Not sure what to think: MIL neighbours

[latestnamechange]

Just had a call from my 85 year old MIL's neighbours. I don't really see or speak to them very often, so when I saw it was them calling, I was really worried as she's older, vulnerable and in quite poor health.
The man told me not to worry, but he needed to call as the grass in MIL's front garden has got long and it looks awful. He said that the neighbours have all spoken to each other and agreed that they should not do it, but it should be done and that maybe I should do it, or maybe a gardener could do it, but he didn't want to recommend a gardener.
We do pop round with food or pharmacy deliveries from time to time, but don't go in and I've also been trying to isolate due to asthma. He knows this.
Initially, I felt really guilty, because I'm a bit of a people pleaser, but I think it's a bit of a cheek really, especially given the current situation. She has a mower, but it's extremely unlikely to have the right blades and I really don't want to go to B&Q or anywhere to get gardening accessories, in fact, I don't think I should even be considering it.

What do you think?

Is it a space your MIL would use? A few of our neighbours (elderly, on their own) like to sit or potter about in their front gardens mainly so they can speak to other neighbours or people in the village passing by.

It might be worth getting it sorted for that reason.

It's even more cheeky they phoned you, not your husband let's not get carried away. He probably phoned the landline

I really wouldn't take the advice above (tell them to Fuck off) it's very useful to have a next door neighbour as a point of contact when you have an 85 year-old MIL. Try to keep relations friendly even if you are a bit irritated.

Wow, this is another level

Surely if it bothered him that much the logical thing to do is to offer to cut it!

He's obviously got A LOT of time on his hands

Would it really hurt them to cut the grass for her. My husband and 9 year cut our neighbours grass yesterday as she is over 90 years old and tried to do it herself with a strimmer and she ended up cutting her hand with it. This is despite her being a nightmare the last few weeks as one of our fence panels broke and she insisted we get it changed despite not being able to get a new panel due to everything being closed and I am shielding due to my health condition so we can’t go out anyway. If they are that concerned about it they can do it or sod off!

Who normally cuts it?

Phone back and say you don't have time to cut the grass and MiL can't do it so it will have to just grow.

Just tell them you are keen ecologists and environmentalists and thus are letting it grow. Chuck a few wildflower seeds over it next time you go, voila. Bonus points for poppies.

She had a gardener last summer and I think one neighbour cut it once, but definitely wasn't the one who called me.

He did choose to call me (mobile) not my husband. Not sure why, maybe I'm obviously a bit more of a pushover.

She doesn't really go out so probably wouldn't use it.

Definitely won't be telling them to Fuck Off even tho I might think it.

Thanks for your replies. I feel much better about it now.

I’d say yeah no problem I’ll cut it and then just never do it. Let it grow massive!

Yep, say that sorry, you're not able to do it at this time.

He's clearly not phoning out of concern for your mother, but out of concern that her garden is somehow unsightly. Well tough.

I would also be guided by your MIL.

If she wants it neat to look at or sit on or any reason of her own. You should arrange a gardener to do it.

If she doesn't care. Just leave it. Did he offer?

Just tell them that actually you feel it would be acceptable under "social distancing" for them to do it and thank them a lot for thinking about your elderly in-laws who obviously aren't capable of doing it themselves.

I'd be phoning him back and telling him that you can't do it and if it gets mentioned to your MIL then they'll be kick offs and he'll have more to worry about than a virus.

Explain to him how his neck allows his head to move so he can look in the other direction.

Then I'd look for a local gardner and sort it all out, after a week.

It is highly unlikely she is at all bothered.

Did he offer? no, quite the opposite. He explained that he and the other neighbours all agreed that they should NOT do it.

Cheeky Fuckers!

The person who notices it sorts it!!

I am assuming that all of the posters are English? You are such a polite, people pleasing nation! My response would have been two words - the second one off. Hilarious.

They sound like a bunch of gossipy curtain twitchers.

Gil55

its nasty that no1s offered to do it , just tell them you cant do it because of your asthma & its too difficult to organise a gardener right now (although mines still coming) x if they are so bothered they should do it , some people are plain mean x

Bloody hell, does she live in The Archers? They’ve all had a good gossip behind her back and decided not to help her. How neighbourly

To be honest, I would be concerned if her garden looks neglected and overgrown that it will highlight it as being a house where a vulnerable person is living in and get it sorted out.

I cannot fathom how people can get their knickers in a twist over the state of a neighbours front yard.

Tell him dandelions are good for the bees at this time of year! I have turned my small front lawn into a wild flower area, well that's my excuse anyway!

I’m interested to know what all the neighbours’ reasons were for not doing it? If they all actually had a discussion together about it and came to the conclusion that NONE of them should do it..... why?!

I agree that given the circumstances and the fact she is elderly, it would be neighbourly and just plain nice of one of them to do it. You’d think they would, without discussing it or phoning you.

Tell him he's welcome to do it!