NDN and snow and disability

[ciele]

I'm quite severely disabled as my NDN knows.
It has taken me 45 minutes and excruciating pain
Aibu to have expected some help to clear my path?

You can have physical limitations with being elderly, IceBear. You come across as ignorant as my ex FIL who insisted that I wasn't old enough to need glasses.

It's times like this I realise who lucky I am to live in a small town.

It's like that here too. There's one phantom plough truck - don't know who it is but s/he just randomly ploughs people's driveways so they don't have to snowblow 9" of snow in the dark when they get home from work.

We help our neighbours out, salt the paths so they stay clear and dry, shovel snow if necessary.

If I read any of my neighbours complaining like you're doing, that would be the last bloody time!

When I was done my NDN came out and said hello so presumably thought everything was fine and dandy.

FGS, they aren't mind readers. Believe it or not they probably don't spend their life trying to anticipate your needs.

Great if people offer help to their neighbours, it's what a community is based on but you can't assume that people will anticipate your needs correctly all of the time.

When it was icy last, my NDN grit the steps in front of my house when he did his. It literally hadn't even occurred to me to do this. Hope he isn't online bitching about me because I hadn't thought to do it.

Why don't you just ask?

Blimey, so now we are the ones lacking in manners eh?

Not surprised it took you 45minutes OP, what with that giant chip you carry on your shoulders

YABU unless they agreed to then didn't do it.
How are they supposed to know you need help?
They probably had to get to work or have young children to look after.
Do you have any friends/family/a gardener you could call to do it?

If they had cleared there's then it does seem mean not to have done yours.

You sound like a bit of a martyr to be honest. You haven't actually answered anyone's questions. Did it need to be done right there and then? If it was such a struggle for you and you have a friendly relationship with the neighbours, why did you not just ask for help?!

It is a myth that you can be sued for clearing a path/ the pavement outside your house. The only way you could be deemed liable is if you deliberately made it slippy i.e. spraying it with water.

www.gov.uk/clear-snow-road-path-cycleway

I know that in USA is someone cleared your driveway (with or without being asked) and someone fell and hurt themselves, you would be liable.

If you leave your snow, you aren't.

I don't sweep/clear snow - I'd grit or salt to clear it. Less likelihood of it refreezing.

What do you do for your neighbours, OP?

How did you manage to shovel snow for 45 minutes if you're so disabled you think your neighbour should have done it for you?

I couldn't even lift a shovel, let alone use it to move anything. Hell, I can't even lift a fork to my mouth some days.

OP if you are unable to clear your own path because of your disability, AND the path needs clearing for your own safety then you would be entitled to an assessment by adults' social care to see whether they could provide assistance with this. It isn't however your NDN's responsibility.

When I was done my NDN came out and said hello so presumably thought everything was fine and dandy

yes they clearly thought you were well able to do it, since you did actually do it.

I know that in USA is someone cleared your driveway (with or without being asked) and someone fell and hurt themselves, you would be liable.

It's the other way round. If you don't clear your pavement/driveway within a reasonable amount of time, and someone slips and hurts themselves, then you are liable.

This is why cities will fine you if you don't clear your pavement.

YABU - I am also severely physically disabled and wouldn't even attempt to clear snow from my path, nor would I expect my NDN to do it for me.

I am currently in hospital but were I to be home would be very unlikely to leave the house if snow had fallen but if I needed to for any reason I would be more likely to pay my gardeners to do it for me or find an odd job man and pay him.

Maybe they think you're one of those bitter bitchy types who do nothing but moan about folk expecting things done for them because they can't do it themselves? There's one on my street. Goes mad about the fact no neighbours have cleared her path or dug out her car. Or offered to get her things from the shop.

No one wants to be friendly with such a snippy woman so don't bother.

You should have asked for help. People aren't mind readers and also aren't always focused on YOUR needs.

The government website says. "You can clear snow and ice from pavements yourself. It’s unlikely that you’ll be sued or held responsible if someone is injured on a path or pavement".

Note its only unlikely, so is it really worth the risk? I dont have the insurance to risk being sued.

My friend is 83. He’s fitter, healthier and more active than me despite being almost double my age. Guess who people would offer help to? Him, the able bodied one, or me the disabled one.

I forgot to say my disability is invisible as is my chronic pain.

It's unlikely, yes. However I am very likely to fall, if it's not done.

If I knew a neighbour was disabled and saw them struggling to clear snow from their path I would offer to clear it for them even though I’ve got a arthritis in my knee.
Some people don’t like asking for help which I understand .