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CF allotment thief thread no 4 - Babs’s dodgy solicitor and TV producers looking to cast for the role of Penfold?

990 replies

YaMuvva · 09/05/2024 15:24

New thread! Last one was here
www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5049200-cf-allotment-thief-part-3-the-plot-thickens-and-auditions-begin-for-the-west-end-musical?page=38&reply=135136744

So a quick update.

DH dropped me off for my surgery this morning then dropped the kids at school before heading to the allotment. Babs was there gardening as were some other people on their own plots. All her crap was still there

DH went up and reminded her that she needs to be off the plot by the 20th. She said that she is awaiting advice from her solicitor to see if she can challenge us. She also said if the solicitor says she has to be off, she will be gone by the 20th but isn’t giving it up without checking if she has rights first. She did a fair bit of guilt tripping to DH about how she has spent 10 years being part of a community and having a hobby and she now has to give it all up but he held strong and told her, unless she comes back with a legitimate legal claim her property will be off the allotment by the 21st - wether it’s removed by her or by him.

However - enter Penfold stage right

Penfold is what we are calling the allotment neighbour who marched over from the other side of the plots (because that’s who he looks like). He started shouting at DH saying “You’re a bully! Fancy picking on an old lady and taking her allotment off her after all her years of hard work”. He pointed out it’s his allotment now and Penfold said that “just because your name is on a piece of paper it doesn’t give you the right to steal it off it’s rightful owner”. He then start saying “What do you know about gardening pretty boy? These allotments should be for real gardeners not pretty boys like you”

When DH told me this I laughed so hard I thought my stitches may burst 😂 DH IS very pretty but he’s also mid-40’s and hasn’t been called pretty in many many years. We are in semi-rural Yorkshire though and a man wearing a top that isn’t either blue black or white is considered a feminine.

When DH stated he does actually know about gardening, Penfold was all “Yeah right yeah right all you know about is putting your make up on” 🤣🤣 and said how these allotment owners have been around for decades he can’t just barge in and kick people out. DH said he was half expecting Penfold to say “this is a local allotment for local people”.

Then it was BABS of all people who told Penfold to STFU. Not quite those words but she said “oh do calm down Nigel”. The other plot owners just kept their heads down apparently. DH took off in the end but he is considering buying a Danger Mouse t-shirt to wear when he gardens. I’ve told him I can help him apply his make up 😂.

Anyway Babs’s words don’t exactly fill me with confidence but it’s better than flat out refusing to leave I suppose. I’m absolutely confident that legally she hasn’t a leg to stand on, but that doesn’t mean some dodgy solicitor won’t claim otherwise for a bit of easy money off her. Either way unless there is a claim that has legs (highly unlikely) DH will be round on the 21st to set up his stuff. PP were right about insane allotment owners - but we are just gonna have to lump it and not let Penfold ruin our time there.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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BusyMummy001 · 13/05/2024 10:40

I am wondering whether you might get some support from the fellow allotment occupants - excluding Penfold of course - if they understood that you now own the land etc? If I was one of them I’d be pissed off that anyone could simply squat on an adjacent plot to mine and wary of the precedent it sets - it puts all their plots at risk, surely?

godmum56 · 13/05/2024 10:41

sorry to hear things are going to be difficult over the summer and wishing you a pleasant autumn. That's excellent news that Sally alleges that she told Babs and hopefully will make things easier to sort. Please ask your husband to video when he tells Babs.....not really but wouldn't we all like to be there, I bet you'd outsell Taylor Swift if you sold tickets.

diddl · 13/05/2024 10:41

And depending what happens on 20th, if Babs tries it on and it costs us money to fight whatever BS she comes up with, we could go to claim it from Sally.

Ooh!

Hope that doesn't happen though as it's just wasting time for you.

I mean if she doesn't have a case she should just be told & that's that!

Still as pp have said she might just be trying to just buy time & it's all just talk.

BusyMummy001 · 13/05/2024 10:45

Do you have a local paper? Perhaps you could send them a story, complete with a photo of you in a garden chair and and surgical stockings - looking all pale and interesting, as they used to say - children at your feet all woeful looking, explaining how you deliberately bought a house with an allotment for your family to use bla bla but a nasty woman is now trespassing on it…

AwBlessm · 13/05/2024 10:46

Thanks for the update, OP! Thank goodness Sally didn't claim she never knew Babs was there. I don't think that conversation took place either, but it's hard to say (maybe a much weaker version, 'The new sellers may want to use that plot'). Who knows. The good news is that your position is now even stronger. And the bonus is that you will quickly see which locals get mad at you (not Sally!) for wanting to use the land you purchased and which are reasonable--The Babs and The Babs Nots.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 13/05/2024 10:52

YaMuvva · 13/05/2024 10:37

Technically she’s trespassing now, we are just being kind about it!
It really tricky because whilst we could physically throw her off the plot with reasonable force, she’s not committing a criminal act but if she claimed unnecessary force was used, we are. And nothing is stopping her from just coming back to the plot again and again. Worst case scenario is she spends her life refusing to budge as there are steps we can take but in reality we’d have very little power.

I think once her stuff is gone she’s not going to find coming back very appealing, and it’s hard to see how she can accuse you of excessive force for moving her stuff, if she hasn’t done it herself by the deadline.

Oblomov24 · 13/05/2024 11:00

Ask the solicitor to go back to Sally immediately now. Make her squirm a bit more. Suggest compensation. Sally has no idea the stress her babs negligence has caused.

Oblomov24 · 13/05/2024 11:02

How does babs get access to your allotment, or the allotments in general? Does she have a key, that needs to be returned? You don't want her to be allowed access any more. But how can that be stopped?

YaMuvva · 13/05/2024 11:03

Oblomov24 · 13/05/2024 11:00

Ask the solicitor to go back to Sally immediately now. Make her squirm a bit more. Suggest compensation. Sally has no idea the stress her babs negligence has caused.

This is what DH wants to take a really hard line but honestly, if this was another day or time I may agree but I’m really trying to live as stress free as possible. We have asked them to put this in writing though.

I don’t believe Sally and I almost feel bad for Babs that her mates has chucked her under the bus big time, but ultimately if these lot didn’t prove themsleves to be such piss takers I’d feel much more sorry for them

OP posts:
YaMuvva · 13/05/2024 11:03

Oblomov24 · 13/05/2024 11:02

How does babs get access to your allotment, or the allotments in general? Does she have a key, that needs to be returned? You don't want her to be allowed access any more. But how can that be stopped?

It’s an open area, anyone can walk on.

OP posts:
Worthitforthe · 13/05/2024 11:04

Really hope you're feeling better very soon OP. Good news today definitely.

OVienna · 13/05/2024 11:04

One thing, @YaMuvva if her stuff is still there on 21st I don't think your DH should go on his own to clear it. Does he have someone who can help him? It would be good if there is a witness there even if they aren't, strictly speaking, impartial to you.

OVienna · 13/05/2024 11:05

It's also just unpleasant to be on your own if there are others there, such as Nige, prepared to be aggressive.

YaMuvva · 13/05/2024 11:11

OVienna · 13/05/2024 11:04

One thing, @YaMuvva if her stuff is still there on 21st I don't think your DH should go on his own to clear it. Does he have someone who can help him? It would be good if there is a witness there even if they aren't, strictly speaking, impartial to you.

My brother can go with him, he’s already booked and very excited to be part of the drama 😂 I don’t think I’ll be in any fit state for fisticuffs!

OP posts:
Oblomov24 · 13/05/2024 11:13

Well what about a softer email then op, to at least continue the paper trail, so Sally at least gets an email / something. 'Just to confirm', that way it's preventative, it's action, no one can claim that Sally didn't know that on the 21st your Dh will be turning up. Take action, don't let babs play the shock card.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/05/2024 11:18

Excellent update.

longapple · 13/05/2024 11:19

can you request that Sally write (with you in cc) to reiterate with Barbara what their agreement was?
"Dearest Barbara, as per our discussion on x date, the allotment has now been sold and no longer belongs to me, you need to vacate it please love from Sally ps you can come and grow courgettes in my new window box instead if you like xxx"?

myfaceismyown · 13/05/2024 11:31

@YaMuvva congrats! But what I really need to know is who will play your brother in the musical?

saraclara · 13/05/2024 12:03

Wow! I'd forgotten your initial thread, and had no idea that this was still going on. I second the email idea to create a 'paper' trail with Sally.

YaMuvva · 13/05/2024 12:14

myfaceismyown · 13/05/2024 11:31

@YaMuvva congrats! But what I really need to know is who will play your brother in the musical?

He is not pretty but he’s tall and bald and has a bush beard.
Thinking caps on people 🤣

OP posts:
AwBlessm · 13/05/2024 12:20

Yes! We need to cast YaBruvva right away!

godmum56 · 13/05/2024 12:28

Pity about ghe beard or Prince William could do it.

Trishthedish · 13/05/2024 12:42

Hope you feel better soon. Stephen Merchant with prosthetics for your bruvver would be excellent

WearyAuldWumman · 13/05/2024 12:43

YaMuvva · 13/05/2024 12:14

He is not pretty but he’s tall and bald and has a bush beard.
Thinking caps on people 🤣

Sorted: Graham McTavish.

Scottish by birth, but can do umpteen accents. (Left Glasgow as a child.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_McTavish

Graham McTavish - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_McTavish

MrsLeonFarrell · 13/05/2024 12:59

You definitely have the makings of a tabloid article, accompanied by a photo of you pointing at your land with a sad face. Add in "cancer patient," and you could make a nice sum.

Joking aside, I hope that everything goes smoothly with no hassle now and that your treatment is completely successful.

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