To want to say something to disabled neighbour RE his CF gardener

[Paie]

Moved about 6 months ago, only neighbour is a lovely old chap who's wheelchair bound. He has a gardener who comes weekly Tuesday mornings to keep his garden looking nice.

I've been off work sick recently and have noticed how lazy his gardener is. He parks at the back of the house and will pop off to the shops for a sandwich or sit in his car round the back reading a newspaper for the best part of an hour.
He's usually here between 9.30 and 11.30 so I'd assume he's being paid for 2 hours work a week.

WIBU to somehow mention this to neighbour? I think he's being taken advantage of massively unless he's only paying his gardener for 1 hour and he just chooses to stay for 2 out of goodwill/ wanting loads of breaks. He's had this gardener for years I think.

If you're chatty, just ask him how long his gardener comes for. If he says 2 hours, mention that you've noticed he's not working 1 of those.

I would keep out of it op. You have no idea what else this Gardner offers your neighbour in the way of company or other support. If he’s happy and the garden is relatively cut leave well alone.

Love the username there @ISnappedAndFarted

We very very rarely bump into each other so I'd probably have to try and catch him on a weekend as he's heading out- DP has had far more chats with him though so might get him to mention something

Could you not use wheelchair bound please? We're not stuck in with duct tape. Thanks.

@Seasawride
Very true, but he's not being much company hiding round the back of the house in his car

Sorry to add my dad is a cater for my mum with altzimers. Dad has a Gardner who is just adequate in the garden but he banters with dad and dad loves seeing him. He also has my number so can get me if there’s a problem.

It’s not really about keeping the weeds down.

I'd go and mention it to him.

@BishopBrennansArse
I'm sorry! Was simply trying to set the scene. Genuine apologies I meant no offence whatsoever x

@BishopBrennansArse That was unnecessary, the OP wasn't been rude. It gets so confusing which terminology one can use these days without causing offence to someone.

Actually OP apologised, and now another person knows not to use wheelchair bound, so that's good (it really is a horrible term for people who use wheelchairs like my dh - the wheelchair actually represents a lot of freedom for him to get about independently). As for the gardener? I wouldn't get involved.

Perhaps he does some gardening elsewhere, and has an hour to kill before starting on your neighbour's garden at 10.30? Is the garden enormous? Two hours every week seems a lot.

I did use please and thanks.
Appreciated, OP.

DH is a gardener and charges per job, not per hour. Still people think he should be at a job for x hours even though he has clearly quoted them a price to do the job. People think it should take as long as it would take them to do it themselves, but they are paying to save THEMSELVES that x number of hours. He doesn't spend £1000 on a lawnmower, plus other expensive bits of machinery for it to take him as long as someone with an electric lawnmower.

As for CF gardener if have a word with neighbour. Last thing he needs is someone wasting his money like that.

@WaggyMama - totally appreciate it's not nice being told you've done something wrong but I read BishopBrennansArse's post as a polite/jokey tone - and how does anyone learn if people don't point out when things are/could be considered offensive?

It is actually quite offensive terminology.

But hey, it's only the disabled, not people of colour or gay people or anything so who gives a shit?

Bishop wasn’t rude and just pointed out politely that terminology matters which OP accepted. I don’t see any problem?

OP I’d have a chat to your neighbour, it sounds like he may be being ripped off.

I also think OP meant well and now won’t use the phrase again.

My gardener charges by the hour. He does as much as he can get done in the hours that he is here. Quoting for a one off job is different.

Gardener could just be having his break while he there? Has to have it somewhere.

But I'd just get into a general chat about it and see what the neighbour knows. Just because he's a wheelchair user doesn't mean he doesn't know what's going on.

Could you not use wheelchair bound please?

What is the correct phrase?

I would mention it yes. It wod be horrible for a tradesperson to take advantage

he charges per job for everything, not just one-offs. They just agree what needs to be done each time and he does that, then leaves. He doesn't get too involved in planting etc, mostly grass cutting, hedge cutting etc. If something extra is needed he'll charge an extra amount.

Wheelchair user is fine Sunshine.