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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

cheeky or am I being precious?

104 replies

elephanys · 09/05/2023 15:15

Neighbour asked to borrow our mower… they have a reasonable size lawn and apparently theirs has broken and they are ‘in the process’ of sorting a new one.

OP posts:
RowenaRosewood · 09/05/2023 16:52

eddiemairswife · 09/05/2023 16:06

Tell them it's No Mow May.

THIS ^

and to the pp who mows their neighbours grass without them asking, please don’t. You’d get an earful from me if you mowed my lawn when I hadn’t asked especially during #NoMowMay 🐝 🦋 🌸

Nannewnannew · 09/05/2023 16:55

Butchyrestingface · 09/05/2023 16:46

Did the cheeky, cheeky bastards actually dare to enter your garden, approach your front door and ... ring the bell in order to make this request, OP? WITHOUT first receiving a Royal Summons?

Fetch the fucking blunderbuss and take aim whilst you've still got hands. Today, it's borrow your lawnmower, tomorrow it will be smother you in your sleep, bury you below the patio and move into your home.

This made me chuckle! 😂😂😂

LilylilyDaisy · 09/05/2023 17:01

It would depend on my perception of how careful they would be with it.

I know people who seem to break things just by looking at them. They don't take care, and they aren't interested in fixing or paying when something breaks because to them (unsurprisingly) it's a common occurrence and then they just... borrow someone else's.

Mowers are expensive to replace and it depends on the state of the grass being mowed. I once mowed a friend's completely overgrown lawn as a favour (using my own mower) and the motor kept cutting out as it had overheated trying to cut through too-long, too-thick overgrown grass.

Badgeringabout · 09/05/2023 17:06

Can't believe that anyone would have a problem with this. Very weird OP.

VivatVaginaCamilla · 09/05/2023 17:07

Eh?

Assuming they are going to give it back, I really don't see a problem with this (though I'd probably lend mine to the neighbours then forget I'd done it and think I'd lost it so would end up buying a new one).

KVick · 09/05/2023 17:08

They broke theirs, so now they'd like a shot at breaking yours!

viques · 09/05/2023 17:15

elephanys · 09/05/2023 15:15

Neighbour asked to borrow our mower… they have a reasonable size lawn and apparently theirs has broken and they are ‘in the process’ of sorting a new one.

Cheeky. They could get a mower delivered tomorrow from Amazon, or pick one up this afternoon from Argos or B and Q or a garden centre. There is no “in the process” about buying a lawn mower. It’s like buying a sandwich, you choose the one you like, you buy it.

viques · 09/05/2023 17:16

And the grass isnt going to grow appreciably higher between now and the weekend! So unless they are hosting Andy Murray for a friendly knock up they don’t need to use your mower.

Badleg85 · 09/05/2023 17:19

Not cheeky at all. I'd prefer if they put some fuel in it but as a one off I wouldn't be too bothered

Inkblue · 09/05/2023 17:20

The one and only time I lent my mower out it came back broken. One of my new neighbours asked me recently and I said no for this reason but also because the wheel keeps falling off and you have to know how to use it to keep it on. Also, I have renters either side of me and they typically move out after about a year. I’ve had a stream of requests to borrow stuff because they don’t want to buy their own. They don’t realise they aren’t the first to ask. I send them to The Library of Things. \\\

Dixiechickonhols · 09/05/2023 17:22

Once is fine and a none cheeky request if they borrow it for months on end no.

SpecialControlGroup · 09/05/2023 17:22

Unless they have a history of borrowing things and never returning them, then no they aren't being cheeky

littleripper · 09/05/2023 17:23

You've missed the bit where you said yes then they lent it to their brother who sold it at a car boot 😂

DerekFaker · 09/05/2023 17:24

Eh?

ActDottie · 09/05/2023 17:26

I don’t get how this is cheeky??? It’s neighbourly

WimpoleHat · 09/05/2023 17:27

There was a thread a couple of months ago about whether or not it was okay to ask others for help/favours and in what circumstances. I came down firmly - firmly - on the side of “no, it’s not okay to ask if you can sort it yourself as people don’t feel able to say no and if you’ve run out of milk just drive down to the Coop”. But even I think it’s perfectly fine - as a one off - to ask to borrow your neighbour’s lawn mower!

gettingoldisshit · 09/05/2023 17:28

Why is that cheeky?

Booklover40 · 09/05/2023 17:29

mopeymouse · 09/05/2023 15:24

I mow my neighbours garden for them every week (front and back) during the summer! They don't ask, I just do...

I don’t know whether this is very nice or very cheeky of you😂 - I take it they’re quite happy with this arrangement?

What is cheeky about it op?

PoseyFlump · 09/05/2023 17:30

If you lend them the mower and they return it wrecked then it becomes cheeky. Unfortunately something bad has to happen first. We used to lend our tools out but some people think lending means giving and we got sick of chasing them up.

orangemagnolia · 09/05/2023 17:32

I don't see anything cheeky there

FiveShelties · 09/05/2023 17:34

So did you lend the mower or did you refuse?

I cannot believe anyone would say no unless they have form for asking every week.

Fladdermus · 09/05/2023 17:34

I would unless there's a reason not to trust them with it. You never know when you'll need you neighbours. So best to cultivate a 'helping each other when needed' relationship.

The other day I saw the bloke next door scrambling over my back hedge/fence. Went out to see what he was doing. DS(9) was hanging upside down by one foot from a tree. Neighbour got to him before he fell. I'd like to think he'd do the same even if I refused to lend him my mower mind.

Brefugee · 09/05/2023 17:35

elephanys · 09/05/2023 15:15

Neighbour asked to borrow our mower… they have a reasonable size lawn and apparently theirs has broken and they are ‘in the process’ of sorting a new one.

say no: it's no-mow-May. The pollinators will thank you

SwimmingCostumeHelp · 09/05/2023 17:36

Ladders, lawn mowers, neighbourly stuff to lend and borrow from time to time.

Completely normal, OP.

LumpySpaceGoddess · 09/05/2023 17:44

I borrowed my neighbours lawnmower when my one broke halfway through the job, they were more than happy to help out and I bought them a nice little thank you gift to show my appreciation but they were honestly the nicest neighbours I’ve ever had!