On Mon, 3 Oct 2011 09:43:51 +0100, "john east"
wrote:

We have some new neighbours that have moved in next door and they ask to
borrow garden tools (and car tools).

The problem for me is I have to go and ask for them back, and they are not
always there. I wanted to use my garden rake today and went around to get it
back, but they are out; so I cannot do the job.

We like these neighbours and want to remain friends. What reason can I give
to them not to lend my tools to them which will cause the minimal amount of
friction? I'm looking for an imaginative (yet plausible) excuse to give
them.

My stock answer is that I won't lend tools because if something breaks
while on loan it can be very difficult to work out whether it broke
because of bad handling or because it was wearing out anyway and I
hadn't noticed. This applies particularly to power tools. Avoids all
sorts of possibilities for embarrassment.

Cheers, Jake
================================================== ==========
URGling from the less wet end of Swansea Bay whilst enjoying
a brief respite from leaf collecting and planning a new
career as a snail-tamer..

www.rivendell.org.uk