of freezer room too.

1.31 pm:  I just tasted the tomato mixture, it's still reducing down.  OMG it's actually got a right kick to it!  It's going to be an amazing sauce to add to spaghetti and meatballs etc.  

Because I don't want it to burn, I'm keeping close to it... stirring it and picking out skins as I go.  I should have thought about removing the skins BEFORE I put them in the pot.  Oh well... can't think of everything.

Brylee came over for a swim.  She didn't stay in long as the wind is quite cold today.  We've had two good showers of rain... so my washing is not exactly getting dry.  *sigh*

My tomato mix is ready for the freezer.  I got 4 good sized containers out of our tomatoes and onions.

10.14 pm:   And it's been a fairly cruisy day for me.  I got most of my housework done, did some of my jig saw and of course, made lots of Tomato - Spaghetti sauce.
We had some this evening with mince and bacon.  Rather yum.

I finally got my washing dry and in before it started to rain again.  Yaaa.
Now?  Bed soon.  I'm seeing double with the jig saw... man is sure does cause eye strain.

57 comments:

  1. I just typed up a huge comment and I wasn't signed in and it disappeared. So aggravating!
    Sounds like Steve has quite the interesting side gig, I bet there will be lots of stories coming from that job!
    I would suggest buying silicone molds to make necklace pendants rather than coasters. It takes far less resin to make a pendant. You could make a few whoopsies without stressing about the waste. And your mug rugs are much better coasters! IMO a coaster should absorb the condensation. Not puddle it up! I played with resin last summer. I collected plants, ferns, flowers, moss, teeny tiny mushrooms..... Dried them. And added them to the resin pendants.
    There is an ETSY shop that I sometimes spy on too. The shop owner uses resin and found natural items and just does beautiful work with them. I am still trying to figure out his secrets. There are tons of youtube videos on all types of resin projects including adding natural plants, flowers, leaves....
    https://www.etsy.com/shop/BuildWithWood

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  2. Isn't Blogland great? You will have a car and the owners will not have to pay for storage for it, a win win as you said on both sides. That is an interesting side gig for Steve, I had never thought of how those areas are secured and now I know.

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  3. Anonymous8:05 AM

    Why don't you just sell it for her and give the money to the car owner? Doesn't make sense especially if you don't need a car?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06 AM

      and why can't you sign off saying who you are....hmmmmm
      #Lacy 💙

      Delete
  4. Anonymous8:39 AM

    Completely morally wrong to keep a car that you don't need nor do you need the money if you were to sell it. You are only packing up her personal belongings to send back not donating a kidney.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:06 AM

      and you are......?
      #Lacy 💙

      Delete
    2. Remember, a person can leave a totally FAKE name too.

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    3. Anonymous10:18 AM

      good old keyboard worriour's and jelly babies...

      #Lacy 💙

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    4. You are making huge assumptions about the car! I owned a car once that I paid $250 for.

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    5. ^^^^ this!!! I thought the same thing Penny: my car is so wrecked I doubt I could give it away.......

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  5. So, a Kidney is now the going price for a used car rescued from paid parking? Good to know. It seems that both Chris and the Car owner are happy with this arrangement. I doubt that Chris started asking readers for free cars - so that tells me it was the readers idea. I would totally do this - from either side of the transaction. If I needed to get rid of a car in a different country that I am paying outrageous parking fees for, or if I was to receive a mystery car, and take car of all that "stuff"..... I would be happy to do either one. It sounds like fun, and now both participants have a funny story and a good outcome for the poor lonely car. Plus, I am pretty sure another vehicle will come in handy for this large family.

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  6. Hey Chris, Thank you so much for my prize when my name was randomly drawn for guessing Brylee was moving out. I LOVE it! The colours are gorgeous and it's going to make winter hot meals so trendy now that I can use my bowl cozy instead of an old tea towel. Was very generous of you to gift me this prize, thank you!!! 😊

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    Replies
    1. Good to know it arrived and ya love it.

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  7. Anonymous9:38 AM

    Don't stop writing about intriguing and interesting things that happen to you - funny how all the negative comments on anything are always from anonymous people who don't give their names!! I must admit I am curious as to why the car owner was unable to enter back into NZ - I am assuming that they aren't Kiwi residents or citizens. Hope everything works out well with the car and it doesn't end up being a burden to you. Audrey

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  8. Omg some people are rude. None of their business at all. Up their bums and ignore. Go get a life Anonymous you 🍆

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  9. Wonderful news about the car. Steve is an amazing builder. Hugs.

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  10. Ah aren't people wonderful? I was actually wondering about why not sell it and give the money to the owner, but, at the end of the day, if Heather is quite happy for you to have the car, then whose business is it if you keep it? Pretty bad when people can't even gift something without others questioning the recipient's motives. Nobody's business but yours, Chris, what you do with it!

    And whoohoo for Steve. Pretty good job he's got there. Another necessary job that we tend to not give any thought to! Bless him!

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  11. Anonymous10:17 AM

    Covid has certainly messed up so many lives and continues to do so. Completely understand now. Hope Heather and her husband are able to come over in the not too distant future to see his Mum. Audrey

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  12. I would imagine a year of parking fees at Auckland airport would be horrendous! Well done Chris for helping these people out. Steve is very clever at his job.

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  13. Having the skills to build is invaluable, as you well know. Not only because it's such a secure career path but also the work you can do around your home (or your mother's home too in Steve's case) as even small building jobs are pricey when you need to employ someone to do the job. I know it's a very physically demanding career, but it's a shame Griffin hasn't followed Steve's lead as it would lead to so many good opportunities but perhaps he might yet ;-)

    Now the car, damit, this is your blog and therefore you're entitled to share what ever you like including your part in helping Heather deal with a car stuck in airport parking (which isn't cheap) and these people who comment but have no guts to even put their name on their comment, who are they to judge?! Shame there is no "Fuck Off function" that blocks them from ever being able to come read your blog again. Although the fact that these anonymous people visit your blog and then leave judgemental comments just makes you realise how miserable their life must be, I'd think they are full of jealousy and envy! I reckon it's cool that your blog has led to the various friendships and events like getting a car... who would have thought?!

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    Replies
    1. Mel Gibb I nearly spat my watermelon juice all over the screen at your suggestion of a "f*ck off function". That would be very handy!

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  14. Actually, we once gave someone a car. We did not want to be bothered with it. They needed it. Win win.

    So it does not seem at all strange to me that if you are packing up/shipping stuff and willing to take the car off her hands, so she does not have to deal long distance, that this is a win win equally for both side here too.

    (I think you should not allow anonymous comments).

    Vickie

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  15. PS - someone just gave me a freezer. Neighbor of my mom’s. She just wanted it gone. I got rid of my freezer a couple years ago never dreaming I would have all my kids living indefinitely at home again. . .

    Vickie

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  16. Anonymous11:39 AM

    My mouth dropped more at the fact it's been sitting in airport parking for a year lol. I'd hate to see that bill. Better someone is using it than sitting there rusting lol. Where do you buy epoxy resin from?

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    Replies
    1. Bunnings, Mitre 10, Craft shops, Marine shops.... depending on what sort you want.

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    2. Anonymous12:49 AM

      Thanks Chris!

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  17. Right time to try and get a Google account to use so people know it's me instead of my #Lacy 💙 sign off...
    wish me luck lol

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  18. .... did it work
    #Lacy 💙

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    Replies
    1. Wasn't hard eh? 🤣😅😊

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    2. I'm just slightly restarted when it comes to well most things lol 😂 🤣 but glad that wasn't to complicated 😊
      #Lacy 💙

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    3. Lacy (Blue Heart) Yes it worked!

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    4. yea well its Mums Blog can't go putting a Purple Heart lol
      #Lacy 💙

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    5. Did mine work too? George's Mum.

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    6. Yes it did Robyn.

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  19. Steve has done very well for himself. He’s very talented. Great to see him reaping the rewards of a trade he looks to enjoy very much 👏👏👏👏 Great about the car, win win if you ask me. Stuff the jealous people! I just don’t why people are so mean and angry! Yum tomato sauce. Love the goggles lol have a great day

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  20. Awesome work by Steve! Great idea about the tomatoes we have an abundance of ours too and i didnt even think about making sauce! I will do that tomorrow

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  21. I'm sure that had Heather asked you to rescue the car, get it serviced etc and then sell it but also asked for the balance of the money to be sent to her you would have done that. But, she didn't so end of story. Now waiting to see the car!!

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  22. Someone certainly got their knickers in a knot. Friends give friends things all the time. That's why they're friends!!
    I am having the devil's time trying to grow tomatoes. They flower and develop then take ages to ripen and just don't seem to make it. I am envious of your crop. I will have lots of beans soon, though. And can grow radishes really well!
    Great to see Lacy getting a google account. You can stop signing your posts now, sweetheart!!

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    Replies
    1. hi Sparklingmerlot xx thanks 😊
      but think it's still gona take a while before I can get used to dropping the #Lacy 💙 xx

      #Lacy 💙 😂💋

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  23. To me it seems like the only solution to the parking fees. Some people are just so jealous. At the end of the day it's none of their business.

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  24. God almighty, can't help but laugh at some of these stupid comments! If someone wants to give you a car good on them, don't get how anyone could have an issue with that and on top of that you are helping them out a lot in return. I once gave my nephew my old car because I couldn't be stuffed fixing a few little things and getting a roadworthy and then doing a private sale. I had my new car and just wanted the old one gone. So I totally understand Heather wanting to just be done with all those worries with the airport parking etc. Enjoy that gift I reckon it is just some good karma coming your way for all you do for your family and others :) I have a pair of goggles for cutting up too lol

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  25. Wow! Steve did an awesome job on that shop front! My dad once gave a busker a car he needed to get rid of after a uk holiday. Absolutely no ones business but yours and Heathers re the car, but it sounds like you’ve both benefited, so good on you!

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  26. Amy-Jo Ward2:52 PM

    Congrats on the car. I think it’s a win-win. Nosey asses ain’t got nothing better to do that be jealous that their friends didn’t gift their family a car. Honestly it’s none of our business. With that said, I believe it will come in handy as an extra family vehicle.
    Those tomatoes look lovely. Fresh grown tomatoes are my favorite garden veg/fruit. The sauce will be so tasty. We always can our extra tomatoes except last summer as no garden in our area did any good this year. Which sucks as I planted damn near 70 plants, so I’d have plenty to can sauce, diced tomatoes, and some juice.
    Steve did a great job securing the place up.
    Lacy.... congrats on getting you a google account.

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  27. I gave my neighbour my car for $1 when I bought me new car it’s called paying it forward to Anon jealous much
    Sheesh
    Blondie

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  28. Steve is a great builder, his work is always so neat and precise, clever man. I am so jealous of your tomatoes, my garden here is a fizzer, the climate is so different to what I'm used to. All I have left in the garden bed is some scrappy Thai basil, parsley and a zucchini plant that sprouted from the compost! Your tomato sauce sounds lovely. I have onion goggles too but I need my glasses to cook these days, wonder if Specsavers make prescription onion goggles?

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  29. it never occurred to me there was anything strange about you retrieving the car and posting Heather's items. What's the big deal?

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  30. Anonymous6:38 PM

    For all who commented on MY car that I wanted to gift to Chris.
    None of you are owed an explaination, but I will give you a little. We are NZ citizens and yes we can come back to NZ but have to pay for managed isolation in two countries,our April 2020 flight was cancelled. Our intent is to visit our aged Mother and return back overseas. With the uncertainty of the everchanging border closures, we are not going to risk not being able to return back overseas as we have done for years, going between the two countries for the permitted period. In the last year, I have been diagnosed with heart and lung issues which makes me high risk to travel and require surgery to correct. So returning to NZ is not possible for me, my Husband is hoping to see his Mother as soon as self isolation is possible, having said that he is reluctant to go and leave me with my health issues.
    I have been a long time reader of Chris's blog and respect her enormously, she is kind, always helping others and is a loyal family lady.
    I am pleased to have the car out of long term parking, which has now cost more than the value of the car.
    It was MY choice to offer Chris MY car, and do not want any financial payment, she has kindly offered to send over our personal gear in the vehicle which we are grateful for.
    I am constantantly amazed that so many people leave comments that are negative and are not willing to be accountable and leave their name.
    Chris is always paying if forward and helping others, and this is a small gesture that I can pay if forward to her, as she said and we both agree, it is a win win for both of us.
    Please, if you can't be gracious in your comments, don't leave any, more kindness is what is need in our world.
    Kindest, Heather

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  31. Steve has made a fantastic job of tidying up the mess created at the ram raided shopfront. As for "Anon" and his/her opinion about Heather's car ... they need to just zip it - it is none of their business and you did not ask for their feedback. It's great that you are able to help Heather out and very kind of her to give you the car. I would hate to think how much the parking costs must have accrued over that time.

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  32. We sold our last car for $400 LOL! There you go, anon! You moron!
    Chris, stop taking their bait. They are just winding you up!

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  33. Boy comments are runnong hot on this! When my MIL died we gave her car to a relative for his sons to learn to drive on. 1978 Honda Civic - you can guess how much we would have gotten for it. Not worth the hassle of trying to sell it thats that's for sure!

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  34. F*^k me, didn’t the Anonymous’ get their knickers in a knot about the car. Basically it is not any ones business what the background was or the owners reasons for asking you to get it out of Airport hostage.

    There was the story about the damaged dairy in the paper, feel for the owners.

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  35. We were given a car once (it was, like, forty years ago!) and my daughter was also once given a car for free - what surprised me most, both times, was how many people made snide and nasty remarks and one man even stopped talking to us. In the end, we decided they were all jealous. I hope you keep the car and enjoy using it.

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  36. Anonymous10:11 PM

    A friend once sold me a boat, a 12’ tinny, motor and two trailers including a folding one. He appreciated the numerous things we had done to help him out. He was asking $1 for it but in my hurry to find money I could only find $2 lol
    It’s no one’s business but your what the arrangements were.
    Dee

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  37. The comments today we're almost,almost, more interesting than yr blog. Nice to see Lacy blue heart.
    You did so well with those tomatoes!! A fantastic crop. Good for you for preserving them all. Groovy goggles!

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  38. Please don’t take negative people’s comments on board. It certainly sounds like a win, win situation to me and it is nobody’s business but yours and the previous owner anyway. Steve looks like he has done a great job. The things he makes always look so good.

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  39. Geeze people are nuts. WTF do you care if someone gives someone else a car? My friend gave me a truck for my son, she was happy just to get it out of the driveway.

    I loved when we had tomatoes like that! I need to work on doing a veggie garden this year. I never got around to it last year.

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