I've gotten two private messages asking if I know what happened to GeorgeK recently. 

It seems that GeorgeK's account is deleted from F4F forum - and it seems that he deleted himself.

I also noticed that the email address he used to ask me for cuttings (at Hotmail) is gone also (error:  "mailbox unavailable").

I know at least one person who received fig cuttings from GeorgeK, but I don't know much more than that.  It looks suspicious that someone would delete both their F4F forum account and their Hotmail account, but you know me, I'm just paranoid. 

Anyway, if anyone out there has more details they can share on GeorgeK's whereabouts, I think it could put some people's minds and hearts at ease.

I'll put in my 2 cents since I was one of those who PM'd Jason. As some know I am not shy and at times rather blunt. But one thing I am is honest as to things that go on.

Here's the story:

About 2 months back, George sent me a message because he had seen a post about my figs waking up for the season. He was interested in a particular one- Rojeta. I said it was young ( less than a year)and that even this season probably wouldn't produce enough for a cutting. He was interested in a few others but they were nothing special, common ones that some have in their collection.

Over the past year I have gone a little nuts going from 4 varieties to more than my wife can stand. This has been my mid life crisis without the car. I don't care about money, I will exchange with anybody. If I get conned, I get conned. It really doesn't bother me. My collection is not exotic by any means, but I have a couple that are worthy to be included in most collections.

So on May 23, George said he was sending out a parcel of fig cuttings. I waited for 6 days. Nothing. So I checked the message to make sure I read it right. I went to check his profile and it said it was deleted. So I thought I was hoodwinked. But since I paid nothing and sent nothing out, I felt as if 'No harm, No foul'! Just time wasted waiting.

But then yesterday, my wife walks in with a parcel from Australia. Having no idea that he was in Australia, the two weeks now seemed right. Inside was the exact items said he would send me.

I can barely make out the address so I can't even send a 'thank you' note.

It's all very confusing.

I was told by another member ( won't say who ) that he even deleted his Facebook page.

Like almost everyone else I was contacted by him.
To make a long story short I did get a package from him with seven variants.
I had promised him my end of the deal sometime in the late Summer or Early Fall.

As bazaar as it may seem, looks like he did meet his end of the bargain with some other members. Both parties exchanged with no issues.

This is only speculation,
I think he contacted as many people as he could and get as many variants as he could with the least amount of time and run.

Question is,
Are his cuttings true to their names?
I really hate to think bad of this person so I hope he comes foreword and come out clean. At least to those who did sent him cuttings.

I was reluctant to deal with him but faith overtook my feelings. As far as I am concerned I gained from this deal.
I will honor my end of the deal as well.

Not an admin issue. Only people deleted are spammers, at least so far.

For me personally, I don't even care if they are not true to name.

Someone went to the extent of cutting them, wrapping, and sending them to me.

The least I could do is say 'Thank you'!

I had to say it, but it is bothering me alot. Oh well! 

For the record,
I'm not complaining about this man. He has done nothing wrong to me.

But I have a very funny feeling he will if he hasen't ALREADY, pop up under another name.

Regardless of what,
I do want to send a big think you for the cuttings.
They arrived well and healthy.
Hope all is well with you if you are reading this.

But you can't blame us for what's going through our heads.

Once again,

THANK YOU

I will honor my end of the deal, with your help

I don't have much to add, other than he sent me a brief PM back in March, saying he lived in Australia and asking if I'd like to exchange cuttings. Since the only interesting varieties I have are still pretty small, I told him I'd have to pass for now. I didn't see anything odd or problematic with his request (still don't). I just took it at face value, figured he was looking for some cuttings and willing to trade, like many of us. Who knows why he opted out? Hopefully it wasn't due to some personal crisis. At any rate, it doesn't sound like he's done anything deceitful or dishonest, and I wish him well.

I hope my words above don't suggest that I think he did anything deceitful, that's not my intent.  I'm just putting the topic out there to help others discuss, since it's obviously on the minds of several who interacted with him.  It sounds like everyone else got the better end of the deal - lots of people here got various cuttings, but he's gone with no way to contact back and illegible addresses on the envelope, which makes it hard to send anything back.

I just think it's weird.  Coming from a weird guy like me, that's saying a lot. ;)

My first package from George didn't make it thru customs so he sent me another which arrived. He's an honest person. Don't know why he's deleted his account unless he has enough figs.

Nope No problem with him- Just find the complete cut off strange in this age where we are a click away from one another.

I have his first and last name and from his post he says he lived in or near Brisbane.  After looking, I found someone in environmental services working for a Government office with his name.  I'm wondering if it's the same person.

Australia have a real bad rule for bringing animals or plants..
Also..He may be decide he will start a new life, so he just walk away from the past..

Hmmmmm.

apnoist,

I'm sure he is an honest person. I regret the choice of words I used.
Sometimes my emotions get the best of me, I'm only human. Hope I didn't sound like I was beating on him too hard. I really wasn't.

I can understand him losing his PC.
But what I can't understand as to why he deleted all his pages and email address.
Perhaps his why of securing himself? Maybe?

Glad to hear at least he is o.k..

I myself and including everyone else welcome him back.

I do want to full fill my end of the deal, Mans honor.

I am glad most people got out without getting stuck. I sent him cuttings and after that nothing. He did respond after an e-mail and tell me got the ones that I sent.  That was on Feb. 13. I hope im wrong but he did not hold his end of the trade with me.  I hope there is a good explination for it.  And maybe he didnt just send out some teasers in hopes of getting a good rep. just to get more cuttings. I am not accusing thats just the way it looks from my end. I wish him well and pray everything is fine with him. I have the address  that the cutting were sent to.

Let us all wish him well. He was enthusiastic for cuttings exchange and hope he rejoins sooner or later.
Winterville, there may be a reasonable reason that you did not receive his package while so many others received his packages even unsolicited in some cases. Strange occurrences happen sometimes to make things exciting.