To think he should leaf blow somewhere else?

Add tractor to your list. Usually at least 2 gear levers.

Driving a 4x4 properly is fun though.

@Figsaregood I'm sure women are using them, just quickly and efficiently. I do use it at home but in a public space, time limit and liability regarding safe pathways etc means they're really the best option.

@Sartre councils or those with spaces open to the public cannot leave the leaf fall to degrade into a sludgy mess that people will slip on. I almost slipped walking to an event on Chester the other week on degraded leaves in damp conditions. Trust me, we'd rather not have to repeat the job on an almost daily basis, but health and safety dictates it

I have a list of job swaps I’d like to do, just for one day. Think Indecent Proposal but more laptops for machinery.

One is leaf blower. Ghost buster style backpack oh yes
Another is sit on lawn mower. Who doesn’t want to have a go on that
Fork lift or dumper truck driver. First looks really hard but like the idea
etc.

I am talking about leaf blowers in general. There are plenty of men using them in their own gardens or to clear the street outside their house. The constant on/off whining is bloody annoying.

Well I am glad to hear that you are representing the female of the species with those noisy contraptions. Not saying you are all invisible (or inaudible). It's just that I have only encountered men shattering the peace on our local estate. Maybe i should set an example by getting out there with my super quiet blower..or just use a sweeping brush.

Well I am glad to hear that you are representing the female of the species with those noisy contraptions. Not saying you are all invisible (or inaudible). It's just that I have only encountered men shattering the peace on our local estate. Maybe i should set an example by getting out there with my super quiet blower..or just use a sweeping brush.

Honestly think leaf blowing is insanity. Why the fuck is it a thing? Leave them where they are, they’ll eventually degrade!

I am talking about leaf blowers in general. There are plenty of men using them in their own gardens or to clear the street outside their house. The constant on/off whining is bloody annoying.

As I've said in another comment, I think leaf blowers are often a waste of time. I mow them up and compost them at home.

If he thought about it, yes. But i suspect he was in his own head and didn't really notice you. Another time maybe just ask pleasantly.

In that case, you go and tell all the contractors they're doing it wrong and show them how, for the pittance a council can spend for that public space.

Council budgets are stretched, how's that working out? Plus on a risk assessment, that's actually more risk to the staff in question and, more time not leaving our precious princess op in peace.

The ones I observe don't use the devices efficiently; they wag them forth and back, taking far longer than necessary. They stir up dirt and dust. Not to mention the noise.

Raking and sweeping aren't that much slower. I observe many commercial garden firms near me spending LONGER with the leaf blowers than it takes me, a 60-something woman, to sweep and rake the equivalent property.

Mowing over leaves and mulching them, if they must be removed, is far more eco-friendly than those godforsaken blowers.

Why not rake it? Employ more people if necessary.

Leaf blowers obliterate insect nesting sites and egg sacs etc., which in turn deprives many other species of food.

Not to mention the noise pollution, emissions, soil erosion etc. that all are documented side effects of these horrible devices.

Well I can assure you a leaf blower does not require a penis to operate and women do use them. I'm one of them.

But then apparently women who work in horticulture are invisible

How are they awful for the environment? I'm assuming you're referring to the older two stroke models rather than newer battery operated ones, which are generally being phased in on programmed replacement schedules for equipment

Are you actually going to rake half a mile or pathway??? Really....?

For home use, generally, yes, especially if you're just moving them about but on footpaths etc where the public walk and there is liability, they need to be moved (see my previous post re going arse over tit on leafy sludge)

Why is he a twat for doing the job he's been told to do with the tool provided? I doubt if anyone would choose to spend five times as long raking up leaves and his employer would not be impressed.

I actually think leaf blowers are a complete waste of time. But I guess if that's the job you've been told to do, you just have to get on with it.

The modern day chimney sweep. You’re lucky he didn’t bring his mates for band practice.

Surely he is just using the tool that his employer provided him with though?!

He'd probably prefer a ride on leaf vehicle but only has whats provided!

He sounds like a twat.

I hate leaf blowers and wish they didn't exist, horrible noisy ineffective things that are awful for the environment.

Just use a fucking rake.

Obviously park workers exist purely for your personal convenience. How could he not know that?

Not leaves! 😱

I agree with you OP. The bloke has got eyes in his head and can see that somebody is sitting there. But he doesn't care. Most men i have encountered that are blowing leaves around ( not seen any women doing it funnily enough), don't seem to care about the racket that those blowers make. There are quieter methods (aside from using a sweeping brush or lawn rake), such as ride on vehicles that suck up the leaves and quieter models of hand held ones too. Totally oblivious. I find they usually spend hours blowing them around, sometimes into a pile, then leave them there to be taken by the next gust of wind and distributed all over the area that has been cleared. I think they are a waste of time and greatly add to our increasingly noisy modern day environment. There ! Glad i have got that off my chest.

Leaf him alone.... I'll get my coat 😂