Monthly Archives: March 2008

Looking to buy in North Carolina?

Posted by Wendy on March 29, 2008 No comments

Actually we are currently very tempted. We were speaking to one of our guests just yesterday, she is from Hilton Head North Carolina, and we were asking her about the property prices and about the market there in general. Bearing in mind we still have not made up our minds as to where we wish to settle after we leave here, we are actually starting to give some thought to this region of the US.

Logistics aside, the property prices there are very favourable especially with the current low interest rates. Looking at, for example, Wilmington real estate shows just how much your dollar can buy in the way of a good sized family home and in what looks to be a really lovely area to live. And the plus for me personally is that you are near to the sea. I’m an Aussie don’t forget…

In fact we will be looking a lot further into this matter over the next few months so stay posted!

Copyright © 2007-2012 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.

Stop the culling of the baby seals!

Posted by Wendy on March 29, 2008 No comments

I cannot believe that in this day and age the annual murder, in the most brutal way, of the baby seals on the ice floes of eastern Canada is still going on. And for what! just so these babies can be skinned of their fur to make fashion items that no-one really wants. Or needs for that matter.

This has been happening for decades despite the efforts of the worlds Humane Societies; this year the protesters have been warned to stay away but photographs of the slaughter have been publicised to prove that the hunters are still clubbing these poor creatures to death. One photo shows a little seal desperately trying to escape a hunter with his spiked club held high above his head…it is sickening.

Lets see a boycott of any company that produces items from these creatures pelts; condemn those people who wear the furs and hence support this vile trade. How any person can kill a newly born creature with such a weapon, in such a cold and ruthless manner is beyond me.  For money, some people will do anything. In the name of fashion some people will wear anything.

Stop the slaughter NOW!!

Copyright © 2007-2012 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.

Buying and selling event tickets without getting stung.

Posted by Wendy on March 28, 2008 No comments

Not too long ago I had some tickets for a concert by a very famous rock band and about two weeks before the event a situation arose and we couldn’t go…disappointment all round. But the real disappointment hit when I tried to re-sell the tickets using a very well known online auction site. I won’t go right into the details but basically I ended up with about nine pounds for tickets I had paid £150 for…never again.

Buying and selling event tickets on the private market has always been surrounded by a certain atmosphere of the unsavoury kind; you arrange to buy, send off the cheque and the tickets never arrive. Or, you sell your tickets, post them off and the cheque never arrives – or the buyer pulls out. Both situations are aggravating but the thing is this is a booming industry now and both buyers and sellers need a vehicle whereby these transactions can be carried out safely, securely and with effective consumer protection for both sides. Take London for example; this city hosts a huge and varied list of concerts and events all year round and when it comes to the most in-demand theatre tickets London often will display sold out signs well before the event.

An easy alternative, and one that is well needed, is Viagogo. This is where buyers and sellers of, say, theatre tickets, can come together and operate in a fully supportive and straightforward format. Here you can sell or buy the London tickets you have or are after. And it works! here’s how it goes…

Buyers:

*  Create your account. Browse through the listings for the tickets to the events you are after.

* Pay using their secure website and you get a confirmation email confirming the transaction.

* Select your delivery option.

* If in the event the tickets you have selected are not available at the last minute you will be compensated with tickets to the same value for another/similar event.

Sellers:

* Create an account. List your tickets under the appropriate event.

* Provide your credit card/bank account details – this is to minimise fraud and maximise security for all concerned.

* Enter your ticket details.

* Select your sale listing i.e. fixed price/auction…

* On sale of your tickets Viagogo collect the money for you so you will be paid.

The company places great focus on full customer support so make a point of taking advantage of this next time you want to buy or sell some tickets.

Copyright © 2007-2012 Cultured Views. All rights reserved.