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It's that time of year when we experience memories of old, of family time past.
For some they are happy memories for others quite the opposite.
This year especially as we come out of lockdown and start to get things back to normal,
we should be thankful (I'm sure most people are) that we are not now struggling with earthquakes, floods, famine or war.
While Philippines bask's in 28-30c tempertures and Europe is experiencing the grip of winter with tempertures as low as minus 10c- 20c in places, expected to drop even further, thoughts of climate change is the last thing on the minds of those suffering the consequences of the war on Europe's doorstep.
The message is clear, wherever you happen to be living, spare a thought for those less fortunate than yourself this Christmas, if all you have is a smile share it with some one less fortunate, Lets all try to make this Christmas a caring one. God Bless you all.....JB

 

As most of you will have picked up by now, Pagasa is warning of a named storm that might very well develop into a dangerous typhoon, and is predicted to reach Negros by 11 am Friday morning.
Details are rather scarce so far, but if the predicted trajectory holds it should make landfall in Negros in the Tanjay general area, about 50 km north of Dumaguete.
According to windy.com, we might be spared the worst of the winds in Dumaguete, although they might still reach a sustained 60 km/h or so, with gusts going a fair bit higher.
Although the winds will probably do extensive damage to the electricity infrastructure and to light materials huts (which is bad enough already),
I think the amount of expected rain will be a bigger concern, and possibly more dangerous.
Windy.com predicts a grand total of 270 mm of rain for Dumaguete for the next 5 days, with the bulk falling between 6 am and 3 pm on friday. I suspect such an amount of rainfall may very well cause extended flooding.

 

It is good to see the authorities cracking down on noisy motorcycles. There needs to be much more of this.

 

Not sure whether anything much on Shopee has been posted in the past, but thought I would share my recent experiences in the hope that it might help other members with their shopping choices and to be prepared for what might happen when using Shopee.

Several weeks ago I bought a pc via Shopee. Arrived on time, did not power up. Went through the returns assessment process with Shopee and the seller, which involved lots of painstaking gathering of evidence - chats with the seller; pictures of the item; pictures of the packaging etc. Process for return via Shopee is to take to an accredited MLhuillier agent who arrange the return. Shopee sent an email saying I should use the attached return shipping label, but there was not one attached. Nonetheless, after spending 90+ minutes at an MLhuiller agent in town the shipping label was duly generated by the Shopee system, item returned and money transferred back to my account.

Recently purchased an inverter for brownouts, having seen an informative video by a well-known local blogger. The correct (best) spec of inverter recommended (pure sine wave), but there was due warning to make sure that the small print spec for the item matched the headline advert for this type. Browsing through both Shopee and Lazada, I was shocked to see how many inverters were headlined as pure sine wave, but in the spec noted as modified sine wave, which is not so good with certain types of appliance. False advertising all over the place. Eventually found one that matched the spec and at 5000w was what I was after. The price was good.

Obviously it was shipped from Chine, as they all are, so took a couple of weeks to arrive. On opening the box, I just removed the manual and sure enough, on page 4, it said that the item was a modified sine wave type. Straight back to Shopee to request return/refund - seller disputed, but Shopee eventually found in my favour.

So, off I went to MLhuiller to return the item, armed with all the details I needed. In all, I visited four different MLhuiller agents and I still have the item. These were the responses when I explained in each one what I wanted them to do:

1. Sir, the item needs to have bubble wrap'. Me: 'But there was no bubble wrap in the box when I received it'. 'Sorry sir, but that's the policy, there must be bubble wrap'. Took back the item and went off to downtown to buy bubble wrap.

2. After finally finding bubble wrap in Uymatiao, went to closest MLhuiller agent to return item. 'Sorry sir, brown out. We have no system access'. Not their fault.

3. Set off with bubble wrap flapping in the wind and went to Market Place MLhuiller branch. Explained what I wanted them to do. After the two behind the counter chatted for a few minutes, I got 'Sorry sir, we have not had our Shopee agency account activated yet'. Me: 'But you appear on their list of accredited agents'. Sorry sir'!

4. Set off just up the road to the next MLuiller agent before Robinson Mall. Explained what I wanted them to do. Gave them all the details that Shopee had sent me to facilitate the return. 'Sir, we need the purchase ID number'. Me: 'I think you just input the return ID number I've provided'. 'No sir, we need the purchase ID number'. Fortunately I was able to find that in the Shopee app on my phone and gave it to them. 'Sir, this is an invalid purchase ID number'. Me: 'But it's the number in my account'. 'But the number is showing as invalid sir'. Me: 'I don't have any other numbers. Can you please call Shopee to clarify?' 'Sir, we cannot do that'. Me: 'Why not, the last time I returned an item at a different branch, the agent called Shopee 11 times'. 'Sir, we need the puchase ID number from the seller to you'. Me: 'But there is no such number. The number comes from Shopee'. 'Sir, sorry but we cannot process it without that'.

Sorry if that's a bit long-winded, but I hope that it serves as a warning that if you buy from Shopee, you run a huge risk of being scammed for an unsuitable or inappropriate item, i.e. one that is NOT what you thought you were paying for.

That aside, providing that you take a video of yourself opening the package on arrival, take copious pictures just in case and gather as much evidence as you can, there is high probability of Shopee accepting the return from you. If not, who knows.

But, this is the exciting part, once you have Shopee's consent to return, you are then awaiting a return shipping label that will probably not arrive from them. Then, you are in the lap of the Gods as to whether your chosen MLhuiller agent will be bothered to do the return for you. Having seen the lengthy process on my first and successful return, I can quite hear the thought process churning around in the MLhuiller employees' heads - 'shall we spend a couple of hours going through this, or fob him off with some excuse or other as to why he should go somewhere else, so we can go back to our phones and something much more important (anyone else noticed that rife habit in shops, offices etc?).

Needless to say, Shopee is now off my shopping list. I'll try Lazada, as at least returns are via LBC, who should have more experience in logistics processes (we'll see!).

Hope that all helps some in their shopping choices, or at least warns of some of the potential pitfalls ahead.

Moderator - I could not find an appropriate thread heading for online shopping, but if there is one, feel free to move.

 

Been in Puerto Rico for 4+ months now; got a late start with everything going on but wanted to share a few pics of one of my little hobbies while here.

9 tomato plants, 4 okra, 4 drawf sunflowers, 3 sweet mini peppers and 2 flowers that were just cheap.

Seeds were not available before so I saved the tomato seeds from what I bought; obviously no clue if what you get is close to the parent plant, but an experiment.

Saved seeds from both grape and cherry tomatoes as well as what could be classed as a cocktail tomato. Grape and cherry tomatoes are always a favorite but really started liking the variety of cocktail tomato as a slicer or even grilled a bit.

I mixed the seeds together and figured whatever comes up comes up. I have one that I know is a grape variety; 4 more that I am pretty sure they are cherry and the other 4 I will need to see them grow more.

Okra was actually hit or miss to find in the supermarkets, the owner of the place I stayed hooked me up with a few seed pods that I have started, late to start okra but fortunately it must be in season as I can get now in the supermarket. 4 plants should be more than enough for me, looking forward to the flowers. The okra plants are short and stocky compared to what I have seen, so curious if that is from the container gardening or if that is the variety here...looks like a solid plant.

Still haven't caught a peacock bass, but doing well with all the smaller fish...inflatable kayak ordered and on the way.

Shawn

 

posting for a friend who vends at the sunday valencia mkt
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JoyDelicacies Sallggow

We're making a lot of new american flavored stuff now. All of it in freezer bags that you put in boiling water to heat or the microwave.

Chicken parmesan with spaghetti, eggplant parmesan, lasagna, baked ziti, baked chicken and dressing, chicken pot pie and Aussie beef pie, green beans, cabbage, of course regular American style homemade bread or rolls and Italian ciabatta bread. The lasagna includes a personal size ciabatta bread. Biscuits/scones and sausage gravy, country/breakfast sausage and biscuits, pear preserves, and for desserts, lemon meringue and chocolate meringue pie, carrot cake, apple pie, peach, custard pie, leche flan, Scottish shortbread cookies, and of course still making all the stuff we used to make. Pics are on the FB page. It depends on the item but sometimes we have and sometimes it takes a day, we like to sell fresh.

we deliver by appointment in Valencia within one to two days. Same for Dumaguete on the days designated for Valencia to Dumaguete travel, which are Tuesday 1.00 to 6.00, Thursday 7.00 to 12.00, Sunday 7.00 to 12.00
If you want to pick up here in Valencia it is ok most anytime.

search JoyDelicacies Sallggow on FB

 

New place to eat in Valencia, just across from Bumble bee's on Jose Romero on the left side going to Valencia. You have to look closely as it is a food truck parked inside a lot along with a Ukay Ukay and a car wash.
The owner has many years as a restaurateur in the UK and is an excellent cook, The fish and chips are my favorite. link to the FB page https://www.facebook.com/Zaks-Place-Food-Corner-106591900831763/

 

In case you missed it.
Max eclipse occurred at 1:25pm, Dec26.
That's why it was darker outside for a few minutes!

 

We have no intention of buying a condo here but as I had some spare time while waiting for my wife I asked the saleswoman at Hypermarket about the monthly dues for this project that covers the security guards and all other maintenance.
She told me that there was no figure on that yet and it would be explained at the orientation after purchase.
The reason I asked was that in 2014 we signed up for a condo in Manila, we were told the same regarding dues but as is was a 52 floor building and the cost of the dues would be divided between a large amount of people we were not too concerned.
On completion in 2018 the cost of the dues was revealed to be eye wateringly high
On completion the property management is handed over to be run by a private company.
I would advise anyone investing in this project to take this into consideration.