Author Topic: Fiji Trip Status Update (14 Sep 2006) (Read 2863 times)

BT Humble · « **on:** September 13, 2006, 11:20:03 PM »

To be honest, I have nothing to report. I've been busy collecting bicycles while hard-rubbish-collection is being run for various suburbs around me, since Spring is here and they're in high demand at the couple of charities that I'm working for.

Here's a picture of the first load from back in July. I've since developed a better stacking system and I can fit 40 bicycles in my truck now:

Apart from that, nada. I'll try to have more to report next week, I promise.

BTH

domwild · « **Reply #1 on:** September 14, 2006, 02:10:22 AM »

Hi,

Good to see you are helping out in Fiji. Am no longer young enough nor free of other obligations to join in with Amanda (good looking, I heard!) on the trip to Fiji.

Good luck!

jacquesm · « **Reply #2 on:** September 14, 2006, 06:57:35 PM »

Hey Bt,

I posted a little later on your previous thread but no reply, if you want me I'll gladly come along to give you a hand.

Jacques

BT Humble · « **Reply #3 on:** September 14, 2006, 07:04:05 PM »

Hey Bt,

I posted a little later on your previous thread but no reply, if you want me I'll gladly come along to give you a hand.

Sorry about that Jacques, I didn't mean to be seeming to ignore you. You're of course welcome to come along, but as I said I'd like to keep the size of our party down to about 4 people. We'll determine by discussion who is the most enthusiastic about coming along, and if we still have too many people we'll settle the issue in the traditional manner (a round of rock-scissors-paper). ;-)

Remember, this won't be the last trip. ;-)

BTH

jacquesm · « **Reply #4 on:** September 15, 2006, 02:54:47 AM »

Ok. As for enthusiasm, there isn't a lot in the RE field that I can do where I live in the Netherlands (too many rules & regulations here) so I'm pretty itchy to make myself useful again. Way too many hours coding the past year and too little tools & workshop time !

I'm sure I'll be able to earn my keep, but I suck at rps

After a bit of backtracking I noticed the '4 or 5 people' bit in the other thread, I must have missed that on the first reading (it wasn't in the original posting), it pretty much read like an open call to anybody that wants to help.

How many people are coming now ?

j.

BT Humble · « **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2006, 04:11:23 PM »

The current list of people who have expressed interest in coming along:

BT Humble

Mrs Humble

Commanda

Louise

Jacquesm

Santiago G.

So the numbers are pretty good. I'll start an e-mail list so that we can start getting a bit more in-depth about planning (things are a little busy for me here at the moment, as I'm sure they are for us all!)

By the way, can you possibly send me an e-mail describing how to send you one without a lot of fiddling around? I'm bt_humble@bigpond.com

BTH

BT Humble · « **Reply #6 on:** September 16, 2006, 04:15:18 PM »

By the way, can you possibly send me an e-mail describing how to send you one without a lot of fiddling around? I'm bt_humble@bigpond.com

Louise, could you please do the same? Thanks.

BTH

jacquesm · « **Reply #7 on:** September 16, 2006, 04:44:27 PM »

Good one, you're added to my whitelist and also the keyword 'fiji' in case

anybody else wants to mail me it's simply j@ww.com + fiji anywhere in the email.

Apologies for the strict email regime, but I get more than a fair share of spam and I've had to take some pretty draconian measures just to be able to use email again.

I think you're all familiar with the problem

Bruce S · « **Reply #8 on:** September 19, 2006, 03:06:07 PM »

BTH;

Hope you're still keeping an eye on this thread. I'm at work and not where I can log into my personal email.

I received a refusal of entry on the following laptops.

= Compaq Armadas Model 1120 , complete with original win'95
= Dell Inspiron model 8200 w/CD/CDR/DVD
=Toshy Satellite model 2135CS complete with Win95 and Toshy tools
=Compaq Contra model 410CX.

Not sure why, but the import papers were refused by customs, even though they are indeed complete with licenses, chargers and books.

I have requested refusal clarification, but haven't heard from them yet.... the review can take up to 3 weeks. This still gives me time to adjust for the reasons, but wanted to let you know.

Anyone State side heading over?

Thoughts? Anyone?

Bruce S

BT Humble · « **Reply #9 on:** September 20, 2006, 06:11:39 PM »

I have requested refusal clarification, but haven't heard from them yet.... the review can take up to 3 weeks. This still gives me time to adjust for the reasons, but wanted to let you know.

Anyone State side heading over?

Thoughts? Anyone?

Thanks for trying Bruce, so far we haven't had any US people wanting to make the trip. I've found that you can get away with up to 2 laptops in your hand luggage while travelling to Fiji (they know what we crazy westerners are like!), but 6 might be pushing it.

What about the possibility of shipping direct to Fiji? We'd have to pay import duties and VAT (12.5%) upon collection, but it might be a possibility.

BTH

ghurd · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2006, 09:08:26 AM »

Hmmm. Curious is all... I wonder what is the value of, say 6, LCDs?

Or the value of 6 keyboards?

Or the value of 6 laptops that have no screen, keyboard, and (IIRC) no HD?

How would UPS insurance for $40 effect the 'value' of a package?

It wouldn't be good if 1 box was lost.

G-

Bruce S · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2006, 10:30:03 AM »

BTH;

Have another route I'm trying. Have made several friends at some of the larger hospitals and am trying to "import" these under the Carne' no import or VAT :-)

They are very nice biomed techs and we've been shipping back an forth for some 7 years now so customs is used to us sending stuff there.

Charlie is a big class 1 power supply guru ( nut!) even caught problems with one from GE medical

Have requested he look into taking in the shipment and transfer them to you.

Will know later.

Do you have an address for Fiji I can try?

send it to my gmail account.

Bruce S

Bruce S · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2006, 10:32:59 AM »

G-

ooohh if I did that and since now-a-days they are doing 100% inspection on anything electrical.... they would come and get me....

the low insurance amount is not a problem, I did a couple different levels and settled on where the shipping cost didn't go any lower and added a little just to keep it looking okay.

Still trying though.

Bruce S

jacquesm · « **Reply #13 on:** September 22, 2006, 11:41:05 AM »

alternatively you could ship the laptops to any of the other participants

who can then hand carry them ?

BT Humble · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2006, 11:29:35 PM »

Thanks Bruce, I'll ask around and see if I can come up with a Fiji address to try.

Even if we get it sent to a shipping agent over there and I pay the import duties and VAT to retrieve it from the warehouse, that will probably be OK.

BTH

ghurd · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2006, 07:19:23 AM »

APO or FPO address? Someone must know someone.

Jeeze, I'm starting to sound like a smuggler.

G-

Bruce S · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2006, 10:13:43 AM »

G-

I'm thinking about the EU route. I can send them to our Brussels office and they can hand them off to someone for me.

Tried the APO route for our son before , took way too long and his Laptop arrived with the HD wiped clean :-(

Bruce S · « **Reply #17 on:** September 29, 2006, 10:15:33 AM »

Jacquesm

How far are you from Brussels? We have an office in Oversiije<sp? which is 12Km from the main ring. I can send them there and someone could pick them up and hand carry :--))))<p>
Bruce S

jacquesm · « **Reply #18 on:** October 03, 2006, 06:53:48 AM »

about 200 km for me to bruxelles

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Author Topic: Fiji Trip Status Update (14 Sep 2006) (Read 2863 times)