Not sure what to think: MIL neighbours

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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?

Oh and why should op's husband cut it if the only people who care if it's long or not are arsey neighbours who can't help out an old lady.

Good grief, what a bunch of awful people, to hassle you about such a triviality at this point.

Because it draws attention to the fact that a vulnerable person might live there. It’s not about getting one up on the neighbours, look at the bigger picture,

Why have MIL's neighours got your phone no? Do they end up 'helping' her a lot?

Might they be sick of it?

You'd be amazed how many geriatrics - and their families - will rely on neighbours popping round instead of paying for care.

Get the grass cut. MIL will be a sitting duck for doorstep con artists.

She has a mower, but it's extremely unlikely to have the right blades

Why does her mower not have right blades? What does that mean?
Is the grass so tall it needs to be strimmed?

Do her and her neighbours not speak?

As others have said, why can’t her son cut it? You are going round anyway with food/medicine.

So many more questions.

Let the wildflowers grow, it's good for the bees. Everyone is going on about the bees but really a manicured lawn won't be helping them.

just tell him we won't be sorting anything till this is over feel free to cut it.

Ffs global pandemic but the grass loking awful is a priority to ring someone and ask them to cut it

i would hav e lost it personally

I take it your 85 year old MIL is unable to cut her own grass. I assume she would rather it was neat and tidy and I think that her family should be the first ones to have noticed and helped out.....

@BeesandGees there there dear.

I totally agree with @BeesandGees

There's lots of things we cant do at the moment. Mowing a lawn or arranging a gardener dont fall into this category.

It'll be harder to do if you leave it and draws attention to her house.

But mainly, why dont you ring a gardener? She used to have one. Use him again?

how did the call end? what did you say to him?

I will say it again. Consider getting it cut as a neglected and unkempt garden may draw attention that a vulnerable person lives at that address. Don’t think people aren’t preying on the vulnerable during this time as many other avenues of income are cut off to them.

Not necessarily so poster, we regularly pass one house on our walk after dinner. Audi driving middle aged couple with unkempt front garden full of dandelions and weeds, they are just not bothered to tidy it up.

Wow. If it bothers them that much they can do it themselves. Definitely don’t do it yourself. My heya dh is actually against mowing the lawn. Longer grass= better for wildlife. I do it myself but not very often. We have arguments because I think neighbours appreciate it but his view is it’s grass why does it matter what the neighbours think.

While it is none of their business really it will ultimately be better for mils garden to be mown as one they are out of hand it is a pain and harder work to get a garden back.

However, what about her son? You have asthma but is her son not able to borrow a. Mower or take one with him to sort it out for his mum?

What a cheeky interfering man. Tell him that while lockdown is on, you shall not be going over and spending time cutting the grass. Tell him once this is all over, you'll give it some thought.

I understand being a people pleaser, I used to be like this. But you end up setting yourself on fire to keep other people warm and you end up getting royally fucked over, mainly by selfish, pushy people. So stop worrying about that these people think.

If it's hideously long (the mower might not have the right blades? Maybe the neighbour's doesn't either?) then I see no problem with suggesting to your mum that she contacts the gardener she had before.

Why have MIL's neighours got your phone no? Do they end up 'helping' her a lot?

Might they be sick of it?

That's a good point, actually.

message back making it sound like you understand him to mean that he and the other neighbours would love to do it but didn't want to overstep things and reassure him that it would be fine for them to do it

What nasty people! I wonder how many neighbours were actually consulted - perhaps it was really just him and his wife?

Either ignore completely until September, or thank him profusely for offering to do your MIL's mowing and say that you'll drop him off a bottle as thanks when he's done it.

The latter has the benefit of putting him off from contacting you ever again.

It won't be long until those of a certain persuasion will notice the long grass, and then not only will she be getting her lawn cut, but will also be having her driveway tarmacced and guttering replaced.

It’s not important, they have too much time on their hands

Is it possible that the neighbours are all supposed to be shielding and that’s why they discussed it( presumably on the phone to each other)
Most of my neighbours are either shielding or elderly. Our road is all bungalows- there are us and another family that have been helping out where we can.they all have gardeners usually- but having an untidy garden is a huge worry to some of our elderly neighbours- could it be this? Maybe track down the gardener for your mil.

Very odd that one of the neighbours won't cut the grass for you Mil, what a weird lot of people they are. Are they the types who always wan't paying for a job,and have never heard of good deeds.

Very odd that her son wont cut her grass or arrange for someone else to do it like last year.