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.

Mention it in conversation.

I'm struggling to do some jobs because of health conditions. I pay my Gardeners per job, or they put together a package type deal.

The rate they give me and the pensioners around me is cheaper than what they charge people who can afford to pay more. Before anyone leaps on that, it's an area where everyone knows each others business.

He may not be ripping him off, or he might be taking the piss a bit but still works out cheaper, than if he was doing a full two hours. If he's getting a special rate, then he may do it over his dinner break.

Wheelchair bound went out of use over ten years ago, it started to change with the 1995 Act, which bought us accessible buses/building, so I'm surprised that anyone still uses it.

@WaggyMama it wasn’t Grumpy’s eloquent post that made me eyeroll. It was your twatty one. HTH.

far more things to concern myself with

I am convinced there are people hovering about waiting to be offended, it must be exhausting being offended and being offended about other people.

The OP unknowingly used a phrase which was perhaps out dated. This was politely pointed out. The OP apologised.

I would maybe be friendly to the elderly neighbour and strike up some conversation about the garden and the gardener. See how the land lies.

I guess the point is whether the garden looks nice or not. If the gardener comes weekly but the garden is a total mess, then you need to have a word. If the garden looks well-kept and tidy then I'd leave it. It's probably more that he doesn't have to enough to do than being a CFer.

From the perspective of one who used to do this for a living, I feel outraged at the audacity of the paid gardener using his time to sit on his arse! Two hours is not a long time to spend on one garden unless it is very basic with lawn to be mown and edges cut plus borders with those stolid types of plants which don't need much maintenance. But...

The point NC4T made: it may cause the neighbour distress to be made aware of it. I really wouldn't want that. So I'd be torn on whether to say anything or not. If I were bold I might be tempted to ask the gardener if he's being paid to sit in his car, and let him worry about whether you're going to tell the neighbour or not.

It's difficult because I loathe the thought of a vulnerable, trusting person being cheated.

I am convinced there are people hovering about waiting to be offended, it must be exhausting being offended and being offended about other people.
You can be as convinced as you like. The poster concerned pointed out that they use a wheelchair. That means there is no aspect of their life in which they are not marginalised. Congratulations in compounding that with your blithe dismissal of a large section of society.

I would have a relaxed chat with the neighbour about having a gardener etc and are they happy having one etc

Then judge what to do with that information

My 2 gardeners come 5hours every fortnight but they work their butts off - I've felt sorry for them in this heat so even though I'm supposed to be working I'm out giving them drinks every 5mins

My mum has Alzheimer's and we were very glad of a neighbour that keeps an eye out for her and told us that despite the carer saying they were coming twice a day - they weren't, it was great that the neighbour talked to us about it as it would have been hard to work out as we don't live close and mum isn't reliable for info. We got it sorted thankfully.

where exactly is the dismissal please?

Neither do I dismiss the offence caused by the phrase " throwing a paddy" as discussed on another thread.

I observe a pattern..somebody asks for help/advice. They may inadvertently use poorly thought out wording. Somebody points this out.

Ah says OP......you are completely right. I see that is outdated/offensive.

Then rent a crowd pitch in.

I personally wouldn't interfere at all. Would be none of my business TBH.

I doubt it will end well if you do. Neighbour may resent you for thinking he is stupid or something. Leave it.

Oh my god! this thread ridiculous now!

I think most people were objecting to WaggyMama's post, not the OP. And people can't help it if others have expressed the same views at them in the time it takes to make a post, that's not piling in.

please can anybody point out where I have dismissed a large section of society?