Well, we managed to work out how the little toerag in London pulled off his scam. Or nearly pulled off his scam. It was the buyer, not the local postman who was at the bottom of it. I won’t say more as it might become a police matter. Let’s just say that despite the work we did in the shop, and the Post Office did, eBay came close to undoing it all. At mid-day it all seemed to be over, with the evidence we needed, and eBay promising to put a stop to the fraudulent claim and ban the buyer. An hour later they emailed to say that after more requests from the buyer they had found in his favour and refunded the £500, leaving us out of pocket to the tune of £500 and a £500 coin. After another hour on the phone they agreed we were in the right and it looks like we will be OK. However, the disorganised way they have carried on gives me little confidence.
The other big news of the day is that I have had a haibun accepted by CHO, or Contemporary Haibun Online. It’s the first one they have taken in about three years and represents a lot of persistence. I don’t just talk about persistence, I do actually practice it. I’ve not been producing a lot and I nearly didn’t send anything this time, but I did, and less than 24 hours later I had an acceptance. This is editing at a high level of excellence. It might be three years before I get another one in, so I’ll enjoy the moment.
Finally, I had a message from WP a few days ago – seems I’ve been here 8 years now. It seems like a long time but, to put it in context, I’m currently wearing boxer shorts which are older than that. It tool me several weeks after registering to find the nerve to write something. Now look at me, it’s hard to stop me wittering on about something every day. Even if that something is about another dull day in the shop. At least today was a bit more exciting.
The header picture is guinea fowl sheltering under a picnic table during a rainstorm, the first picture I posted on WP.
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Co gratulations on the latest haibun acceptance. Were you writing them at the time you started blogging on WP?
I wrote some poetry about fifteen years ago and when I decided to start again I also started the blog as part of my practice. It took a while to get back into the swing of it but I’ve ben submitting regularly for around three years now.
Blogs can be a useful mechanism 😊
Definitely! 🙂
Congratulations on the acceptance to Contemporary Haibun Online, and on 8 years with WP! I like the photo. It is good to hear you successfully thwarted the scammer, too. Experiences like that can be very draining to mind and body.
Yes, and even worse for the owner of the shop – losing a coin and £500 would have been a big hit. He was quite depressed fro a couple of days.
Oh, yay you, for fighting for what is right. I do hope it all works out. I love that you used your first ever photo. That’s a lovely touch. Congratulations on 8 years! And congratulations on the super acceptance. Very impressive!
Thank you. I am, as usual, trying to conceal my smugness. 🙂
Oh, let it glow!
🙂
I am glad that you put a stop to the scam. The more people who have the patience and the knowledge to thwart the scammers, the better for everyone else. Congratulations on your posting and poetry persistence.
Thank you. I’m gradually running out of energy and memory but the persistence remains. 🙂
8 years!! Congrats…
Yes, eight years nearer the grave, hooray! 🙂
👍👍😂
Persistence over the scam; persistence with CHO; and persistence with WP – all good stuff
🙂 I can still do persistence.