Bury LETS

LET ME IN

One of our new members, Carolyn, has written this most excellent piece about BuryLETS.

What's the connection between a courgette plant, a television, a cardigan and a nice drink in a bar?
The answer is BuryLETS.
All the above have come into my life since Karen Cannard suggested I go along for a Christmas drink at a BuryLETS evening in the SoBar. It was such a nice evening that I found myself going along to a regular meeting too.
I wasn't sure what to expect but was made to feel welcome by an "assorted" bunch of people. I don't think any of them could be labelled other than to call them nice and friendly. They are all ages and all types.
Getting my head around the system is a different matter altogether, all I could understand was that you never pay for anything its all taken care of by the Abbots.
It's the Abbots that take a bit of understanding, each month a piece of paper appears at the meeting and magically if I have taken something to swap then numbers appear on it. "How many for the book" I was asked - I look blank and shrug my shoulders- someone suggested 2 and that was a transaction. Swapping other peoples items is much easier I just write my name down and hey presto I have purchased something. Apparently you mustn't think of it as money.
Its a great way to work and I have been to a plant swap and a clothes swap and really enjoyed the experience - it seems to be even more fun than e bay as theres no nail biting outbidding going on at the last minute. Plus you come away with something you really want having seen it first.
I haven't yet stepped into the behind-the-scenes world of exchanging services, but I know it goes on. Yes someone has been round to another members house and got them organised for more Abbots- brilliant idea.
I spent nearly an hour trying to work out what services I could offer to the members when I had to fill in my membership form. It's not easy working out what your skills are that others might like to make use of, I don't have language or computer skills, I'm not a gardener or a cook and I don't have loads of spare time. In the end I decided I'm quite good at looking after children and certainly professional level at writing press releases.
I love the idea of BuryLETS in a world where everyone is out to take your money, it makes a refreshing change, and having themed swapping evenings in the bar seems to be a good idea. We have done plants and clothes and hopefully theres a cake one on the cards too there must be endless ideas out there.
Plus it has the bonus of a social evening and meeting new people too - what more could you ask for?
Well at the moment I think I'm on for a brain swap! I was trying to explaing the BuryLETS system the other week and for some reason I thought of Bishops instead of Abbots so maybe we should have a scale perhaps starting with a choirboy and working up through monk, abbott, bishop and finally Archbishop - on second thoughts no because I have enough trouble with the Abbots.

Carolyn