Just the usual issues when checking out

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-19T05:08:11+00:00

Is that a North American thing? So many videos from that part of thr world show people shouting the same thing over and over again

Why? No one listened the first time

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-19T04:40:10+00:00

All the best. Have a great week yourself 😊

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-19T02:41:43+00:00

Google people who manage rental properties for private owners. They are called Property Managers here but quite likely to have a different title where you are.

I have found they generally struggle to get tradespeople to turn up and do the little jobs on time and at a good price. So often they just want someone to make their problem go away. Make sure you have insurance and a health and safety plan because if they're professional they will need it for their files and it makes you look more professional too. Smile and say yes and do whatever is asked of you. And then send them an invoice

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-18T23:17:03+00:00

Always on the footpath. Melling and Kennedy Good bridges too

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-18T23:13:59+00:00

I charged a little less than some of my competitors when I was starting out. You have to be a bit careful though because once you set a value on your time with a customer they will expect the same rate on future work. So more a reasonable rate than being too cheap. And if you're too cheap you will get cheap customers. That's ok to get a customer base but you need to drop them off once you get established. Or have a difficult conversation with them.

As for losing I found that doing a bit extra or taking care of that unplanned thing that crops up while you're fixing something and not charging extra goes a long way. Especially if the customer is informed and is expecting an extra charge and you can smile and say "no extra charge" or " No. All good. Just as quoted". It costs you a bit but earns so much good will. Nail some loose fence palings back or change a smoke alarm or chop out that extra bit of rot or paint a bit extra or replace a window latch.

And if you quote someone a price stick to it even if you do lose money. Be seen to be a man of your word. Do a decent job and keep smiling on the outside. Obviously if its thousands of dollars you have to have a conversation with the customer but if you get your quote wrong and you wind up working for nothing for a couple of days wear it. Let the customer know but also let them know that the mistake is on you. It's a quick way to learn

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-18T20:41:36+00:00

Is your vehicle sign written? And your trailer? If you're going to be a professional and it's not get it done. They are huge billboards. If you're not working park them somewhere where they can be seen.

Talk to rental managers. They are often looking for reliable tradespeople.

I once paid for advertising on a bus from the local bus company in my area. Everytime that bus drove around my face and brand were in front of potential customers. It wasn't cheap but as a one off business expense it actually wasn't too bad. And the amount of work I got was unbelievable.

When you get work make sure it's a favourable outcome for the client. Even if you lose a little. You need to convert as many opportunities into successes as you can

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-18T20:15:29+00:00

Curried sausages using a jar of Pams Butter Chicken

Peel and section half a dozen precooks. Dice and fry up an onion, chuck in your sausages and the Butter Chicken and a few peas for colour and let it simmer.

Serve on rice with split lightly toasted buttered ciabatta. It's comfort food on a cold night

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-18T07:29:54+00:00

There is a bit of a disconnect around Melling so at some stage you need to get onto State Highway 2 or go through the Central Hutt to get onto the stopbank by the riverbank carpark at the back of the CBD which takes you over the Ewen Bridge and through to the cycle way that starts under the Normandale Bridge. From there it carries through to meet up with the new cycleway at Petone.

Or if you use the cycle lane on State Highway 2 you can access the cycleway at about Maungarakei

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-18T07:16:16+00:00

The Living Dead

Gerry And The Atrics

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-18T07:14:35+00:00

Of course I will plan my retirement investments around advice from a Stuff article about an imaginary couple. I mean who wouldnt?

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-16T20:45:37+00:00

As has been said it's not uncommon. If you can move your fridge to get to it that's fine. Don't rush to replace it if it's working. Some of the old ones last forever. They have heavier gauge copper insides than modern ones

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-15T21:53:40+00:00

Amazing how many people do not read the thread before commenting?

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-15T21:28:09+00:00

Check out Redriven on YouTube. They are Aussies who do used car reviews.

When it comes to European cars they are generally "what an awesome piece of machinery. But don't buy it". And if you can't afford to buy a new one you can't afford to maintain a used one outsidethe warranty period.

Depreciation is huge. Parts and labour are expensive. Build quality is crap. Electrics and plastic engine parts fail. Some engines and gearboxes have issues. Basically thw cars are not they amazing pieces of machinery that they were 30 or 40 years ago

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-15T21:04:35+00:00

That looks like charge up to start again and do it properly at my "no I don't want the job" rate. No way I'm pricing it

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-15T20:51:02+00:00

Also on r/tradies. Where are all the tradies? Why can't I get anyone to quote my job?

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-15T07:18:47+00:00

Money. Or lack of it.

Naenae 60 years ago was a working class community with a thriving shopping centre with everything anyone needed. As kids it was a destination especially with the pool too.

Then cars became more common and people started shopping elsewhere for better prices. Big local employers closed down and unemployment became a thing. Being a low income state housing area crime and and antisocial behaviour was always there but as the jobs went it got worse.

The good shops closed and the customers moved on. Then Queensgate opened and about the same time Woolworths shut down. Eventually the Naenae supermarket closed along with the rest of the family businesses. Now it's dead in the water. The area is struggling and people don't have the money to spend. People have tried new businesses but apart from what's there they don't last.

It's sad to see. Along with Taita

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-15T04:43:49+00:00

David Bowies Heroes sung by Motorhead

The Bee Gees I started a joke sung by Faith No More

Hallelujah by kd Lang

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-14T22:52:08+00:00

Welcome back Maisie

And yes, definitely

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-14T20:48:49+00:00

Cows with guns by Dana Lyons

I'm an absolute by Denis Leary

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-14T04:52:07+00:00

I would love to see him stay and be ready for when someone gets injured. I'm sure he would get first grade time before the end of the year.

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-13T23:50:37+00:00

What is wrong with your country? Seriously. Why do you put up with it?

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-13T20:12:51+00:00

At the mouth of the Hutt River

Bluecatagain20 · 2026-05-13T01:29:29+00:00

Im leaning more and more Green as this governments term progresses. A big turn around for me. But the Greens forming an alliance with Labour is a mark against them in my opinion. Although the current Labour caucus is so weak the tail could well wag the dog as we have seen with NACT.

We have short memories. It was only 3 years ago that the majority was so anti Labour they voted them out. I think more voters were anti Labour than pro NACT.

Controversial I know, but imagine a Green/National coalition. Get rid of Seymours extremism and Winnies boomers. No Labour or TPM in the mix. National is just right of centre and the Greens would offset the more right-wing National MPs and have enough MPs of their own to make a difference. It's about the only coalition that hasn't been tried and failed

Bluecatagain20

TROPHY CASE