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Post by whatagain on Oct 2, 2021 16:06:43 GMT
Ladies you make me blush.
But it is nice to read that you liked my company as much as i liked yours !
Bixa, these are rollers, but with tve 4 wheels in a row, line on a iceblade.
My iceblades were discarded... i had bought them in Quebec 30 years ago, and i skated on the river in Ottawa. (Saint Charles ?). Now i rent these - i am less bad on iceblades.
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Post by questa on Oct 2, 2021 21:23:26 GMT
I decided he was a cool dude when I saw his photos with daughter and realised he was nothing like his avatar! Of course we all know he is one of life's nice guys.
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Post by Kimby on Oct 5, 2021 3:15:12 GMT
The Kimbys are wondering if people can’t read anymore.
We have three “Private” signs on our lake cottage driveway which is about 800’ long with almost no room to turn around at the house, which is why we have the signs.
The cottage is clearly visible looking down the driveway from the road. One of the signs even says “No Turnaround” in addition to “Private”. Yet every time we return to the cottage, there are fresh ruts in the gravel or tire scuff marks on the concrete garage apron where someone turned around.
Yesterday a large white van drove down the driveway while we were inside, and instead of trying to turn around they backed all the way up the driveway, threading the needle between our fiberglass driveway marker wands, only running over one.
Can’t people read?
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Post by questa on Oct 5, 2021 3:33:27 GMT
Sorry, lady' I saw the signs but didn't think they were for me, just other people.
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Post by Kimby on Oct 5, 2021 4:09:05 GMT
I’m gonna start handing out a rake and bucket and scrub brush so they can clean up after themselves.
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Post by Kimby on Oct 5, 2021 4:14:08 GMT
In the winter, when we don’t try to keep the driveway plowed*, we get ice fishermen pulling sleds full of gear partway down the driveway, then trespassing across our neighbor’s land to the lake.
*Instead of battling snowdrifts to keep the driveway open, we park on the county plowed road above the cottage during the winter months, and snowshoe down to get our own ice fishing sleds to pull our gear down to the cottage.
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 5, 2021 5:15:31 GMT
It hardly matters having grills over the windows if a thief is determined to gain access. It looks like a lot of my tools may well have disappeared from my workshop, but I'm waiting for news -
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 5, 2021 5:25:41 GMT
Yikes. I suppose there are some stupid people who keep really valuable stuff in their holiday homes, but burglars who steal stuff from these unoccupied residences must either be really desperate or these are huge operations that don't mind getting just a little loot from each place. It looks like they won't stop at even pulling the whole wall down if necessary.
Will your person over there take care of all repairs or are you going to have to make a visit yourself? I imagine that the inventory for the insurance claim must be complicated in itself.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 5, 2021 5:41:33 GMT
Oh, Mark, I am so sorry! It's disgusting and upsetting to have a home violated like that, not to mention whatever was taken.
Looks as though they used a maul to gain entrance. Animals.
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Post by bjd on Oct 5, 2021 6:47:23 GMT
Wow, they really destroyed the wall. It's a problem having a nice house standing unoccupied for long periods in the countryside.
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 5, 2021 8:08:03 GMT
Our man in Spain (the builder) will be visiting this lunch time to see what he can do and get it sorted. With luck he'll sort out the paperwork like he did last time with the police and insurance company, but we'll see. I have plans to go at the end of November anyway but there's not a lot I can do. Quite what method they used I'm not sure but a simple scissor car jack will do it. You can see there are two bent lengths where maybe they had a try and decided the easiest thing to do is rip the whole thing off. Maybe they even tied a chain to their car or something. No idea.
I do have an alarm box above the entrance but it is a dummy one and just flashed red at regular intervals. This summer I changed the batteries but only just before I was leaving and I noticed it wasn't flashing any more. Didn't then have time to get a new one. The only thing of any value in there is a set of car tyres and a good electric screwdriver. The rest of the electrical tools are cheap and easily replaced. Maybe some hand tools have gone as well, don't know yet.
I'm now going to do some research in to alarms - but anything that notifies a security company is basically a waste of time if I want to catch them in the act, the house is just too remote. Also anything that involves wifi is a problem because that means two sets of stuff/SIM cards and so on because the house and the workshop are quite separate. I need to look into it though, plus trying to obtain something locally isn't so easy. I can only hope they've emptied the place of all my scrap wood and empty paint cans.
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Post by tod2 on Oct 5, 2021 8:18:46 GMT
Not nice Mark, not nice at all! I would leave a bright light inside showing any would be burglars that there is nothing worth taking. A false wall can disguise your tools etc. Maybe going back to the old days of hidden access behind the library books etc., might be the way to go. You are right about the connected alarm not worth the bother if the security company cannot get there within 5 minutes. I hope your builder has a good reckie around for stashed stuff that is to be collected at a later date.
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Post by mickthecactus on Oct 5, 2021 8:41:44 GMT
Really sorry to see that Mark. That is not good at all and you see those grilles everywhere in Spain too. Probably fine in town but not so good if remote and they have time. When you replace them perhaps electrify them....
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 5, 2021 10:10:00 GMT
tod, funnily enough I put the shutters down, which can be just lifted up anyway from outside, but left a window open so it wouldn't be smashed if they wanted to gain entry. From outside you can see straight in and see there is little worth taking. But curiosity over came that. There's no need to leave a light on as they'd just shine their phone torches in anyway. Some stuff is hidden, nothing of value though just old hand tools I've had since I was a lad and have sentimental value. The cheap stuff is left out for them to take as a diversion.
Mick, I've decided to invent a glue that remains sticky but if it comes into contact with human flesh it permanently sets hard and firm. Thus, the only way to remove the grill/tools is to cut your hand off. I got the idea from the Taliban.
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Post by questa on Oct 5, 2021 12:24:46 GMT
Bastards! I guess you have considered renting to a retired couple to live there when you are not in residence. I think there would be artists or writers eager to have a low cost place as a retreat, even better if they have a dog!
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 5, 2021 13:02:10 GMT
Actually, the idea of recruiting part-time housesitters might not be bad unless the house is really as remote as Mark makes it sound. Renting it on and off through Airbnb could also keep the place regularly occupied. Naturally, I understand that some people just don't want strangers in their place. There have been too many stories recently of "party houses" being totally trashed.
The builder in Spain might have some ideas.
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 5, 2021 13:33:30 GMT
We did sign up to a house sitting website or two. Got some replies but in all cases, no matter that we spelled it out, they were put off by a combination or permutation of - you needing a car for shopping (nope, no delivery firms want to come, nor do any of the local supermarkets. We have researched that), no internet, no phone, solar power so no high power heating/etc, no heating at all other than a fire in the entrance hall, need to be technically minded to keep the water, electric, solar hot water, gas hot water, water filter, pool pump and solar power running, can't think of anything else but there were one or two things more. One woman was put off because we didn't have a microwave. One man because we didn't allow smoking inside even if it's raining outside.
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 5, 2021 13:46:58 GMT
You need to recruit some vacationing survivalists.
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Post by casimira on Oct 5, 2021 14:49:21 GMT
Sorry this happened to you Mark. Having been burglarized on a few occasions I know the feeling of being violated. Most especially when they steal items that are of no value to them (one time they took a cigar box that had notes and cards from my husband in them).
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Post by tod2 on Oct 5, 2021 16:07:16 GMT
I must say I was amused at the fact they almost got the iron burglar covering that prevents people entering, off the wall- Here that is definitely a prize ! Down to the scrap dealer in the morning all chopped up beyond recognition and a handsome reward in cash. I like your sticky story. Reminded me that a "tech savvy" acquaintance once wanted to invent a little mechanism that would give a "Meter Maid"a shock as she touched the windscreen wipers to place the ticket underneath. He was told he would be in front of a judge if he attempted such a pleasurable invention!
Pee Ess: Don't get house-sitters unless they're very good friends or family. I have learnt so much about people since running our AirBnB. You can't believe some of the stuff....but luckily luckily it's in the minority of bookings.
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Post by mich64 on Oct 5, 2021 16:56:16 GMT
How awful Mark. You are correct though, if they want to get in, they will find a way and being remote gives them a lot of time without having to worry how noisy there are at getting in. I have friends (and also ourselves!) that look into house sits/pet sits. Your home would suit both of us except there is no internet service, everything else would be perfectly acceptable (our husbands are mechanically experienced), we would want a car and the fact that there is no pet would be a bonus in this situation as long as we were allowed day trips or even a few over night excursions in the region. My friend applied for 2 pet sits yesterday, one in Spain and one in Mexico. With the COVID situation she expects to not hear from either as she is coming from Canada, she thinks it more practical for them to offer it to people in their regions. The Spain ad had over 20 applicants in the first couple of hours. The Mexico ad (cat sit) could be a possibility as she let them know it was a direct flight from Toronto and she was interested in taking a language course that is offered at the local school.
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Post by fumobici on Oct 5, 2021 19:21:15 GMT
What a shame. I'm in a similar position but perhaps worse, I haven't seen my house in Italy in almost two years because of the plague. Luckily Mario next door keeps an eye on the place for me. Honestly, I can't think of a single thing in the house that I'd miss terribly if it were stolen besides the fridge or stove. I already took or gave away anything of significant value inside.
As for renters, nobody wants to stay in a house without speedy internet nowadays. I have to use my phone to tether to my laptop to get online in Anghiari. I doubt that'd make your average AirBnB customer happy, people likely would refuse the place even if it were free on those grounds alone. It seems like non-internet connected houses are, or will soon be, seen as utterly without value by most.
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Post by htmb on Oct 5, 2021 19:57:59 GMT
Fumobici, it’s hard to believe you and I each left Italy on nearly the same day, almost two years ago. So much has happened in the world since. I sometimes wonder if my desire to get back to Italy and France is more of a wish to return to the "past" when times were better.
Mark, I’m sorry to hear about your break-in. A very frustrating situation for you, I’m sure.
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Post by lugg on Oct 5, 2021 20:34:45 GMT
It must be just me but a house without internet connections sounds idyllic .
I hope you have not lost too much of value Mark , such a horrible thing to happen
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Post by kerouac2 on Oct 5, 2021 20:38:48 GMT
Mark, if lack of internet (and the phone service that would come with it) is the principal obstacle for people who might be interested in renting your place in Spain, it seems like it would be a reasonable investment to make, since after all the renters would be absorbing the cost.
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Post by fumobici on Oct 5, 2021 21:00:19 GMT
It must be just me but a house without internet connections sounds idyllic . I hope you have not lost too much of value Mark , such a horrible thing to happen Any house can instantly be a house without internet connection, just by not using it. Don't even have to lift a finger. Not so easy in the other direction though.
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Post by lugg on Oct 6, 2021 19:23:49 GMT
Any house can instantly be a house without internet connection, just by not using it. Don't even have to lift a finger. Not so easy in the other direction though. So true
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Post by Kimby on Oct 6, 2021 19:39:19 GMT
There are burglar alarms that make noise on site, but are not connected to the internet or a service. We have RadioShack alarm systems on our house and lake cottage. If an alarmed door is opened, or if the motion sensor beam is broken, it wails piercingly for 5 minutes and resets. If the door is closed and stays closed, it remains silent, but if the door is left ajar, it will keep making noise.
The Florida house, however does not have an alarm, and though the house doors and windows have hurricane shutters over them, the shop/storage room under the house does not. During the long summer one year, thieves gained access by prying open a window and crawling in, then took all of our tools, extension cords, wire of any sort, fire ant poison….They also hit our neighbors’ under-house storage room/shop, by crawling through a pushed-in vent.
In retrospect, a doorknob-hung alarm (sold for hotel rooms) would create enough noise to make burgling unpleasant, if not risky.
Sorry about your break-in.
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Post by onlyMark on Oct 7, 2021 5:04:23 GMT
There's plenty of things on the market Kimby like that and may be useful. I just need to trawl through them to see what's suitable and available.
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Post by tod2 on Oct 7, 2021 7:41:21 GMT
We had to take our dog "Patchy" to the vet yesterday as she has contracted conjunctivitis. We noticed solid pieces of "sleep" in her one eye and soon in both. I wasn't aware of what it could be until it got to the stage where her eyes needed to be wiped more than once a day. He gave her an injection and she has eyedrops that have to be applied 6 times a day. Bit of a bother but even if we remember 4 times it seems to have helped quite a lot already. She also has tablets to be taken 30min before food. She is such a good little staffie and stands with her paws on Mr.Todds lap as he sees to her eyes. Never stops wagging the tail even though we can tell she is not enjoying it too much.
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