SUP Report post Posted May 20 I think, as the population increases and people migrate so much, household staff is getting to be more common. And it makes sense too. It provides income when it is most needed. I like that in the West all professions are treated with respect. In India, these days it is demanded and I am happy about that. We grew up treating staff with love and respect. We are currently caring for my mother's maid who is old and has no one. There is no social security in India so we are her security. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted May 20 (edited) 23 minutes ago, SUP said: Everyone in India has servants, not just Hindus. The Christians and Muslins, the Jews and Sikhs and Parsis have just as many servants. We have cooks and chauffeurs, cleaning staff and sweepers. With that population, it just makes sense. It ensures everyone is working and earning None of us in India throw things on the floor and expect servants to pick it up. It is just an exaggeration - I have heard people say that too but never seen it. Indians are very materialistic and money minded - saying that they have people pick up after them is a way of indicating how wealthy they are. After all, it is not routine in the West to have maids in middle-class and lower middle-class neighborhoods like it is in India, so they have no idea how routine it is for us. Your tenant probably had some mental issues and sadly, no one realized it and helped him. Yes, I think he was using the servants as an excuse for why his apartment was such a disaster. And definitely, he had some serious issues to let it get to such a state. Sup, that's very kind of you! I'm not sure people in N. America will begin to hire servants. It's never been part of the culture here, except with the very wealthy, though with most households having both parents working, nannies are fairly common. However, with the high price of housing in N. America, many can't afford nannies or servants. When my parents bought a new house in Toronto in 1963, it cost $21,000, and they paid it off in 3 years. Currently the average price for a house in Toronto is 1,128,000 and it will take decades to pay off the mortgage. So many people now are living one missed mortgage payment or rental payment away from finding themselves homeless. The cost of living has far outstripped the rise in wages for all but the wealthy. Most young people today realize that they will likely never be able to afford to buy a house. Edited May 20 by Sheilajeanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted May 20 (edited) I'll tell you my last name is Kullas, it came from Bohemia to Chicago where I was born and lived until we moved to NI. Over the years my name has been; McCullan, Cullis, McKullick and more as the locals thought. As I always say, I don't care what you call me as long as you don't call me late for lunch! In the recent past we have seen a large number of Eastern Europeans moving here to work at the Meat and cheese factories. When somebody we don't know, eg a doctor or police officer sees the last name they assume Eastern European. Example; My son has a car dismantling and 2nd hand parts business. Recently the police called to advise on a situation. They read the last name and brought an interpreter with them. He started talking Polish. Seeing no reaction he worked through Latvian, Lithuanian, Slovakian, Czech, Serbian. Then my son turned to the police officers and in a broad local accent said 'I cannot understand a word this guy is saying. Why did you bring him here?' As my son told me, their reaction was 'priceless' Edited May 20 by fredk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mablung Report post Posted May 20 30 minutes ago, fredk said: I'll tell you my last name is Kullas, it came from Bohemia to Chicago where I was born and lived until we moved to NI. Over the years my name has been; McCullan, Cullis, McKullick and more as the locals thought. As I always say, I don't care what you call me as long as you don't call me late for lunch! In the recent past we have seen a large number of Eastern Europeans moving here to work at the Meat and cheese factories. When somebody we don't know, eg a doctor or police officer sees the last name they assume Eastern European. Example; My son has a car dismantling and 2nd hand parts business. Recently the police called to advise on a situation. They read the last name and brought an interpreter with them. He started talking Polish. Seeing no reaction he worked through Latvian, Lithuanian, Slovakian, Czech, Serbian. Then my son turned to the police officers and in a broad local accent said 'I cannot understand a word this guy is saying. Why did you bring him here?' As my son told me, their reaction was 'priceless' Apparently no one thought to ask your son ahead of time if he spoke (I assume) English? Probably just brought the interpreter as a matter of course in order to avoid further annoyances and delays, if they were to find he did not speak English, but one would think they would ask first. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted May 20 A further daft bit to this was the police driver, who stayed in the car, was one of my son's old school chums. But he was too far away to take part so didn't know Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted May 20 (edited) LOL, that's too funny, Fred! You know what they say - never assume, because it makes an ass out of u and me! Edited May 20 by Sheilajeanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted May 20 A wee story. About 2006/7 the Irish police, known locally as 'The Guards' went on a man-hunt for a Polish driver who was racking up fines for speeding, careless driving, not appearing in court for dangerous driving, parking tickets. He moved about a lot. they had over 50 addresses for him His name, which was given out to the public via radio, TV and newspapers was Prawo Jazdy. Hundreds of Guards were allegedly on the look for this driver. Then it was pointed out to the Guards that prawo jazdy is Polish for . . . . . .Driving Licence! Every time the Guards stopped a Polish diver they took down Prawo Jazdy as his name as a certain yellow character would say 'Doh!' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handstitched Report post Posted May 21 OOPS!! His name could also be 'Ivor Biggun' or Phil McAverty The Guards may need a bit more '' Super High Intensity Training ' HS Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted May 30 On a different thread about tools wanted I said I wanted a tool to wind Boss bobbins. I started to think as I wrote. A fixed spool fishing reel could/might be adapted I bought a small fishing reel It will work but, a big but, the fishing reel spool has to match the Boss bobbin. On this one its only half size so would only wind the thread in the middle of the Boss bobbin When I get the chance I'll search out a larger reel. A lot of fishing/angling shops have closed up here recently. Some only sell on-line now Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted June 5 A follow up; I went to an angling shop and the chap there helped me search out a reel. We found a few. But I can't afford to buy it for about 7 days, when I get some pay in Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted June 16 I made this the other day. Its just a try-out. A couple of mistakes on it to be corrected on the next, if the buyer wants more I had to put a re-enforcement piece on the back. This was tending to fold where the two folded-over parts met Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mablung Report post Posted June 16 I like the Celtic designs and runes. Did you stamp the designs and letters, or did you carve them? What is the item, exactly? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted June 16 Oops, I shudda said, its a 'viking' axe* hanger. For hanging a single or double handed light axe on a belt. The runes are 3/4 inch Rune stamps by Ivan. Tandy sometimes does an exactly same set. The vikings liked to give their weapons and shields fearsome names. This spells out 'BRAIN BASHER' Any others I might do will have different names The long Celtic lace pattern is a stamping plate. One of two I bought from a maker in Russia. Its clear acrylic. The Mjolnir is a Tandy 3D stamp and the small Celtic lace triangles is a brass stamp I had made. A 40 mm i/d welded steel D loop. Its about 22 cm long x 8 cm wide. 2 mm veg tan, folded over to make a belt loop and double the thickness for carrying the axe. All glued together with just a few rivets. I made it from a piece of 'scrap' I had available * you can leave off the e for US spelling Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mablung Report post Posted June 16 Snazzy. I like it, including the appropriately-Viking name. One of my friends at the local Tandy has a love affair with all things Viking, so he would like that. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sheilajeanne Report post Posted June 16 (edited) One of these days I'm going to do a bag with the triqueta on it. I already did a prototype on a piece of scrap: I've also seen it used as a religious symbol, especially for churches with Celtic roots, as it can represent the Trinity. I used to attend St Patrick's Anglican Church, and they used it as their logo. Edited June 16 by Sheilajeanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mablung Report post Posted June 17 3 hours ago, Sheilajeanne said: One of these days I'm going to do a bag with the triqueta on it. I already did a prototype on a piece of scrap: I've also seen it used as a religious symbol, especially for churches with Celtic roots, as it can represent the Trinity. I used to attend St Patrick's Anglican Church, and they used it as their logo. I’ve got that in mind for the right piece, too. I like the symbol. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handstitched Report post Posted June 20 I quite enjoy doing Celtic designs , they can be complex, but effective, and satisfying, makes your eyes go cross eyed too . Looks great Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted June 20 Well, I showed the hanger to the chap and he has asked for at lease 3 more, in red, black and brown leather, to see what sells. And at least 2 sword hangars Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted July 3 Every day is a school day. Today I learnt that shark skin also goes by the name 'shagreen' Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted August 1 The annual crafting show is this weekend and I wanted some things ready to enter the show. One item I knocked up in a couple of days is this belt 'holster' for a gardening tool. A couple of pieces off some 'scrap' leather, about 2 mm, the front was wet moulded over a block of wood Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mablung Report post Posted August 1 Small pruning saw? I like the colors. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted August 1 yes it is I found an old photo of me. Taken in Chicago by an itinerant photographer. Early 1960s. I had actually learnt to ride a horse at my uncles farm in Indiana, or was learning when I was this age Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fredk Report post Posted August 2 About spring 2018 I bought a pattern for a Plague Doctors mask from dieselpunk I started making it but it got thrown in to box unfinished. I had sewn together each of the side pieces but never joined them Yesterday evening I decided to see if I could finish it in time to included in the show this weekend. I made a few changes in the construction but not the design. I finished it about 14.45 today Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aventurine Report post Posted August 3 Properly grim and ponderous looking! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SUP Report post Posted August 3 22 hours ago, fredk said: a Plague Doctors mask from dieselpunk That's properly intimidating! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
