CF allotment thief part 2: the Battle of Barbara and the Beansprouts

[YaMuvva]

Hi all, sorry I didn’t get a chance to post the link to this in the last thread, but it filled up too quickly.

So, another update

DH and I sat and had a looooong talk last night. We poured over every option, the pro’s and cons and the best and worst case scenarios. We thought of every possible situation that could arise from each option and we made a decision this morning.

it was actually the best/worst case scenario talk that clinched it.
Best case scenario for selling it to her was we get a little bit of money. Worst case is we have no allotment and the house possibly devalues.

Best case scenario for if we shared the land is that she is a pleasant plot neighbour and isn’t bitter that we are on the land that used to be ‘hers’ and doesn’t try to boss us about. But worst case scenario is that she remains bitter and makes our lives hell, interferes and our allotment space becomes an unbearable place to be.

Best case scenario for if we keep it to ourselves is we have the enjoyment of a long awaited allotment, one that makes a massive difference to DH’s MH and our general life enjoyment. Worst case scenario is that we make a neighbour - who is smart enough to find another plot or use her own generous garden - cross.

We figured that the worst case scenarios for all 3 weren’t worth risking the absolute best case scenario could bring.

So we are kicking her off.

We discussed letting her wait some months before making her leave or until the end of the growing season around about the end of September. But that when you consider the weather, that would mean we wouldn’t truly be able to enjoy the allotment in good weather for a whole year. I know it can still be enjoyed in horrible weather but the thought of missing out on a whole entire summer of gardening, relaxing and recuperating just feels too long. She has also indicated she will fight us - well she can try and she won’t win so I’d rather the ‘fight’ was a short one not a long one

We went to the plot this morning (no Babs in sight!) and took a soil test, took pictures, used that app to mark the plots (thanks to PP for the tips), and measured it and took pictures of the measurements/readings. From what we can tell she has root veg, fruit and a little herb garden patch, all growing fairly well considering the time of year. We didn’t disturb anything

Going to call the home insurers today to see if we can get legal cover and reclaim costs from the previous owner so solicitors can write her a letter - if not we will just instruct our current solicitors and make the reclaim too. I know we could do a letter ourselves but I really think a legal middle man would be worth the money. We will take solicitors advice on how much notice to give her - but it won’t be long notice. No point, may as well rip the plaster off now. We won’t be offering to buy the shed as I don’t want to be beholden to Barbara or have her make out to others that we stole the shed. We want a clean slate, to pick our own items.

I do feel bad that Barbara will be losing something that is so dear to her and that her ‘sanctuary’ will be taken away but the bottom line is it does not belong to her and she has known this for 10 years. She could have spent that 10 years, or even just the nine months since the house went on the market, to find another sanctuary. We are being selfish, we have been through unimaginable struggles and it’s time to just live for ourselves not a random neighbour. If that makes us a pariah in the community I can take it.

DH also messaged our police officer friend of ours this morning who said if the time comes to bin her stuff and dismantle the shed to call 101 and tell them “We are doing this, it’s our property and we will handle everything with care and bring it to her home” and then if she calls them saying we are stealing or damaging our property then we are one step ahead at least.

A link is on the second page of this thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5047820-hows-this-for-a-whole-new-level-of-cheeky-fuckery-someone-has-token-our-allotment

But you're happy enough to show yourself up as an utter twat? Fair enough.

I'm in Scotland so don't know how things work in England. Here, we would be able to get a printout from the Land Registry showing the land that we own.

Did you not think after 2 full threads it wouldn’t have been mentioned

Anyone else think that the OP should be played by Sue Cleaver and her husband by Malcolm Hebden?

The correct response was 'Sorry, I wasn't thinking'

It's easy to be kind and generous with other people's things isn't it. Why don't you send the OP a few hundred quid so that she can rent another allotment if you think that OP should let Barbara use hers for the rest of the year?

Also Barbara hasn't been polite or reasonable. She doesn't deserve generosity and kindness. She deserves to be fined at the very least for preventing OP and her DH from enjoying the property that they paid for.

I have to admit I am over-tired and just finished work but I keep getting all excited at the ideas for the dramatised serial of Plot Twist... and then realising I won't be watching it on TV... dammit! Seems a much better plot than much of whats on currently!

I'd start it from Barbaras POV though, her beloved alotment, vague flashbacks to her life that may mean she's a sweet old thing or could mean she's a vicious old harridan... keeping viewers guessing until TA DA its really never been hers, and she's hounded out of the village... blazing pitchforks etc etc

I think I'll go to bed tbh.

Or perhaps I was just trying to be helpful? I didn’t realise that required grovelling apologies now

well @YaMuvva aren't some people just marvellous and just so together and shit

You can pay the land registry a few quid (it's prob less than £10) and they send the deeds showing what's yours, outlined in red.

Thing is, I don't think barbara cares that the OP owns it and that's the crux of the problem

yes!!!! Alternatively how about Reece Sheersmith? Would bring an appropriate level of sarcasm to the role

Still right, are ye??

Mansplaining is such a burden 🙄

@Damnloginpopup
Rhubarbara!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Good plan and good luck it goes smoothly. You dont have to justify having and enjoying something you own.

I think Barbara should consider herself lucky and thankful she had the use of it for so long when she didn’t own it.

OP isn't "legalising a land grab". It's her land, it's already 200% legal for her to take and use it.

am loving this thread! Btw there is no moral right to property. Equitable yes, but moral no!

🤣😂😆

How can there be any "moral" side to whether someone does or does not own their land? If I came along and asserted a moral claim to your house, would you just meekly get out and leave it to me?

No! Claire Foy only 😂

Ricky Tomlinson for the CF neighbour keeping his crap in your garage and disgruntled fellow allotmenter. He could fart a lot and demand OP (Diane Morgan) give poor Barbs her land. And a kidney too.

Definitely! DH is a bit wider set than him but I think Sean Bean is too god-like for DH to live up to (Sorry DH)

😂have you considered adverse possession @YaMuvva

Hmmm, I’m a woman, a busy one who has been dealing with my own shitty day, like my mum’s husband being diagnosed with advanced lung cancer this afternoon. So no, I don’t have time to read two threads. Before you are bitchy, maybe just think you don’t know who is the other side of the screen and what they are juggling.

If it had been said lots you could all carry on your Friday night drunken chat and ignore it, no need to be nasty or sarcastic. We aren’t in school anymore.