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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To play cf neighbours at their own game

210 replies

Raspberryberetthekindyoufind · 27/08/2018 12:10

Nest door moved in about a year ago, an older couple and asked DH very nicely if he would mind mowing their lawn when he does ours as they really struggle. DH agreed and said no problem at all
Anyway fast forward to now DH has a bad back and has done for three weeks so our grass and their grass has got really long. I have physical disability so can’t do it myself.
I told neighbours when he did his back in and said hopefully he would be able to do it in a few weeks. The women seemed really put out but but I put it down to catching her at a bad moment.
Three weeks on DH is getting better but wants to leave the mowing for another week until he is properly better
Knock on the door last night and it was the man next door demanding to know when he lawn would be cut, I explained it would hopefully be in a week or so and he stormed off.
This morning I was in the garden and so were next door and she said loudly to her husband that we should pay for someone to do both lawns as they look awful and it’s down to us to sort them. Just then their son who is in his thirty’s arrives with his wife and son and comes in the back garden.
I pop my head over and say “Hi, can I ask you a favour since both lawns are looking awful and DH is laid up with his back could you give both of them a run over for us. Especially as DH has done your parents lawn for over a year, Thankyou soooooo much. I then went back inside with them stareing at me open mouthed.
The son is now mowing our lawn Grin

OP posts:
BewareOfDragons · 27/08/2018 13:10

And by 'doing the lawn' for them, doesn't mean they have to actually do it themselves. They can help their parents find someone to do it if their parents need help sorting it out, someone trustworthy, affordable, etc

AcrossthePond55 · 27/08/2018 13:11

Um, exactly why do you think they're American, Sole?

Birdsgottafly · 27/08/2018 13:11

""and that there sons should have been doing it all along for them if they 'can't' do it themselves.""

I'd like to see the thread were the OP is asking if her DH should be doing her MILs lawn, when he does other stuff for her and she has the money to pay someone. I would put money on the relies not saying that he should be doing it.

They are a pair of takers and chancers and their Sons have probably backed off, from doing stuff, for a reason.

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 27/08/2018 13:12

You might consider a robot mower though. My Mum got one last year and she loves it like an extra grandchild, possibly more depending on how annoying my two are being.

CocoCharlie83 · 27/08/2018 13:16

I wouldn't be put off buying a house by this dispute, though. It's not like noisy neighbours or boundaries, it's just someone impotently fuming that I'm not mowing their lawn. And even this spectacularly unhinged CF presumably wouldn't imagine that the contract to mow their lawn transfers to the new owners... though the thread would get even better if he did...

I wouldn't be put off by the actual dispute but it would ring alarm bells for me about what the neighbours are like. Unless it was my dream house I wouldn't buy a house in that situation and risk having a possible NFH as who knows what the neighbours could come up with next

hellokittymania · 27/08/2018 13:17

That is really really good! I had to smile when I read that.

Rainbowtrees · 27/08/2018 13:19

Would love to know the sons point of view!

phoebemac · 27/08/2018 13:22

Best CF neighbour thread for a while. They are bonkers as conkers!

stillnotTheDoctor · 27/08/2018 13:24

Contract 😂😂😂😭

Catsandbootsandbootsandcats · 27/08/2018 13:25

Send them an invoice for all the times he mowed their lawn, and tell them you'll take them to small claims if they don't pay. Grin

I'd love to know why their son didn't mow their lawn.

Fluffyears · 27/08/2018 13:28

MIL has a huge garden and pays a gardener. We do enough by taking her shopping,clearing out tat, etc and have shone and garden of our own.

charlestonchaplin · 27/08/2018 13:28

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Botanicbaby · 27/08/2018 13:34

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GreenTulips · 27/08/2018 13:36

LOL. 'Turf wars' has begun

eddielizzard · 27/08/2018 13:38

Def no more cutting! Some people are such idiots.

Poodletip · 27/08/2018 13:40

Ha ha I wonder if the son is fed up of their CFery too!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 27/08/2018 13:41

You little Star!

We used to do our NDN's garden because she isn't a well-woman - but now her (physically fir, 40-ish) son has moved back in wit her, we haven't.

Nor has he Sad

BabySharkDooDooDooDoo · 27/08/2018 13:41

Hahahaha they are getting a solicitor involved because they are too lazy to cut thier own grass? They will get laughed out of any court 😂😂😂

SalemBlackCat · 27/08/2018 13:43

Unbelievable. Just....unbelievable!! I'd definitely attempt to talk to their son before he goes or when he is next there.

Are there neighbours on the other side of this cf neighbour that could possibly back you up if need be? One across the road, and/or at the back? I think as many neighbours you can get as support, the better.

ScattyCharly · 27/08/2018 13:44

What cheeky fucking bastards!

BewareOfDragons · 27/08/2018 13:48

Are CF neighbours American? shock

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

The UK is chock full of cheeky fuckers who want compensation for everything, even when they're full of it. My 'favourites' are the people who lie about being sick on holiday and demand that they get new, fully paid for holidays ... and then try it on again...

Frusso · 27/08/2018 13:49

The son has done our lawn but not their lawn. GrinGrinGrinGrin I love that he did yours and not theirs.

I wonder what their solicitor will say? "Nope, I'm not mowing your lawn either"

Cagliostro · 27/08/2018 13:50

You had a contract? Did DH accidentally sign his name in the grass instead of doing nice straight lines?

Batshit.

Jux · 27/08/2018 13:50

When you get the letter (if you get the letter) do make an invoice for mowing the lawn for a year, and a statement that you will no longer be doing it. I'm sure this 'contract' has an imaginary clause saying the contract can be ended by either party with no notice.

Hissy · 27/08/2018 13:51

Bank holiday cf thread! Yay!

They’re deluded.