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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To keep hold of footballs until they're collected

85 replies

Tricho · 27/07/2024 18:00

Ndn has children that enjoy a kicksbout against our shared fence - I've raised this many times as the noise travels right through my house and tbh renders sitting out there impossible- tbh I find this utterly selfish because we'd all like to enjoy our gardens on nice days!

Have not got much back by way of support and now we're in the summer hols it's gone crazy.

I have had 8 balls (big heavy cased type) kicked over in the past week inckuding 5 in one day- with the latest arriving just now after hours of incessant kicking.

My garden is miniscule due to an extension (about a third of the size of hers) and there are things in it that absolutely will ger broken one day by these balls (garden furniture, bbq, lights etc) not to mention myself if I'm out there

I've previously thrown them back but I've absolutely had it now and have been storing them in my shed awaiting collection

Thought process being
A) if they have to repeatedly come and collect they'll get sick of it and kick the ball elsewhere (god forbid maybe even the other way towards their own house)
B) will give me a chance to converse again about how disruptive it is and the risk to my property
C) it gives me a bit of peace!

As yet no ones come to collect - I have every intention of giving back on collection but tbh I'm done with their selfishness and disregard for my peace and property

OP posts:
Nourishinghandcream · 27/07/2024 18:57

That noise is totally inconsiderate, apart from the damage it causes to the fence the noise goes straight through you.
There are kids who do it near us, a lovely (otherwise) quiet evening completely ruined by their incessant noise. What makes it worse is that there is a lovely park just 1-minute walk away but they refuse to use it.

Totally agree about not throwing them back, just wait until they knock.
If they ever shout across the fence asking for a ball I would act deaf.
If they actually see you across the fence, I would give them just one back.

Tricho · 27/07/2024 18:55

I do have a dog but she's probably the same size as these balls 🤣🤣🤣 it did cross my mind to do that but I don't think people would conceivably believe it was her!

She does go utterly berserk when they come over though which is another reason I hate it!

It seems to have stopped with this latest one coming over - still no collection!

OP posts:
Lottieskeeper · 27/07/2024 18:49

Do you or any of your friends/family have a dog who might excitedly pop a football that had suddenly appeared in front of it? That could pop in for a visit or two.

My mum's German shepherd puts a tooth through them in about 30 seconds and my kids have learnt not to play football when he's around.

GoTigers · 27/07/2024 18:43

I would do exactly as you are. And if it didn’t change their behaviour, my next step would be:

‘What balls?! No balls here… <perplexed shrug>

AmandaHoldensLips · 27/07/2024 18:09

That would drive me insane.
I think you are exercising great patience.
I'd be stabbing the balls.

Trimtreetrue · 27/07/2024 18:06

We’ve had problems with a pair of over enthusiastic teens and don’t return anything anymore . Once they lose a few they tend to start kicking the other way !

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 27/07/2024 18:05

But you don't know for sure which neighbour they've come from, do you? So you can't return them, can you? Wink

Tricho · 27/07/2024 18:03

Eleganz · 27/07/2024 18:01

Yeah I'd be in no rush to throw them back over, just when I got round to it.

I don't intend to at all tbh! I wouldn't have thought much of it but a friend mentioned it could be xlassed as stealing ???

OP posts:
FionnulaTheCooler · 27/07/2024 18:02

YANBU. If you put the inconvenience of having to come and collect them onto their shoulders maybe it will stop.

Eleganz · 27/07/2024 18:01

Yeah I'd be in no rush to throw them back over, just when I got round to it.

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