A woman who moved to the US for work has found herself in an awkward dispute with a neighbour who keeps cutting her lawn against her wishes and then hints that she should contribute to the cost of the petrol.
The woman, named Janet, shared her story in a letter read out on Graham Norton and Maria McErlane's Wanging On podcast, which is also available on YouTube.
Her letter began: "I've recently moved to the US for work. One day I came home and the neighbour was cutting our lawn. I'll admit it was overgrown, but I had booked a gardener to come a few days later."
Janet told him in a friendly way that she appreciated the gesture but he needn't worry about helping. Yet when she returned home from the office recently, she found he had done it again, even though "it didn't need it."
He has since dropped hints about chipping in for petrol, leaving Janet to wonder whether she should "just get over it" and pay up.
Podcast hosts offer conflicting advice
Maria advised Janet to let the neighbour carry on. She said: "Isn't it one less thing to have to worry about - or to make a call about and get a landscaper in? Why not just let the neighbour do it? It's going to be cheaper than getting someone to come in especially. He's a neighbour, just being nice, you don't want to fall out with him and you might need him at some point."
Graham disagreed, pointing out: "That thing about dropping hints about the petrol - clearly it's about 10p of petrol to mow a lawn - he just wants the appreciation and the love." He added a clear instruction: "Cut this off now. Just say, 'Thank you for doing this - do I owe you anything for petrol to this point?' He can then say what he wants and if he says, 'Yes', just give him the money and make it very clear you now have a gardener."
Graham said that if the neighbour wants to continue after that, he is an "idiot", because Janet will never say thank you or give him money again. Maria still disagreed, saying: "But she might need him one day if her house is on fire or something." Graham joked: "Yeah from his petrol!" He closed by reiterating: "Janet, I just think you need to find a way to politely knock this on the head."
Viewers take sides
The general consensus among viewers was to side with Graham. One YouTube user declared: "As for the neighbour cutting the lawn, I do think it's a clear violation. She did not ask for him to do it. She definitely prefers to take care of her lawn herself and on her own terms. And for him to ask for payment is beyond the pale. It's truly ridiculous."
Another said: "I speak as an American: after being asked to stop, the neighbour who continues to mow her lawn is not being nice."
A third recalled: "My neighbour tried to 'help' me out by having her gardeners cut my lawn. Too short. Then sprayed with pesticides and herbicides. Then she started arguing with me that my son was a girl. Crazytown. Graham, you are so right! Get off my lawn."
While a fourth slammed: "The neighbour is not nice! He's a passive aggressive twerp."
