Ah Mitzy,

Really sorry to hear what's been going on, and how you're feeling about it
I know it's easy to say, but try not to view this as anything personal. If the Spanish locksmith is happy to charge such extortionate rates (not that you would have known how expensive that was at the time) then I suppose anything is possible, in terms of him trying to generate more business
There are sadly some really unscrupulous people in the world.
The trouble is, when you're just a normal, decent person, you don't expect others to behave so appallingly - and then it's quite a shock to the system when something unsavoury happens

I'm really pleased you found a good and reasonable locksmith; but hope you don't have to use him again soon!

Dreamcatcher's vaseline idea sounds very feasible; especially as she's actually used it.

CCTV is also a good idea, but presumably expensive??
Have you got a web camera at all? Could you set it up looking at the gates?

The dog idea is a good one if you like dogs, and if your circumstances allow you to be responsible for it for the next 10-12 years??
However, if there is someone around you who is willing to sabotage your gates, I would be rather worried that he may also be capable of poisoning the dog

It's a horrible situation for you to be in.

PS! Having re-read your post, I've realised you might not have been referring to the expensive locksmith, when you talked about "the original locksmith??"
If not, then I (sort of) apologise to the expensive locksmith
Either way, someone's being unkind to you, and for that I'm really sorry.

No the original one is the expensive one ..... thanks for the thoughts ..... we havn't got CCTV, not even an alarm as we never felt it necessary. We will be getting one now for peace of mind.

I'd love a dog ... have wanted one for ages but it wouldn't be fair on the mutt as we are away so often and want the freedom to travel.

You can get the fake CCTV systems set up with camera and box etc. Friend has one looks like the real deal.

But don't tell anybody..... Shhhhhhh!

Mitz I don't know if this is helpful but why don't you get a drop post?

They are more simple to fit than you would imagine and even if you decided to leave the lock open for a while no-one would be able to nick the car any way.

If the original toss pot sees that you aren't bothered about the lock he may just leave you be.

Anything with a lock is going to be open to the Superglue attack .... I'm not convinced its the car anyway .... If they were serious they would have got to it

Send the boys round then mate.

Round where ... thats the problem

Just send them round anywhere, who cares, just pick someone you don't like on the Urb and kick the crap outa them.

It will make you feel so much better!

Things Vaseline are good for!

Putting up your nose in the hayfever season - it stops the pollen getting up.

Dry, chapped lips

Hubby puts it on his psoriasis to soothe it.

Thats all I can think of for now, but I am sure peeps will add to it.

Runners on sliding doors.
Stop your chrome ? bike wheels rusting up.

Interesting bit HERE

Ugh....I couldnt eat a spoonful of Vaseline a day

No Im with you there couldnt eat it
Its good for getting things into tight holes if there a bit rusty,I spose it might even stop things getting rusty.


Like wot JDR said

We had one on the house we just sold, camera with a wire leading into the wall.. looks just like the real thing, and we kept it pointed at the gate. Never had any problems.

I guess a real installation would be expensive. I hadn't considered the cost as A) my OH installed ours and B) I know Mitzy is loaded and C) I thought it might be worth outlay for peace of mind.