The off-sick gardener

Some of you older members may have wondered why I've not been posting much in the gardening threads. Well, the reason is that I've found it too painful (literally) to even think about gardening at the moment. I had an accident at work about 15 months ago and am now awaiting a knee replacement as a result. So all last year I have not been able to even cut the grass much less get any veg in or tend to the existing plants and shrubs. Roses are all lanky and overgrown and full of hips, old and wornout biennials and annuals litter the beds and weeds and moss have overtaken large parts of my flower beds. And the lawn - don't even go there! It's been cut twice last summer but the guy who did it decided not to carry on doing gardening odd jobs and I can't seem to find anyone else who isn't going to charge an RHS sized fee! So now it's a mass of hay and dandelions. And to think I especially choose this house because of the garden.

Anyway, I finally got a communication from a solicitor that they're going to pursue my claim for compensation which is good but it won't give me back my garden or my gardening!

(end of pity party!)

 

MD - so sorry to hear your woes.....

If I lived nearer I would come round and do a few bits and bobs for you.....

maybe if there are any GC mambers nearby??? I see, to remember you make a wicked Choccie cake!!

Maybe put an ad at your local allotments or in the church magazine for a semi-retired person to help out????
Will the compensation be big enough to finance some alterations to the garden to make is easier to look after?

 

Michaelmass..Dont waste those dandelions turn them into dandelion tea !! You could do with someone to come and make your garden easier to do ..with raised beds.. we will have to volunteer you for a garden makeover if anyone sees any advertised..

 

What a rotten thing, MMD. As one of those people who do the very thing you're after - I can tell you that most people find me in yellow pages, or yell.com - so I'd try there! Or there's always Shoot - they advertise gardeners, and I'd think that anyone who's on there would be ok....

Wish you luck in that - but you'd clearly rather be out there doing it for yourself.

What degree of mobility will you have when the op's done? Will you be able to get back to doing most things? I have worked for quite a few people who couldn't do their gardens any more, usually because of getting older, and wherever possible we made some adaptations to things, like making raised beds, which were easier to deal with. I currently have one lady who is very badly crippled with arthritis and we're doing exactly that.

Good luck with your search, your compensation, and the op + rehab.

Oh, and I do love your smileys!

 

I believe that each cloud has a silver lining and in your case i hope this will be proved as such,sometimes thing tend to look bleak,but im a firm believer in positive thought,{ithink,i can,i will} best of wishes to you,

 

Even if we can't help, MMD, we're here in thought with you which doesn't ease the problem but I hope comforts you a wee bit!

 

Sorry to hear of your predicament MMD - it must be very frustrating :( A couple of young lads round here do a bit of 'gardening' for a few bob - maybe worth asking around - dont think they can do much more than mowing and supervised weeding but better than nothing perhaps
I do hope things will sort themselves out soon for you and I wish you the best of luck x x

 

Can understand your frustration and sadness MMD. Any news on when you may have the op? Hope you have a fast and full recovery and can enjoy your garden again soon. ><

 

So sorry MD - nothing worse than pain plus seeing your garden go wild. If twas me, I'd break the bank and get my local reputable garden centre team to get it straight for spring.

Nothing more depressing than to watch your garden disappear - it becomes a mountain that looks unclimbable. Its isn't of course

I trust your solicitor is no win no fee - and be sure that you have cover for if you lose.

 

Thanks everyone, for your good wishes and sympathies!

Yes, Fran it is NWNF but I'm also doing it through the Royal College of Nursing. Well, I pay enough in annual subs so might as well get something out of it! Most encouraging is that both the RCN legal eagles and the solicitor said they wouldn't pursue it it unless they were certain of better than 50% chance of a successful outcome. Even so, given my age, I doubt I'll get more than a couple of grand as best. But I want to use that as a precedent to have the powers that be permit nurses over 60 (or even 55) to opt out of doing on-calls. I asked and asked for four years, since I was 61, to not do oncalls but 'they' wouldn't let me. So this night I'm stuck there, scrubbed up for 6�½ hours without so much as seconds sit-down and next day I've got a pain in my knee. Think that - and my poor garden - deserves some recompense, don't you?

 

Sorry to hear of your problems MD. Only advice I can offer is if they try to settle out of court don't accept their first offer. Also make sure any medical costs and/or benifits you may have recieved that have to be paid back are covered seperately. Compensation is for your loss and taut, not for the government!

 

Yup I think you got a case - particularly if you were specific about the reasons why you were requesting not to do on call. If its being done via the RCN - then there will be no risk of costs, so go for it. There's a good few cases now, where employers have been warned of potential problems, and have taken no action. Good luck, and I hope your op works for you.