Children on my front wall

Ah, thank you for saying that. She's getting the hang of it I think.

I have just bought some trellis that I will paint one of the colours of my other wooden things. It's making work for myself I know (annoyingly), and it will take a while anyway, so they will maybe not realise it's because of them.

@GirlMumGabby
Phew, it sounds awful at your house. I have no clue why they have so little consideration for others, and don't even stop when asked (and even get worse!).
I must be delusional.

Some great ideas - although doesn't your little dog create as much of a problem as he solves? (bless his little yappy heart). Your poor little girl, not fair on her at all.

I am just at this point, trying to pre-empt them, and have just come back from buying some really sturdy one foot by six foot (x 2) trellis and bronze coloured brackets. I can't decide whether to paint the same colour as the gate, or contrast... the little gate is cream with leaves painted on it. Hm...

Madness that any of it needs to be done, by you, or me.... I am telling myself that all that this is is me being motivated by their behaviour, to do something that I was going to anyway.

That's useful to know....🤓
They would no doubt come down on me like a ton of bricks if I did it overtly though.
And of course, retribution.

@GeilistheWitch

Hm, considering I would resent even the £20 that some new trellis is going to cost (I already have some), and the paint/time it will take, due to the ignorance of some bratty children, I am not going to spend £500 on deterring them.

@Oftenaddled

Yes, I think so too - it has taken my a lifetime to learn, or be able to do it though (and have had quite a bit of "angst" of my own ----my father uses that as a derisory term, hence the " "); nowadays I take a bit of pride in being able to NOT get upset by things to the same extent that I once would have - even though yes, the wall and the other dramas DO bother me.

My over-dramatic and needy neighbour has at least helped me to be able to do that. But the backing off from her (very difficult due to proximity) is helping me to keep my own head clear - but she is sneakily making me pay for not being her (one of many many, but the most convenient due to location) person to offload onto, with the upset of the day.

And thank you for your kind words 🤗

@KarmenPQZ

I would ideally like to have remote sentry guns (set up as paintball though, no bullets) like they have in Aliens.... (apologies if that's not a film you know or are interested in; I am an Alien fan from Day One).
Even that though, would [pardon the pun] backfire, as my car is the other side of the wall.
I do also have a bow and arrows, and am a good shot - not that that would matter as they are so close.

But for now, softly softly approach is my preference.

From my bedroom window doesn't feel public, or quite right though....

A while ago, I was trying to get a picture of a roof problem on the porch, and was on the pavement with my phone. A woman and her two girls walked past - between me and the house - and so I laughed and said I would avoid getting them in the picture. She gave me a look that was utterly withering and, even though I see them a LOT, will never speak to me, and turns her head away.
That was my first time seeing them back then, and has made me feel odd about taking photos outside, despite my next door having cameras (not connected I don't think) front and back, and at least two over the road, having Ring doorbells.

Also, when I came here, I would stick my phone over the fence (6 feet I think) to see if my friend's car had come back.

The Police turned up at my door; I had been accused of "taking photographs of children".

Kind of wary now.
Although I do wish I could post the video I took of them on the wall....
Now I am calmer (for now), I am seeing their behaviour as pathetic.
That will probably not last.

@KarmenPQZ

The stage aspect of it is totally unintentional, and the wall was built when the house was; maybe I should have decorated/planted before now.

They aren't toddlers, who are being assisted by Mum though - the oldest of these is probably about to be going to Secondary School, and the younger two are probably 7..

The one who gave me the finger is separate altogether (but probably knows them), and lives next door but one. But she too has been influenced by the trouble-maker neighbour in between and is and has been terribly rude to her, and me by extension, even though only this time last year, I was teaching her how to grow tomatoes, giving them blackberries, crocheted a blanket for her doll and played the piano tunes that she requested (as they could her my practice when the door was open). Now, I am getting the finger, the intentional walking on the wall, when she knows I don't like it. (Even if I didn't mind, the finger would have cancelled that out.) And as her mother and the upstairs neighbour and her child have now formed a convenient family unit, the Power of the Plural applies there as well.

There is one source of most of this trouble, and she lives next door, and I assisted her enormously thorough two pregnancies, a lot of drama, mental health episodes, Police visits and all the general trouble she by and large brings on herself. I was hauled over the coals for it here on MN, as it was seen as interfering and trying to be a saint. Having finally had enough and backing off from her gradually and then pretty brutally, in recent months, she is now causing trouble for me by devious means, and using children to do her dirty work.,

Where she lived before, there was petition created to get her moved. It worked, and she came here. I am not blaming her entirely, as I can quite easily it seems, make enemies all by myself. And as I said at the start, this place is one where people are usually related, or went to school together. Insular would be a kind way to put it.

I didn't come out though....

I looked out of the window the one time they noticed - so, for some reason known only unto them - they ramped up what they were doing. Bolstered by what I call the Power of the Plural, and with some prior input form the other neighbour I would say,.

My car is parked on the road (sadly), and I was in it when they returned. I didn't even see them coming as I had the sunshade on the windscreen. The mouthiest had already climbed on the wall at the neighbour's end, and froze to the spot when I opened my car door,. But she did not remain intimidated by my being there - if she ever was. The worst of all of them didn't come back that time. Bu I have no doubt that she will.

I now have both a mental and practical strategy. Don't know if it will work though.

Well, I did do a bit of a U-turn on my thinking last night.

As I said, it is more than walking on the wall; I only caught about 20 seconds of video* (without being seen myself...) the other day, but it was crazy dancing, shouting, bad twerking, sitting astride, and messing with the gravel. They did it for longer, but did not know I saw them.
I had only looked out and then seen them on the wall when I heard the voices (you can see how close it is to the house, and the sound carries) because I thought it was my "easily-upset" neighbour on the other side. She is often outside, just to create drama and get attention (and has probably played a part in these children thinking they can do this - as she is a massive stirrer.... ) The most they saw was me look through the blinds at first, which resulted in the stupid, provocative antics - which they would have done again, had I not been in the car when they came back. and as a result it became a conversation rather than another performance.

But now - whilst still continuing my garden improvements and plant deterrents, I sort of imagine them out there shouting and squawking and showing off to a house that is, or appears to be, empty.

So yes , I have tried to change my feelings about it already. Lovely Mumsnetters have helped me do that I think.

*I'm not too keen on videoing and would never do it blatantly... it was just to show my friend how awful (and, to a point, intimidating) it had been. I know there must be rules about videoing children, so it makes me uncomfortable - but then, a camera set up would be acceptable? I'm not sure.

Just finally, an example of the other neighbour's behaviour: she detests and provokes and causes hassle for her neighbour above. The bin for the upstairs apartment was outside the gate for collection, but in a place that she deemed in her way. So she kicked it over (easily - it only has - ugh - dog poop in it) and right into the side of my car.
(I was friendly and helpful to her until recently., but this is her typical approach to getting people to take notice of her.)