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What's your opinion on this (family strife)
Mindless_Clone
Posts: 560 Forumite
Firstly, sorry if this is a bit long. Secondly, names have been changed to protect the *cough* innocent but otherwise, this is a fairly accurate recount of recent events from someone (i.e. me) who thought I was reasonably impartial. Problem being is I ended up being accused (quite nastily) of taking sides... essentially that's had the effect of making me take a side and that side is my own! But it has been playing on my mind who was right or wrong (or was it a case of neither) in this situation.
Shelly and Malcolm live in a 3 bed house with their 3 young children (and occasional stepchild on M's side) and 5 dogs. Also living in the house - or more accurately in a converted wooden shed in the garden - is Shelly's brother, Leo and his partner Andy. Neither Shelly or Malcolm like Andy much (not without reason - he is a bit of a lazy git and something of a fantasist). Leo used to live there alone, moved out to live with Andy and then they found themselves homeless, the pair of them moved back to Shelly and Malcolm's. Originally this was supposed to be for a couple of weeks but turned into a more permanent arrangement to the extent that Malcolm spent a lot of time and money converting their timber shed into a suitable bedroom for them.
Malcolm maintains they has an unwritten verbal agreement that, should either party wish to end the tenancy, they had to give 2 months notice... paid up front. (Leo has later disputed that no such agreement was ever made or discussed but I have no way of knowing who is telling the truth.)
Leo and Andy paid £900 a month. This was all inclusive of meals and bills, except an additional £100 a month to pay for an extra TIVO box and a souped up broadband connection that Leo wanted... so all in all £1000 a month. I know you're thinking that's a lot of money to live in a shed but Malcolm did once tell me that he makes no profit from it and it all goes towards the cost of them living there... well that's what he says anyway.:huh: They were both given free run of the house and expected to do their share of the chores too (including walking the dogs and taking the children to school etc.).
Fast forward about 8 months. Things had been tense for a while; Shelly and Andy are both very antagonistic people and basically rubbed each other up the wrong way. One day Shelly and Andy had a massive row (major overreaction to something trivial and, frankly Shelly was spoiling for it all day - I know I was there and witnessed it). Leo walking in from work after a late shift and got it in the neck as soon as he got through the door. I don't actually know what happened after that because I exited stage left pretty damn sharpish. :embarasse Almost before I got home, Leo and Andy turn up on my door absolutely distraught; Malcolm had stuck his oar in the row and it ended with some heated words and leo and andy being given notice to leave - eviction. They stayed the night at mine but went back the next day but with every intention of finding somewhere else to live.
They actually lasted another 2 weeks before Andy claimed Shelly had made him feel very uncomfortable to the point where he felt afraid of entering the main house so he said "enough" and uppped and went off to stay with a relative. Leo chose to go with him. This was about the 10th of the month and they had already paid their £1000 up front for the whole month.
Shelly and Malcolm then asked for the final month's rent as they owed it according to the verbal agreement that may or may not exist. When Leo refused, Malcolm went ballistic - threats were made to "break his legs" and to "get Andy the sack" (they worked in the same building although different employers) etc etc. and some very vitriolic texts were sent. It's sort of calmed down but it's definitely not all forgiven and forgotten and now L and A are getting married and not inviting S and M and their children to the wedding because of the way they feel about Andy.
I have now been accused (by Shelly - not to my face mind, behind my back) of taking their side because I said "well if you're not making any profit out of them then why are you falling out over the money..." big bad me. But I stand by that; can't honestly see why - given its her brother and things are already tense - anyone would want to quarrel over money they don't really need to the extent where you end up being excluded from the happiest day of their life? :huh: I'm not overly bothered about being big bad side taker, but I'm curious as to how others see this situation and what you would do in either scenario.
Shelly and Malcolm live in a 3 bed house with their 3 young children (and occasional stepchild on M's side) and 5 dogs. Also living in the house - or more accurately in a converted wooden shed in the garden - is Shelly's brother, Leo and his partner Andy. Neither Shelly or Malcolm like Andy much (not without reason - he is a bit of a lazy git and something of a fantasist). Leo used to live there alone, moved out to live with Andy and then they found themselves homeless, the pair of them moved back to Shelly and Malcolm's. Originally this was supposed to be for a couple of weeks but turned into a more permanent arrangement to the extent that Malcolm spent a lot of time and money converting their timber shed into a suitable bedroom for them.
Malcolm maintains they has an unwritten verbal agreement that, should either party wish to end the tenancy, they had to give 2 months notice... paid up front. (Leo has later disputed that no such agreement was ever made or discussed but I have no way of knowing who is telling the truth.)
Leo and Andy paid £900 a month. This was all inclusive of meals and bills, except an additional £100 a month to pay for an extra TIVO box and a souped up broadband connection that Leo wanted... so all in all £1000 a month. I know you're thinking that's a lot of money to live in a shed but Malcolm did once tell me that he makes no profit from it and it all goes towards the cost of them living there... well that's what he says anyway.:huh: They were both given free run of the house and expected to do their share of the chores too (including walking the dogs and taking the children to school etc.).
Fast forward about 8 months. Things had been tense for a while; Shelly and Andy are both very antagonistic people and basically rubbed each other up the wrong way. One day Shelly and Andy had a massive row (major overreaction to something trivial and, frankly Shelly was spoiling for it all day - I know I was there and witnessed it). Leo walking in from work after a late shift and got it in the neck as soon as he got through the door. I don't actually know what happened after that because I exited stage left pretty damn sharpish. :embarasse Almost before I got home, Leo and Andy turn up on my door absolutely distraught; Malcolm had stuck his oar in the row and it ended with some heated words and leo and andy being given notice to leave - eviction. They stayed the night at mine but went back the next day but with every intention of finding somewhere else to live.
They actually lasted another 2 weeks before Andy claimed Shelly had made him feel very uncomfortable to the point where he felt afraid of entering the main house so he said "enough" and uppped and went off to stay with a relative. Leo chose to go with him. This was about the 10th of the month and they had already paid their £1000 up front for the whole month.
Shelly and Malcolm then asked for the final month's rent as they owed it according to the verbal agreement that may or may not exist. When Leo refused, Malcolm went ballistic - threats were made to "break his legs" and to "get Andy the sack" (they worked in the same building although different employers) etc etc. and some very vitriolic texts were sent. It's sort of calmed down but it's definitely not all forgiven and forgotten and now L and A are getting married and not inviting S and M and their children to the wedding because of the way they feel about Andy.
I have now been accused (by Shelly - not to my face mind, behind my back) of taking their side because I said "well if you're not making any profit out of them then why are you falling out over the money..." big bad me. But I stand by that; can't honestly see why - given its her brother and things are already tense - anyone would want to quarrel over money they don't really need to the extent where you end up being excluded from the happiest day of their life? :huh: I'm not overly bothered about being big bad side taker, but I'm curious as to how others see this situation and what you would do in either scenario.
"So long and thanks for all the fish" :hello:
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Comments
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£1000 a month to live in a shed when this would have got them a flat together? I think Leo and Andy need their heads examined!0
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£1000 a month to live in a shed when this would have got them a flat together? I think Leo and Andy need their heads examined!
Likewise! Is the shed encrusted in gold? It'd have to be for that money!Strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government0 -
They're all idiots. Keep well away fro them and keep your opinions t yourself.0
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Supernatural wrote: »Likewise! Is the shed encrusted in gold? It'd have to be for that money!
My thoughts exactly!
Plus the sheer inconvenience - I presume they have to go via the garden to enter the house for food/drinks/toilet etc.
Sounds like a nightmare!"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" (Douglas Adams)0 -
£1000 a month to live in a shed when this would have got them a flat together? I think Leo and Andy need their heads examined!
!!!!!!?
Who in their right mind would pay that to live in a shed?
OP unless you are one of the key players in this family drama I suggest you steer well clear and keep your opinions to yourself.I'm not that way reclined
Jewelry? Seriously? Sheldon you are the most shallow, self-centered person I have ever met. Do you really think that another transparently-manipu... OH, IT'S A TIARA! A tiara; I have a tiara! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me!0 -
They're paying a grand a month to live in a shed and the worst you can say about them is that one of them's lazy.
I don't think I could be neutral!
How on earth does a grand only cover the costs of having someone dossing in your shed? Where do they buy their food, Harrods?
And then threatening them with physical harm and losing a job? I think Malcolm's got off lightly with just being crossed off the wedding list. Why are they even bothered about the wedding when they don't like Andy?Unless I say otherwise 'you' means the general you not you specifically.0 -
How on earth does a grand only cover the costs of having someone dossing in your shed? Where do they buy their food, Harrods?
:rotfl:
Perhaps a Michelin Star chef visits every evening to produce an exciting array of freshly prepared classical French dishes?"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?" (Douglas Adams)0 -
£1000 a month to live in a wooden shed on someone else's property...:eek: Even with the full run of the house, it's complete madness. I think Malcolm & Shelly are greedy so and so's (for want of an acceptable forum word) and Leo & andy are fools for living there in the first place.
I say let them sort it out. It sounds like an explosive situation they all got themselves into and you don't need the aggro.0 -
why on earth do you want to have anything to do with such a dysfunctional bunch? Get clear, stay clear.The questions that get the best answers are the questions that give most detail....0
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I think Andy and Leo should rent somewhere else, Malcolm and Shelley should forgo the last lot of 'rent' (what a rip-off!), and you should just keep quietly out of the way.(AKA HRH_MUngo)
Member #10 of £2 savers club
Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology: Terry Eagleton0
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