Whilst he or his family, or his business perhaps, may have moved on he made us know he cared.

I can see him standing there walking stick in hand, Fluffy the cat sitting on the bench top. It makes me think of something Steve Linder taught us this week (hope I describe this kinda right) Whilst so many looked at Les and gave sideways looks seemingly thinking, who’s the homeless guy? The way he dressed – it’s just a dot! You don’t know anymore or any less about him because of his clothes…it was just a tiny dot in the picture of who he was! Success and love comes in all shapes and sizes. So I think, don’t get too caught up in your model of how it should look!

So true what you say about Parnell and Les, but I had to stop writing as I know my posts are already much longer than you would like.

Finally, I didn't mean to imply 'rack renter', but my memory is he did put the rents up which made them uneconomic for us. My point was, he could have got caught up in his 'product' and lowered rents trying to make it work. I think it's good however in the same way we (or mainly mum) moved on, so did he.

First, he called us all “Darling” and we loved him. Well I did. That photo is the older Les to a tee. And that is not a crocodile smile. When we first became tenants, and he was younger, the fisherman's jersey would have been black and he would have been too busy for the jacket.

Second, his genuine love for old Auckland. If you want to read about a genuine character with a passion for his home town, click on the cartoon in Stephen's post and read on.

Third, Parnell Village in particular is a time capsule, a living monument to old Auckland. An old location that would have been torn down but for Les's vision. And here's the thing – Les told us then, if I can't may it pay its way someone WILL tear it down. Would that be progress? He didn't think so. Would it be inevitable? Absolutely.

It was kind of weird how how he prettified and gentrified these old wooden houses for ladies who lunch, but he did it without compromise, and the fact is thirty years later they're still there.

Fourth, I don't think of him as a rack renter. We were the first location in Auckland with *Saturday* trading licence. Hell, there was nowhere else open for business! Handcrafts were all the rage. You had to muscle your way into the shop.

The seventies ended, handcrafts were so last year. The rent was the least of our problems. But we had other fish to fry. We moved on.

Thanks for reminding us of a great character, Stephen.

Ian