Disheartening News!

[Makkin]

Hello,

  I'm here in Odessa but I'm sure I can find a Western Union... Would someone please send an address or something so I can do this pronto? PM would work and I will be able to help.

  Makkin

[KenC]

Hello,

  I'm here in Odessa but I'm sure I can find a Western Union... Would someone please send an address or something so I can do this pronto? PM would work and I will be able to help.

  Makkin

All you need is "Richard Wright Tver, Russia" to send WU.
KenC

[Rvrwind]

I’m writing this offline & am going to just paste it into my post. That hopefully will allow me to gather my thoughts & get this all sorted. I just got another kick in the gonads over this & I gotta be honest I am getting a little sick & tired of it.
Jb & others your spot on, I’m outa here. As much as I love the ordinary people & the history here I am tired of being burned & stabbed in the back at every turn. There is no way in hell an honest businessman can make it in this country. It is corrupt to the core. I’m tired of fighting a system that refuses to change & thrives on stealing whatever they can from whoever they can. I urge all foreigners to pull out & let the bastards starve in their own sh!t!!! And take as many of the women with you as you can!!!
I just finished reading an article involving BP (British Petroleum), it seems that after several years & several millions of dollars & investments of time & technology, they too are getting the squeeze. Gazprom 100% government owned & also the monopoly owner & operator of all gas pipelines in Russia is refusing to allow BP access to the pipeline to sell their gas outside of Russia. That little perk is reserved solely for Gazprom. If BP wants to sell there product it has to sell it locally in Russia for a quarter of what they would get for it abroad. So after investing millions in Russia they are now getting squeezed, ain’t that just dandy. I figure if they can do that to a company the size of BP I can just imagine what they can & would do to me.
If the EU is stupid enough to let Gazprom take over their pipelines & refineries like they are planning, they are idiots, because these bastards won’t hesitate to turn off the flow & freeze every damn European to death if they feel the need. I have no hesitation in saying that at all. They will blackmail Europe into towing the party line or face freezing & starvation. Anybody in business in Russia or thinking of doing business here should make an about face until they are willing to play by the same rules as the rest of the world.
Me I’m going back to civilization where there are rules & when laws are broken people are taken to account.
The latest is this: Four and a half weeks ago when we applied for the Homestay Visa Invitation we were told that my wife could submit a renewal form to extend it for another 3 months as they only issue them 3 months at a time. I would not have to leave & return saving another trip to Helsinki & it could all be done here at the OVIR & as we are legally married it would be no problem to get an extension of three months. The Homestay is much cheaper & that’s why we chose it.
Yesterday they called & said the invitation was ready & to pick it up. Great!!! I thought, 2 weeks earlier than we were quoted. I went to Moscow to my job, she went to the OVIR. The first thing she notices is that it is dated March 1st. instead of April 1st. She wants to know why & can she get it changed. Well nobody knows why, but if you want it changed that’s going to take another 6 weeks. Beauty!! So she says its already a week old & I am not ready to make the trip yet it will take a week maybe two before I can go so 3 weeks of the invitation are used up before I even get the Visa. Duuuh!!!
So then she says fine, just give me the application for an extension & I will fill it out & bring it back in a month for processing. Well guess what, yep, you guessed it. They changed the rules, ??? they don’t allow that anymore. We have to apply all over again for another Homestay Invitation & I have to leave the country to get the new Visa!!! How the hell can one be expected to play by the rules when these idiots keep changing the damn rules? Had we known that 6 weeks ago, when we applied, we would have not wasted our time & just gone for a business Visa! Does nobody in this country in a position of power have a brain? Sorry but I had to ask, even though the answer is obvious.
This is the second time that has happened to me (changing the rules) & the first time I lost $20,000 CDN & my investors lost some as well, though not anywhere near what I have lost. It resulted in the creation of Tver Angels, but that’s another story for another time.
So that made our decision for us. We are done playing their silly games. They can take the whole works & shove it where the sun don’t shine for all I care. I’m tired of fighting a losing battle! I can run Tver Angels from Canada & just come over & check things out while visiting family, but living here, nawwww, I thought I could but there is only so much stupidity & ignorance one can deal with & my cup runneth over!!
So this is the plan:
Thanks to your generosity & those still on offer we have come to a decision.
I am returning to Canada & my wife is coming as well.
First I will go to the airport & change my flight to sometime in October. I will then hookup with Phil & go to Helsinki to retrieve my passport & get my new Visa next weekend. I will download the paperwork from the internet for Valya to immigrate to Canada & fill it out & file it ASAP & use most of the money for that. I will at the same time have my Partner, Marina, look into whether the company can get me an invitation for a 6 month business Visa. I will then at the end of May have to go back to Helsinki again!!! & get the new Business Visa. If the company can’t provide it I am at a loss as to how I can get one from here but I will look into it.
That will allow me to get the immigration process for Valya started here, I will stay here with her till October at which time I will head back to Canada. I will retain & try to upgrade my employment situation in Moscow which I believe I can get more hours but it will be a tough grind, but I’m up for it. I will still have to return without her but she should not be that far behind me if we get the paperwork going now & may even make it by Christmas if everything goes wrong. While in Canada I will work, get things ready for her arrival & hopefully save enough money so that I can return with a couple of extra empty suitcases & fly back with her to Canada. At least we won’t be apart an entire year, thanks to all of you. We have an idea for a business there involving Valya & Matroishka's, we'll have to work that out some yet & it may take some time to set it up, but the concept is appealing.
As for the costs involved well that is a tough call. I make a rough guestimate of about $2000.00 most of it for the immigration application to Canada & the penalty for changing the airline ticket, those two alone take up over half & the rest should pay for the Helsinki turnaround & the Visa. As for paying back the family for the airline ticket well that’s 1300 CDN & I figure they can wait till I get back & get working. They won’t like it, but that is just getting to be too much to ask for.
Thanks to those who have already sent some there is $1100 waiting at Paypal now. If others are sending some, please don’t order anything off the site like a membership. Its confusing the office staff. Just send it direct to the Paypal account. Besides married men shouldn’t be buying letter writing memberships, your wives might get a little intense & your gonads could be at risk, LOL. Paypal is certainly the easiest & cheapest & you can use Credit Cards there, as someone asked about that too.
Any of the four options on the site are usable. They can be found at the bottom of the Purchase Membership Page or Local Flowers & Gifts Page. If you have a bankcard you can make a bank to bank transfer to my Canadian Bank account. I’ve done it with other Canadians, not sure how it would work from the US or Australia but if it’s Interac it should work. You do however have to be able to access your own account online to transfer that way.
Well not much else I can say other than we sure appreciate your helping us out. We also decided seeing as we were told that we are not to return any of it, that once we are back in the saddle we will donate the same amount that you give to us to one or two of the orphanages here in Tver in all your names. We will set conditions on them how it is spent if we decide on giving it in cash. Me I’d rather go to the toy store & buy up a wack stuffed toys, teddy bears & such & hand them out to the kids. After the way I been getting burned here I just have nightmares about what the directors will do with cash & none of them involve helping the kids!!
Thanks to each & every one of you, you are truly special!
Richard & Valya

[jb]

Hey~! Richard,

While I don't need the money back, I'd sure love to get put on the list to receive one of Valya's beautiful matroishka dolls for Christmas.
(hint, hint)

[Makkin]

Hello,

  Okay I got the info on the way to send money and I appreciate the info. Shall do this as soon as possible or within the next 24-48.

  Hang in there with it Richard....

Makkin

[KenC]

Richard,
Have you checked the Western Union office yet?
KenC

[I/O]

(hint, hint)

Hint? 'bout as subtle as a train smash. 

I/O

[jb]

Have you ever seen a picture of Valya's work?  If so, you'd know why I want one.

And,,, BTW, I'm not known for subties.   

[I/O]

Have you ever seen a picture of Valya's work?  If so, you'd know why I want one.
And,,, BTW, I'm not known for subties.   

JB:  Yes I have seen photos of her work and it is, how do you say, the best of the best IMO. She is a talented lady. 

BTW, the fastest way to the bottom of the well, as you would know, is a straight line.

I/O

[Rvrwind]

Hey~! Richard,

While I don't need the money back, I'd sure love to get put on the list to receive one of Valya's beautiful matroishka dolls for Christmas.
(hint, hint

jb I think I can arrange that without much effort at all (hint, hint) LOL

.Richard,
Have you checked the Western Union office yet?
KenC

No I havn't Ken. I recieved no emails so far with the tracking numbers & information to be able to pick anything up. I'll check my mailbox again, but if its there now I won't be able to retrieve it till Monday as everything is closed now.

Richard,
I have been in your spot before in my life and it isn't a good place to be.  I was surprised by the friends and family that didn't offer to lend a hand because I had always been generous to them.  But know this: I came back bigger and better after my humbling experience and I know you can too.  Please confirm that you received what was sent via Western Union OK?  Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
KenC

I agree Ken, it is particularly an eye opening experience when friends, cyber friends at that, are more willing to help out than your own family. Wait till I'm back on top & they come knockin' on my door. As for all of you, well I think jb has a grand idea, I think I will send a Matroishka to everybody who has helped out. It may take some time to get it together & get her to paint them all, but I'll sweet talk her, LOL. I'll get back to everybody later & collect your addresses. Depending on the immigration timeline & such it might not be by Christmas but I guarrantee all of you will get one.

[KenC]

Richard,
Sent you a PM with number.
KenC

[SANDRO43]

Richard, I am a bit confuseed. First you say :

If others are sending some, please don’t order anything off the site like a membership. Its confusing the office staff. Just send it direct to the Paypal account.

and then:

Any of the four options on the site are usable. They can be found at the bottom of the Purchase Membership Page or Local Flowers & Gifts Page.

What is the procedure for sending you non-membership, non-gift related money through your site ?

[Rvrwind]

Sandro-just send it direct. No need to fill out the forms to send anything.
At the bottom of both page there are four options, click your preference & that will take you to another page with directions that you need to complete the transaction. No need to fill in the forms. The forms go to the office & Marina thought the company just went Blue Chip!!  The accounts go direct to me.

[Rvrwind]

Richard,
Sent you a PM with number.
KenC

Just checked Ken, got it, thanks a bunch I'll try to get it on Monday.

[SANDRO43]

Sandro-just send it direct.

OK, done (to rvrwind@hotmail.com), simpler than I thought.

[Rvrwind]

OK, done (to rvrwind@hotmail.com), simpler than I thought

.
Always! My Granddaddy taught me the K.I.S.S. method & I find that is the best way to work!

[SANDRO43]

My Granddaddy taught me the K.I.S.S. method

Not familiar with that, is it the Canadian way to scare off bears (Kick It Silently & Swiftly) ?

[Rvrwind]

Lol no not even close, but a good one,LOL.

K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Stupid

[catzenmouse]

Richard,

 Sorry about confusing Marina. Just cancel the membership related to my Yahoo e-mail account where we usually exchance e-mails.

Ken

[Leslie]

A simple gift to rvrwind@hotmail.com

You will sort all of this out Richard.  What comes round goes round!

Leslie Natasha and Tamara

[DonAz]

This is the first thread I've read from beginning to end since I read Jooky's Trip Report and Maxx thread on RWG.

Richard I have much respect for you, and your call it like you see it, way of being. Although I am coming in late in the game, please count me in.

I've been down and out more times then I care to remember, but always some kind soul, family or friend bailed me out and helped me to get back on my feet again.

I never thought that a group, scattered the world over, would, could and did help pout another is such a fashion.

I have to say that I am so impressed by the members at large of this message board.

You folks are definitely a class act. If I may be of assistance in any way I humbly offer it.

With much respect

Don

[Rvrwind]

Thanks Don, very much appreciated & your right, the folks on this board are a class act! A guy couldn't ask for better folks to hang with & once Valya & I get to Canada & get settled everyone of you has a place in the Great White North where you can hang your hat as our most welcome guests. Not all at the same time though, don' think we'll ever own a house that big!

jb said

Have you ever seen a picture of Valya's work?  If so, you'd know why I want one.

And,,, BTW, I'm not known for subties.

subties

Or his spelling, LMAO
Sorry jb, just had too. I know my fingers are sometimes faster than my brain too, LOL

[I/O]

Sorry jb, just had too. I know my fingers are sometimes faster than my brain too, LOL

Richard:  Yeah I kinda saw that too, but my keyboard skills are not exactly perfect either, so I thought we should cut him some slack on that one.

I/O

[Rvrwind]

so I thought we should cut him some slack on that one

I thought about that too & then said hell no, time I give the bear a poke wih the stick!!!LMAO

[Bruce]

Richard, something you may consider.............did you ever suggest to Valya or have her attempt to paint on canvass.  Valya is extremely talented.  If you sold "Valya" on the internet, showing boxes, dolls and canvass paintings you may have a huge name hit you two could capitalize on  .