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TROUBLE AT THE ALLOTMENT

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 6:49 pm
by gunners71uk
:dave: WELL ON MY ALLOTMENT THERE IS ANOLD FELLA 80 YRS WHO IS A PAIN AT TIMES I HAVE been down the allotment allot , he seems to want to cause trouble and likes to be on the allotment alone a numberof people have suspicions it peees me off when i just wanto do my garden and i get a running commentary he also moans cos people give me thing while i get me patch together, i dont really want a confrontation but how would you handle this i am a gentle giant!!!!!!

Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:16 pm
by shiney
To start with Happy Birthday for yesterday ~ you're HOW OLD?! :lol:


I think I would just smile a lot and get on with your work. Or you could just pretend you are hard of hearing.

Maybe, you could just say that you come to your allotment for some peace and quiet and to be alone with your thoughts.

I hate being rude to people even if they a pain in the neck but sometimes honesty is the best policy. He may be shocked but at least he'll know where he stands!


My opinion only. :lol:

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 7:17 am
by gunners71uk
:shock: thanks shiny for the advice i am 43 now lol how old r u lol :bom:
its mon 8.14 and raining here i got off from me weeks hol in scarborough sat 20 went to allotment yesterday to hoe weeds yuk lol before i start clearing the other quarter but three quarters cleared and forked over in a bout 6 weeks so i am well ahead, i have a copy of the allotment handbook and its helpful.all the best shiny.

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 10:23 am
by shiney
I am 42, so just an incy bit younger than you.


It's tipping down with rain here, but be rest assured the weeds will come out easier when the rain stops later on.


Good luck with your nosey/annoying old fella!

Perhaps he's just lonely. :cry:

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 1:02 pm
by Millymollymandy
I love your signature Gunners!! Are you male or female by the way? It's so difficult to know - I thought Shiney was a bloke at first :oops:

You never know, maybe the old fella will become your best friend after 6 months or so. Maybe he's just testing the waters, see if you are serious about the allotment, that sort of thing.

Or maybe not!

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2005 5:56 pm
by diver
I have a similiar problem...the old'un on my plot is 86 and thinks he's in with a chance with the "ladies".....I just carry on with my work while he talks to me ...he thinks he's chatting me up!!!....it's probably all the old chap can do ...maybe he is lonely and just wants someone to talk to

Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:16 pm
by Sue
Firstly let me say 43 is an amazing fantastic thrilling age to be - well it is until November!

Secondly - ways to tackle your old guy (like Shiney its just my personal view)
1 - explain you get bad stress related migraine and come to the allotment to relax and talking hurts, so if he doesn't mind you must crack on

2 - take the flask of tea - offer him a cup - let him whitter on as he may be very knowledgable, lonely etc, also if he is nosey he's the ideal one to keep an eye on the patch for you in your absence (burglars etc hate nosey neighbours)

I would take either option depending how I felt at the time - but we will all be old one day - and his allotment may be his only time out of a lonely home - good luck

Posted: Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:57 am
by wulf
Last year, my wife was really struck by a Callistemon (bottle brush) plant that she saw on her walk to work. Earlier this year we took a walk down so she could show me in it's full flowering glory and it turned out the owner of the plant was outside doing some watering.

We spoke for sometime... or, rather, she spoke for most of the 3/4 hour we stood there. On the other hand, she was passionate about plants and the examples in her garden served as good credentials for her claims of green fingers. Sometimes it's good to listen - worth investing a bit of time in.

Perhaps you could ask the 'troublemaker' a few questions about what he's growing and what he's found has worked? You might have to listen for a while but maybe it could take the edge of his apparent animosity.

Wulf

trouble - we've got one too

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:21 pm
by libran
Tried replying to this but got kicked off net as I'd been on too long so here goes again.
First thanks for links to help me get an allotment and now I've got half of one I've met our old boy. (must be one on every site I think) His main problem is Parish Councils and how they are running this site and why people don't trim their hedges as it says in their lease and why they don't stick to the terms of their lease and why the paths are not kept clear and what happened to the young offenders who should do hard labour and help with the digging and do we all think the parish council are made of money, and when was the last meeting held ...... you get the picture.
My replies run along the lines of "Well I've not been here long enough to pass a comment" and "If I don't get on with some clearance work then I'll be in breach of my agreement for not cultivating" and "I can see you point .... It's difficult isn't it but I must get on" and "Well I don't know a lot about this but perhaps when I've got a bit of land cleared you can let me have some ideas about what to grow and what does best here"
Its not going to be easy but the idea of gardening is to relieve stress so don't get too wound up by the old boy. Chill - when the whether is a bit colder he'll probably be tucked up in bed with his muffler and hot toddy whilst we're digging our socks off.
Good Luck Libran (Linda)

trouble - we've got one too

Posted: Mon Aug 29, 2005 6:22 pm
by libran
Tried replying to this but got kicked off net as I'd been on too long so here goes again.
First thanks for links to help me get an allotment and now I've got half of one I've met our old boy. (must be one on every site I think) His main problem is Parish Councils and how they are running this site and why people don't trim their hedges as it says in their lease and why they don't stick to the terms of their lease and why the paths are not kept clear and what happened to the young offenders who should do hard labour and help with the digging and do we all think the parish council are made of money, and when was the last meeting held ...... you get the picture.
My replies run along the lines of "Well I've not been here long enough to pass a comment" and "If I don't get on with some clearance work then I'll be in breach of my agreement for not cultivating" and "I can see you point .... It's difficult isn't it but I must get on" and "Well I don't know a lot about this but perhaps when I've got a bit of land cleared you can let me have some ideas about what to grow and what does best here"
Its not going to be easy but the idea of gardening is to relieve stress so don't get too wound up by the old boy. Chill - when the whether is a bit colder he'll probably be tucked up in bed with his muffler and hot toddy whilst we're digging our socks off.
Good Luck Libran (Linda)