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They think they're doing you a favour and you try to do them one too - it rarely works. I have become extremely wary, as if it goes pear-shaped for whatever reason it can sour a relationship for years.
In fact these days I don't work directly for friends or family. I put them onto my company, and we do them a good deal, but to remain professional I stand back, keep an overview from a distance and let others deal directly with 'the client'. Now, having said all that, my Mum has recently asked me to sort some things out in her garden. She is of course my mum, not just any client, but just as important she just lets me get on with it. I went over last week to prune an ancient lilac and try to sort out some of her overgrown climbing roses and really enjoyed myself. The large lilac needed thinning and the crown lifting to let more air and light into its dense framework and I've had to get really serious with the rose with a view to reconditioning it over a year or two. The day went well and everything looked good at the end. You'll be relieved to hear that we're still talking!