Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Neighbour is a Tw** …

109 replies

Fulltimemamabear · 17/09/2024 11:14

Just as the title says really!

It all started off amicably, helping each other put the Xmas lights up, polite hello’s and invited round for a play date (children the same age but with different childminders) and then it all went quiet from them. We suspect it’s because one evening in summer at around 8pm we had friends over for a BBQ - very quiet no music or overly loud chatting however their child had been screaming in the garden for 3 hours straight (regular occurrence) and one of our friends said gosh she goes on a lot! He said it in heat but he did have a point, not once does the mum
ever take the child in or try to get the little one to keep it down other than just saying stop it then doing literally nothing to enforce that. I suspect she heard it as our garden fences literally touch and their seating area is against the fence as is ours. We kept smiling saying hi when seeing them it just turnt awkward after this point. She knew it wasn’t us that said this as our friend has a distinctive accent (and also lives on the same road so she knows him).

Nothing has actually happened yet she’s taken this sudden and huge disliking to me and my family, avoiding eye contact or ignoring us if she does see us, which is fine she can do what she likes but I’m finding it very petty and unnecessary. The first thing we thought was odd was, whenever they go on holiday they say feel free to use our drive as we have a work car each and a family car, we only have a car park space for 1 so often park on the road, whereas they have one of the new build tarmac style drives which is in between our house and theirs. They didn’t say that thus time and asked another couple 4 doors down if they wanted to use it. Fine that’s her choice but just seemed odd, the other couple had enough space on their own drive, just seemed so we wouldn’t use it for parking (not that we would’ve without permission!!) then sudd let 3 cameras were put outside their house, one pointing almost towards our house. Then fast forward a month later the only time my partner had ver done it, he had parked out the front. Of our house, rather than go down to the end of the road where it’s very awkward to turn, he reversed literally just the back wheels onto the start of their drive, there was no cars whatsoever on it, she happened to drive towards us as he did it and she went mental shaking her head saying no do not do not ever reverse on my drive without permission how dare you! And wagging her finger at us. He obviously said okay sorry and drove off. Ever since she will not look at us! We had a parcel left by DPD yesterday down the side of their drive, the courier obviously mistook it for our drive as their garage is attached to both houses and within an hour later there was a big sign saying this is not property of number 38, it’s 36. Just all seems ridiculous!

Just so so strange how people act nowadays to neighbours. I don’t expect to be best friends but politeness costs nothing.

AIBU thinking a bit of manners are needed?

OP posts:
baileys6904 · 17/09/2024 13:24

Thing is, you never know what people are dealing with behind closed doors. A seemingly harmless comment could really hit hard if the child's terminally I'll, or undergoing assessment for special needs or whatever. My niece started her health journey complaining of a sore arm. She finished it with terminal cancer aged 4 years old.

Our children are sacred, we allow few people to sya a bad word without it raising hackles. I assume you made some of noise, or agreement or laughter after your friend said something. The fact you didn't try and put things right has sealed the deal. I'm not saying you've particularly done something wrong, more they may have more on their plate that you know about. It may be worth trying to make amends for sake of the unknown and being neighbours. Being kind, but for nothing going on is much better thank not being kind when there is something going on

armadillio · 17/09/2024 13:23

Bollihobs · 17/09/2024 12:56

Turned - the word is Turned, you may well pronounce* *it "turnt" but FFS don't write it like that.

Calm down, it’s clearly a typo. I’m sure if you trawl through your previous posts you’ll find a few as well.

Cerealkiller4U · 17/09/2024 13:23

Richard1985 · 17/09/2024 13:09

"we have a work car each and a family car, we only have a car park space for 1 so often park on the road"

I'm surprised anybody likes you😂 in my experience, nothing winds up neighbours more than this

Ha. My neighbours have one space and 6 cars!

Cerealkiller4U · 17/09/2024 13:22

Fulltimemamabear · 17/09/2024 12:23

She wouldn’t be wrong! A lot of people have been talking about her and saying how they allow it to carry on and never take them inside the house. I don’t say anything to anyone as not my place

Except to a whole load of people on Mumsnet. You don’t say anything OTHER than that

Cerealkiller4U · 17/09/2024 13:20

armadillio · 17/09/2024 12:13

She’s not calling her neighbour a twat to her face, she’s venting here, which is allowed.

OP, I would just ignore them, they want a reaction so don’t give them one.

The only point I would address is their camera. Is it still pointing to your house?

They can have it pointed at the road outside the house and if the house is in view then they must store it correctly in regards to GDPR. But that’s it. It’s how ring cameras can get away with being legal.

Richard1985 · 17/09/2024 13:17

alpacachino · 17/09/2024 13:11

What..parking on the road? Loads of people park on the road..

Yes. Does not bring the best out of people, especially if you're in their spot

alpacachino · 17/09/2024 13:11

Richard1985 · 17/09/2024 13:09

"we have a work car each and a family car, we only have a car park space for 1 so often park on the road"

I'm surprised anybody likes you😂 in my experience, nothing winds up neighbours more than this

What..parking on the road? Loads of people park on the road..

Richard1985 · 17/09/2024 13:09

"we have a work car each and a family car, we only have a car park space for 1 so often park on the road"

I'm surprised anybody likes you😂 in my experience, nothing winds up neighbours more than this

Bollihobs · 17/09/2024 12:56

Turned - the word is Turned, you may well pronounce* *it "turnt" but FFS don't write it like that.

Kingoftheroad · 17/09/2024 12:48

She’s taken offence. Talking in a negative manner about someone else’s child is very triggering. No point in should’ve, would’ve, could’ve now

If you want to maintain the relationship then speak to her and find out if this is what causes the hostility. If so, apologise.

If your not that bothered then ignore her.

NopeToThat · 17/09/2024 12:39

I really sympathise with you. It's horrible living with a hostile atmosphere, especially when it's right on your doorstep with no chance of escape. People are so strange - even if she were offended by the other neighbours comment about her child, most reasonable people wouldn't react in that manner and misdirect their anger on to you! In an ideal world you'd have a quiet word where she could air her" gfievances", you could apologise (!) for any unintended offence, And the whole thing would blow over and return to civil neighbourly relations.I suspect this wouldn't happen though and if you directly questioned her, she'd deny anything was wrong as she enjoys playing the innocent victim and has turned you into nasty, inconsiderate neighbour. This says everything about her and not you. So buckle up and get tough OP, don't show her in any way that you're affected by her behaviour and stand firm in knowing you haven't done anything wrong. Continue saying hello, ignore her little methods to try and get a rise out of you, remain polite but ultimately, see her as a non entity and she'll eventually get the message that you're not to be messed with. Whatever happens though, never ever entertain the idea of becoming ' friends' again. She's shown you who she is, so believe it.

Sidebeforeself · 17/09/2024 12:38

@forgotmypassagain Lots of options..could have said “ Oy Derek no need for that”, said to the neighbour “ Ignore him” etc. I totally agree it’s not OPs fault but there was a better way of handling it. And clearly it has caused upset .

DadJoke · 17/09/2024 12:34

Do you want to mend bridges with your neighbour, or just get confirmation that she is a twat?

forgotmypassagain · 17/09/2024 12:30

Sidebeforeself · 17/09/2024 12:13

Dont minimise what your friend said. You should have dealt with it straightaway . That’s doesn’t excuse her behaviour but don’t pretend you are squeaky clean and its all her wrong doing.

What should the OP have done to deal with it straightaway?

Fulltimemamabear · 17/09/2024 12:26

Moveoverdarlin · 17/09/2024 12:25

Was she pissed off not to be invited to the BBQ if other neighbours were?

As I said to another poster she doesn’t invite us so I doubt it x

OP posts:
Fulltimemamabear · 17/09/2024 12:26

alpacachino · 17/09/2024 12:21

And they can let whoever they want park on their own drive so just keep out of that

Yes, I know, I said that in my original post however I was just showing the backstory of how they’ve turned

OP posts:
Connected1 · 17/09/2024 12:25

alpacachino · 17/09/2024 12:19

You should have said something like "oi don't be so rude or I won't have you round again". That way your neighbour knows you disagree

He wasn't being rude.

Rude would be shouting "shut that child up" or something similar.
OP probably agreed with his factual statement.

Moveoverdarlin · 17/09/2024 12:25

Was she pissed off not to be invited to the BBQ if other neighbours were?

Fulltimemamabear · 17/09/2024 12:25

TiramisuThief · 17/09/2024 12:22

I'm wondering maybe if she was miffed she didn't get an invite to the BBQ and now thinks everyone on the street dislikes her because of your friends comment

We were friendly but not invite them over for dinners etc IYSWIM? She never invited us for drinks or dinner only once for the children

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 17/09/2024 12:24

SocksAndTheCity · 17/09/2024 11:57

What is a 'Tw**'?

Twix.

It is a caramel based biscuit bar made by Mars, Inc., consisting of a biscuit applied with other confectionery toppings and coatings (most frequently caramel and milk chocolate).[1] Twix are packaged with one (mini and snack sizes), two (standard size), or four bars (king size) in a wrapper.

Mars Inc. - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars,_Incorporated

Sidebeforeself · 17/09/2024 12:23

Ok OP ..you are right. She’s a twat . Is that all you wanted to hear?

Fulltimemamabear · 17/09/2024 12:23

ForeverPombear · 17/09/2024 12:16

You said that the person who made the comment also lives on the same road, maybe she thinks that everyone else on the road has been bitching about her child?

She wouldn’t be wrong! A lot of people have been talking about her and saying how they allow it to carry on and never take them inside the house. I don’t say anything to anyone as not my place

OP posts:
TiramisuThief · 17/09/2024 12:22

I'm wondering maybe if she was miffed she didn't get an invite to the BBQ and now thinks everyone on the street dislikes her because of your friends comment

alpacachino · 17/09/2024 12:22

Fulltimemamabear · 17/09/2024 12:14

Yes! Still pointing towards our front door area, which I find weird and may speak to her husband about as he’s much more reasonable.

I think that's a good idea

alpacachino · 17/09/2024 12:21

And they can let whoever they want park on their own drive so just keep out of that