Would you Lend a Stranger/Neighbour Your Lawnmower?

PasturesNew

ceridwen wrote: »

PASTURES...I can feel your mind going round in ever-decreasing circles worrying about this from here.....

Please promise me you will take a few deep breaths and try not to worry yourself about it.

The reason the neighbour said no sounded like a good/logical reason to me - nothing to do with you personally.

I think maybe the best bet is to lock away "valuables" and let the landlord loose to do it for 3 hours - whilst you sit somewhere nearby doing something else "extremely important and I must not be disturbed".

It's not valuables, it's putting away everything so it looks uncluttered... in a space where there's nowhere to put things. It just feels rude to call up, get them over and leave them to get on with it. It'd all be awkward - then I'd probably say something stupid and they'd think I was just ... well, odd.

PasturesNew

mrbadexample wrote: »

:think: Little bit too far.

What flavour?

Posh 'uns. Bought some cheapo ones for packed lunches (they never got that far though). Jalapeno Peppers, "Real Crisps".

mrbadexample

jessbob wrote: »

Okey Cokey :hello::hello:

Honestly, I mean it. I just hope you're prepared to dig up great big lumps of masonry, paving slabs etc, before you can actually do anything worthwhile.

PasturesNew

I should also mention that my LL runs a "proper business" and it's full-time - and right now is his very busy period (May to September) and due to the nature of that business works Sat/Sun too to keep on top of the tight timescales.

I kind of, stupidly, don't want to be a nuisance really. I know that right now trying to tie up my life/schedules with his would become a problem... then chuck in the weather variable and it's a call I've been putting off.

I would say he's a GOOD LL, it's just it's not all he does ... and I am far too mindful of that for my own good really.

mrbadexample

PasturesNew wrote: »

Posh 'uns. Bought some cheapo ones for packed lunches (they never got that far though). Jalapeno Peppers, "Real Crisps".

They sound great. :drool: But I'm not coming all the way to South Wales & mowing your lawn for a bag of crisps, however good. Sorry.

PasturesNew

mrbadexample wrote: »

They sound great. :drool: But I'm not coming all the way to South Wales & mowing your lawn for a bag of crisps, however good. Sorry.

http://www.realcrisps.com/Real-Crisps/Real-Crisps-Product-Range.html

I got one of the 6-packs "Hot Mix"

ceridwen

PasturesNew wrote: »

It's not valuables, it's putting away everything so it looks uncluttered... in a space where there's nowhere to put things. It just feels rude to call up, get them over and leave them to get on with it. It'd all be awkward - then I'd probably say something stupid and they'd think I was just ... well, odd.

Gawd...Pastures.....what can I say? I'm the one who - many years ago - learnt to drive and spent half her driving lessons chatting to my driving instructor, as I didnt want to seem rude (you're with someone - you're supposed to have a conversation right? DUH!!!! - claps hand to brow....). Pretty stupid - as I'm sure you can see. But if one has learnt that one should try to exercise good manners to someone/hold conversations with any company that is there in the room/etc/etc....it can be a bit hard to get out of that mindset in non-appropriate circumstances.

Never mind what he thinks about the state of the place - hes probably well aware how difficult it is to keep everything tidy in a small place. Lets face it - if you were in a mansion - you could just chuck all the clutter in a few spare rooms. One cant do the same thing in a tiny flatlet - there just isnt the space to do so - no reflection on you personally. Honestly - his only concern will be to find a powerpoint and whether you might make him a cup of tea or coffee before you leave him to get on with it - and you go off and deal with more important things.

I hate my "domestic arrangements" being disrupted with a passion - so I know what you feel like. Just grit your teeth/hand him a drink and vanish to something more important.

PasturesNew

ceridwen wrote: »

...his only concern will be to find a powerpoint and whether you might make him a cup of tea or coffee before you leave him to get on with it

Oh blimey - should I do that? It never occurred to me last time. It's one thing I never do for anybody. Oh dear oh dear. I've never offered him (or anybody) one. In fact, I don't even have the stuff ... living alone, over the years I've quit milk and sugar because it's just easier to make plain black instant coffee - you're never out of anything that way!

And I only have 2 mugs, one's chipped now. Last time he and his wife came... two people and only ONE mug that isn't chipped!

Stop it, now you've really put the cat among the pigeons!

ceridwen

Sorry...Pastures....didnt mean to do that.

Maybe a couple of charity shop mugs and a jar of Poundland Instant Coffee and jar of Coffeemate - in case of any callers - LL or otherwise???

They wont expect you to roll out posh coffee and luxury biscuits...I've found workmen are astonished if they do get offered anything than cheapest instant coffee and no biccies either.

You dont have to do "hostess with the mostest" routine - just dead basics thats all and that will be considered adequate...honest....

calleyw

PasturesNew wrote: »

OK, full story to fill in that odd gap ... I have Aspergers... therefore I have NO idea how to do smalltalk and wouldn't know what was rude or not. I'd guess it was rude to plug in the mower and sit inside watching TV for 3 hours while he was out there working... and I'd have to do that chit chat thing at some point (start, end, possibly in the middle).

Last time I just stood outside, by the wall - and the wife was there, so having to make this chit chat with this middle class, married woman ... it was all very uncomfortable. I probably said some really odd things. I don't want them to think I am odd.

I dunno ... I don't do conversation, chit-chat and I have NO idea of what is right/wrong to do.

Pasturesnew,

I did know about the aspergers as I have seen you have mentioned it before. Which is why I know that you are not in to people and do understand that is hard to do chit chat. I am very shy and find it hard to talk to people. And never really know what to say unless I really know the person.

Nah it is not rude to just plug the mower in and let the LL get on with it. I suspect if the truth be known he just want to get the job done and get out asap as he better things to do.

I know I hate cutting the grass and it takes for ever with a crappy flymo lite :rotfl:

I think the LL will understand that you don't want to stand around and chat. The thing is that when someone is cutting the grass they can't hear you over the mower and I would never dream of expecting someone to stand out there and watch me do the job as that would make me feel even more uncomfortable.

I have had another idea if you know when the LL is coming why not tell him when the time and date is fixed that you will be busy and can't be disturbed and put an extension lead out of the window for him.

That way you don't have to talk to him at all. And when he is finished he can just put the extension back though the window for you.

I would not worry about people thinking you are odd. I probably sometimes come across as being odd but who cares. That is somone elses problem and not me.

All the best what ever happens.

Yours

Calley