Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

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We paid 350 for two full days by an experienced gardener fro a garden centre. Who did you employ so other people do not make the same mistake.?

In future I would recommend you call Hatib @ Best Dreams (0548 8721685) and you will get a professional job at sensible prices.

I fail to see why your scathing remarks about hardworking people working for a pittance would be of interest to Forum readers. You don't mention a company name only that they were 'Pakistanis'. It seems to me that they worked with neither direction nor supervision. Who on earth goes out for 3 hours and leaves untried and untested gardeners or any other workers for that matter, unsupervised and expect the work to be done to their satisfaction? Did you show them where to put the gardening tools when they were finished? Did you tell them what you wanted cut back and not cut back? Don't cut back the basil... Etc. is a simple order to give. I really cannot see the point of your post except to 'have a go' a someone less fortunate than yourself.

ailletoo wrote:I fail to see why your scathing remarks about hardworking people working for a pittance would be of interest to Forum readers. You don't mention a company name only that they were 'Pakistanis'. It seems to me that they worked with neither direction nor supervision. Who on earth goes out for 3 hours and leaves untried and untested gardeners or any other workers for that matter, unsupervised and expect the work to be done to their satisfaction? Did you show them where to put the gardening tools when they were finished? Did you tell them what you wanted cut back and not cut back? Don't cut back the basil... Etc. is a simple order to give. I really cannot see the point of your post except to 'have a go' a someone less fortunate than yourself.

And that's told you.

I couldn't agree more.

I have employed Pakistani gardners on numerous occasions...I always supervise, work along side and pay more that the measly 15TL per hour...that's less that £4, slave labour and in this heat! They work well and are charming, courteous and polite. I recently paid 150 TL for two lads who did 3 hours work....well worth it as I would nor could do what they did in this weather.

It makes my blood boil to treat others like second class humans because they are poor. Shame on you, I bet you left them no food or served them water in a glass found at the back of your cupboard! No wonder so many of the Turks, Turk Cyps and others like Pakistani and africains despise the expat community...days of the raj come to mind.

I find Cypriot, Turkish and Pakistani gardeners have different ideas of gardening from mine, and have to be tactfully directed and supervised; and although it is now difficult for me I try to prune anything I can possibly reach myself, as they tend to hack rather than prune. I am sure that part of the reason is that plants that have to be carefully nurtured in the UK run riot here, and are even regarded as weeds and do need to be regularly heavily cut back or they will take over the garden and/or grow "leggy"". The plants the OP mentioned will take over a garden if not strictly controlled (actually mint will anywhere!) and. with a modicum of water at this time of year. will soon start spreading again.

Anyway arent gardeners subject to the 12 to 4 embargo on outside working?

Ragged Robin wrote:...arent gardeners subject to the 12 to 4 embargo on outside working?

I believe that it was only for 3 or 4 days up to Aug 8th ! - initially, at least...

Gardening is not everyones cup of tea although it does grow on you

A measly 15tl ph (£4) if you think this is Measly then let me tell you that where I work, and most other similar establishments, I am paid the minimum wage which at the moment is 1800tl it's 8.35tl ph (£1.98) I work 54hrs pw but the waiters and cleaners work 80hrs pw for the same minimum wage.
The gardeners here have the best jobs because as Solic said they use electric tools now no hard labour like it used to be and get paid a lot less than 15tl ph.
My Pakistan worker here told me that he was working with his friend at someone's garden and he told him to slow down as they could get another days work out of it so I totally agree about getting quotes. If a builder does work for us we get a quote what is the problem.

Tend to agree Mavis.If someone is happy to work for 15TL an hour that's their choice.15TL is 15 TL ,the Sterling equivalent is irrelevant to people who live here.Why is everything converted back to sterling.Its alright converting it in your own mind for comparison ,but to justify increasing a payment for goods or services because of the exchange rate
Is pointless,after all if the rate ever goes back to 2.5TL to the pound 15 TL will seem a lot more expensive.

It is all comparative. 15TL may not be much to some of the people on this forum, but to those who have lost savings through the global financial crisis and an ill advised investment and is struggling to pay medical and vets bills on a UK pension that does not keep up with TRNC inflation it is rather a lot!

Alletoo you have no idea about the circumstances behind my post yes I did explain about the garden and surely the tools should of been left where they were taken from.
This forum is about sharing your experiences and giving others some advice or in some cases a warning so I do not think my posting was inappropriate.
As for the statement saying less fortunate than myself I don't quite get that or do you mean as an expat I must be rich so money doesn't matter ?