On 2017-08-08 10:08:59 le roux said:
Hmmm, bartering, skills n' stuff, I'm not sure I can offer much but...

I was once auctioned at a women's charity gig. There was a couple of muscle bound hunks, I do believe a web guy, a chef and me.

I was a mid-priced product purchased by an elder lady, not elderly but certainly no spring chicken. Her instructions for a day of my time were "just be nice to me."

So, the following week I rocked up early at her place with a breakfast platter of pastries coffee beans a grinder, cafeteria and orchids. I took care of a couple of DIY tasks, squeaky door, hung a picture that kind of thing. I took her for a picnic brunch at a nursery where I arranged for them to screen off a jungle type area for a couple of hours (I prepared the hamper), there was lots of interesting chat, well interesting to me.

Faced with a trip the gallery for a photography exhibit I thought she would like or the gun range she chose the range. Then it was a sunset walk on the before heading back home to get changed for the ballet (I had brought a tux). We went back to her place where I fixed the drinks and prepared a light meal. Eventual I left secretly leaving behind a treasure map of items I had left around the house and garden, while doing the DIY, for her to find the next day (chocolates, a small bottle of champagne, a book, that kind of thing).