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AIBU?

to wish we could play out in the back garden unobserved?

35 replies

TriangularEarrings · 28/11/2011 22:48

My 3 (DTs 8yo and DS2 5yo) love to play out in the garden most days after school with our dog.
I generally join in and we have jolly good fun winding down, playing games, having wacky races, hide and go seek, lots of imaginative adventurous play and so on. Smile
The silly old dog just tends to faff around digging and redigging his bone lol, all-in-all happy times.
The problem is, the old guy who lives next door - he's ever so friendly and we chat a fair bit, you know, neighbourly stuff. But the second he hears any action outside, he's there peaking over the top of the fence with his little JTR yapping bouncing alongside him.
TBH I know he's doing a U3A creative writing course and I am now worried that we're being targeted as characters for a story the amount of observing he's doing lol. We have a lovely lifestyle, nice house, holidays, lots of different friends around for fun and japes - I can see why we'd make good retro reading iyswim?
AIBU to wish for some alone time?

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blackeyedsanta · 28/11/2011 23:08

he is a bugger. watch out for hitler in the park. and the school caretaker is not what he seems to be.

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BaronessBomburst · 28/11/2011 23:48

Offer him some ginger beer and an apple.

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Roseflower · 29/11/2011 00:11

What is "japes"?

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Solo · 29/11/2011 00:14

Japes = capers, games.
Japes is not a commonly used word anymore.

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Roseflower · 29/11/2011 00:16

I see.

Im just not retro enough, darn it all!

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Slightlyreluctantexpat · 29/11/2011 00:26

He's lonely and nostalgic and envious. Be nice to him. :)

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BluddyMoFo · 29/11/2011 00:32

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TriangularEarrings · 29/11/2011 09:20

Oh I am nice expat. Smile But maybe that's where I'm going wrong?
Tbf, it's even worse when Gran comes to stay - I think he may have a little SagaCrush on her. Grin

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BuntyPenfold · 29/11/2011 09:32

I do sympathise, I used to have a neighbour always saying archly 'I see you've done another wash load, and you only read one page of that paper didn't you?'

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VivaLeBeaver · 29/11/2011 09:36

This is why I bought a house with 10ft high connifers down one side of the garden and a 7ft wall the other. Bliss. I can sunbathe starkers and noone can see me.

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mrsjay · 29/11/2011 09:37

least you dont have my neighbour who used to shout at my children for going up and down the path on their trikes , bang on her window if they got too near her wall etc etc , be grateful the old man is enjoying your fun and games and not being miserable ,

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Bramshott · 29/11/2011 09:43

Ah-ha, I think I know this neighbour of whom you speak. Does he have round glasses by any chance??

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TriangularEarrings · 29/11/2011 11:59

Conifers, yes that's a good idea.
Bramshot, it sounds like you know exactly what I'm talking about.
:)

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valiumredhead · 29/11/2011 14:11

Blimey, you have a high opinion of yourself if you presume that next door would write about you! Perhaps he just wants to say hello.

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TriangularEarrings · 29/11/2011 14:20

Don't writers take inspiration from all around?

Confused

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Merrin · 29/11/2011 14:23

I too am familiar with your neighbour! If you are the lady I think you are I must compliment you on your ear rings, very nice.

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valiumredhead · 29/11/2011 14:24

But why would you presume he's taking inspiration from you? Confused

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MenopausalHaze · 29/11/2011 14:26

How very peculiar. And a bit stealth boasty.

Why do you think your jolly hockeysticks lifestyle has any bearing upon anything?

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A1980 · 29/11/2011 16:15

Self flattery isn't becoming. Perhaps he's really just saying hello.

You and your kids in the garden are hardly interesting material for a creative writing course. It's run of the mill stuff.

As for We have a lovely lifestyle, nice house, holidays, lots of different friends around for fun and japes - I can see why we'd make good retro reading iyswim? No I don't see waht you mean. Sounds boring as hell to read about.

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Wallace · 29/11/2011 16:21

I'm surprised he is so friendly still. Isn't this the neighbour you posted about your dh accidently throwing a bucket of water over when he was having a waterfight with the kids?

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Merrin · 29/11/2011 19:12

Do none of you get it?

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BluddyMoFo · 29/11/2011 19:18

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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FaffTastic · 29/11/2011 19:18

I must be having a dim moment as I really don't get it.

Let me in on the joke. Pleeeeease.

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BeerTricksPotter · 29/11/2011 19:22

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AmorYCohetes · 29/11/2011 19:27

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