General Chat

It's like the Forth Bridge, isn't it..... this house was only built in 1994 (September) and although we have owned it from new.... we only lived in it for 6months, when hubby was due to come out of the Army.... only he didn't, he got commissioned, so we let it out... tenants were mostly ok... had one really bad family... but when we moved back in there was a load of sorting out to do... and of course, our needs are different now to1994... both the boys were still based at home with us then, and more than willing to help with some of the initial gardening plans we had drawn up!

Good luck with yours! You'll be finished before us.... we still have to save for a back door, and also can't agree on the flooring....... he'll come around, though ;¬)) I've got all the wall tiles.... I'm doing the tiling so that'll take about a year, lol!

Love

Daff xxx

Daff been in this house 13 years and still doing stuff...the biggest jobs are mosly done now...Roof rewire CH, bathroom kitchen this will be the 3rd go maybe get it right lol

Still got the stupid tree then?

We have had the conservatory built... and are in the middle of sorting the kitchen... and really must get around to painting the bedroom ceiling... it was re-plastered over a year ago, lol....... we had the bathroom gutted last year and a walk in shower put in cos I couldn't (still can't) step over a bath to have a shower.....

When we moved in, I threw a lick of paint at all the worse bits and then we started a slow programme of renovation.... but we ran out of money cos a lot of the things I could've done 3 years ago I can't do now... so have had to pay someone else to do it for me!! At the moment I am not too bad health wise.... the cortisone jabs helped, and I will probably be back on the tablets soon, again... so I'll have more stamina and fewer hurty bits!!
Hence needing help to start the garden off... I can potter around, but can't do any of the really heavy digging work any more... I used to do it all!

Love

Daff xxx

We have big plans for next year...new kitchen and Conservatory garden make over depending on that stupid tree next door...

Update on the very first post, Thanks to everyone.

Love

Daff xxx

lol Julia.... I am in Newport, South Wales.... I love gardening too, and a few years ago this would have been a bit of a challenge, but I would have been able to crack it... but these days if I work strenuously one day it takes a couple of days to recover... and on the bad days I can barely waft a duster around, lol!! Leave alone dig a garden..... it has sooooo much potential, and I love it, but must accept that I am not going to be able to *build* it without help... I don't have a lot of pennies to spend on a massive instant *makeover*, but I can afford to pay someone for a few hours work a week.

I will look at all the wonderful ideas tomorrow... I have e-mailed a few organisations as well, with some proposals.

Something I haven't mentioned is that we back and side onto an area of Special Scientific Interest...... it is one of the reasons we bought the house...... it might be an avenue I could have a look at!! Not sure how yet... but you never know..

Love

Daff xxx

where are you daff if your near i could pop and do some i love gardening and by the sounds of it a challenge

julia x

Von, what a good idea.....

Well... I feel so much brighter now!!

Ann, I think you're right about the advert!!
What if I put an add in the paper saying something like...

Wanted... help with garden in exchange for use of agreed area within said garden....... do you reckon that would work??

I think I might re-visit the idea tomorrow!! My brain is going all mushy

Susan, well done!! You have been practicing, lol ;¬))

Lol Susan.... have just googled Social Services.........!! Thanks!!

Social services may be able to tell you of the learning disabilities set-ups and the laws.

S
x

Shirley, that is a good idea..... I am happy to be out there and help, but I can't manage on my own... I could mow the lawn but I can't pull the starter cord thingy, it hurts!! I can plant the shrubs... put I can't dig the holes!! I have put down loads of carpet for weed suppression.... but I can't lift it, not on my own... and we also have loads of work going on indoors that hubby sorts out in his limited *spare* time.

Sally yes... when the home I worked in was taken over by a national company most of the staff ended up on the minimum wage... I wouldn't be able to pay much more, but holidays etc would be included... and also the chance to have a patch that is their own... for veggies etc!!

I suppose I have this rose coloured image of an elderly Alan Titchmarsh hiding away in a shed at the bottom of my garden, but with said garden suddenly blossoming into a beautiful haven!!

*sigh* must get me eyes tested!!

Lol at Susan!!

if or when you place an ad in the newspaper I'm sure they will tell you if you are contravening any laws or they would not be able to publish an ad that does!!

See!...not just a pretty face.....am getting good at this advice lark....been practicing :-))))))

Don't forget Daff that there are strict laws regarding how much you pay per hour as well. And also holidays etc even for part timers.

Susan that would be perfect... and with my background in that field I also have the skills and the necessary police checks to be able to work alongside them as well...... and communicate!.

I am even happy for them to have an area that they could call their own... I would will it to them, lol!!

I really miss my work in that field!

Love

Daff xxxx

Have you checked the small adds in the local paper or are there any pensioners clubs locally where youcould advertise or give the club secretary a ring

Funny you should ask Daff.....the old fellah across the road from me has volunteers from local handicap place who cut his trees etc....the other day he was asked if they could use part of his large garden to grow vegetables to sell or use for their local society....he is just looking into the legalities of it ( just in case he kicks the bucket and they want to claim his garden....one can't be too careful :-) )......worth looking into though.

Susan
x

Jenny Wren... that is a suspicion I had...... lol!! I think it falls into the discrimination category, plus you have all the employment laws to contend with.... sigh, it's a bit of a minefield.... it seemed like a good idea when I discussed it with hubby over the weekend!

Ann.... I might just kidnap him next time I see you, lol!!

Jean, Age Concern only provided their list of volunteers to over 60's... do they have a list of retirees who would like to do odd jobs, now (I am not retired, yet, I have a few years to go, lol)

I have just had someone come to give me a quote... basically, he wants to bulldoze my entire garden, and start all over again,lol!!

I have someone coming on Wednesday as well.... but they are all landscaping firms, so I think it might be much of the same!

Oh dear, back to the drawing board!!

Love

Daff xxx

ps, Ann... I was just so geared up to borrowing your hubby that I forgot to say... I will put an advert in the local paper tomorrow, I think... it does sound like a good idea, but then I have to be a *proper employer* I think!! Will go and check.... oh for the good old days and less red tape!
xxxxxx

Daff
I wonder, if you advertised for 'somebody to help re--organise garden, Monday to friday, no weekends' you would rule out people who work so may automatically get somebody retired.
I can see you could also get somebody who is out of work but, if there is a lot of digging you need somebody who is fit. you could take them on for a 2 week trial at first. you are going to have to supervise anyway as you will have definite ideas where the plants have to go. state the maximum number of hours you are prepared to pay for a week.

By the way, our son used to do gardening jobs when he was 16/17 and people thought very highly of him. Just lawn mowing, weeding and digging.

You will need to ask for references and follow them up too.

I would lend you OH if we lived nearer!!!!

Ann
Glos

Daff age concern usually have a list of helpers, we had a plumbing prob, and a guy came and tried to help,they are mostly volunteers, the shared gaden seems a good idea.Jean x

Daff - to go back to your original question, I'm almost sure you can't now advertise for a retired person but what you could do, is advertise for someone who just wants a few hours work.