To wonder why this is 'common'?

It's odd how something that's quite rare can be described as "common".

"Ooh nobody does that, it's so common!" 😆

I’m Irish like you OP and have never heard this before.

My DH accused me of being common when I sat on the wall outside our house in my dressing gown once (I stress this happened just once, although he likes to bring it up.) I’d just said goodbye to my mum, who’d stayed over, and the sun was out, and I found myself sitting there with the sun on my face for a few minutes peace while a noisy breakfast ensued inside…. I recommend it!

I've never heard that but I suppose it may have been not the done thing in previous generations - too public maybe? I am the same about eating in the street, which I know is weird of me but I just cant. Enjoy your garden OP!

I've been sitting at the front of my house with two neighbours drinking wine. We must be very common. I'm 71, almost as old as the woman in the OP.

I think people who declare they find anything "common" are rather feeble Keeping Up Appearances folk who should be resoundingly rejected.

Your garden and simple joys of enjoying the sun sound beautiful 🌿☀️🌿 keep enjoying it ✨️

Some other pompous idiot once declared fitted carpets were common. Can't remember who. I suppose you're meant to have threadbare rugs on your flagstones in your country house. They can enjoy the draughts and cold.

My parents’ house gets the sun til it goes down in the front. We used to sit out when I was younger but now, with the wheelie bins, they don’t

😂My bus to work used to go by a house like that, it fascinated me as they had decked it out with an extensive collection of plastic plants and flowers, gnomes, and other novelty decorations. Three blokes used to sit outside getting hammered at around 8.30am in the warm weather. When I came home around 8 hours later they would often still be there, I was in awe of their stamina and dedication!

Whilst I don’t think it’s common, it’s not unusual to think that. It’s something I’ve heard
my older relatives and friends say.

I used to have a nice front garden but never used it, as I also had a nice one at the back, and that's it exactly - sitting at the front made me feel exposed. But now I wish I had, as I'd have actually known my neighbours and probably had a bunch of nice chats.

I don’t think your neighbour was being judgey, just commenting that she couldn’t due to a hangover of it being common from her childhood. Plenty of people sit outside cafes nowadays.

Not so long ago, walked past a house, and there must have been a dozen people sitting in a circle in the front garden, enjoying the sunshine and a cuppa. They were having a lovely time.

🤣🤣🤣

With a voice from inside going, "Bridge. The baby. Is Bawling. His head off."

And OP bellowing back:

"Daniel. Oy am 'avin. A fag."

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤭

If you're sitting outside on an old mattress with a fag & a pint shouting at your kids, it's common. If you're surrounded by potted plants and fairy lights you're all good. Just enjoy your garden.

The houses on our road all have big gardens but one neighbour regularly sits in his front garden reading, I think he likes watching people go by & having a chat.

In my street we sit in the front garden to take advantage of the afternoon and evening sun. The back only gets sun in the morning and gets chilly later (North Scotland).
There's nothing common about my neighbours. It's quite a prestigious street!

I mean, OP might be doing all of that. There's no photo. Might be why.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Give her a fit of the vapours and hang your washing out the front, OP! 🤣🤣🤣🤭

Classism. Enjoy your sunshine and live your life. I’m a proper chav tho sometimes enjoy my Stella out front.

Is that the prune who said he finds central heating "common"? He is absolutely welcome to the chilblains he will get without it.

Oh OP, I can't believe you've restricted yourself to your back garden because of this person! You sit in your preferred spot!

Only in the UK would this kind of insane judgement exist. I lived outside the UK for many years and it gave me a new perspective on this kind of petty, ill-mannered snobbery. It's not only extremely small-minded, it's incredibly rude and not very human. People who think this way have pinched, small, mean hearts. And pinched, small, mean brains, too.

You'll never meet a snobbier, snottier person the world over than a middle-class Brit, or one who aspires to be. Or thinks they are. I'm 🤬 on your behalf.

You go and sit in your front garden as much as you like! Don't listen to her!

Yep, I was always told it was common.
I wouldn’t let that stop me though, if I wanted to sit in my front garden.

I would never consider doing this and I haven’t stopped to reflect why (our front garden is south facing) so would be nicer than the back, where we always sit out - probably ingrained somewhere that it’s common because it’s not private - I often walk through a more deprived area on route to work and lots of people sit out, whereas the only time I’ve seen it where I live is if people are watching kids play. I think it’s a privilege to have somewhere lovely to sit so I definitely wouldn’t change your habit if you’re happy with it and I think far more common to remark upon it. You’ve made me reflect on maybe I should use the front garden more!

Sit where you like it's your garden!!

And I'd say that verandahs are an extension of the house rather than garden though?

I think this is why I’m torn, I lived in the states for a 10 yrs and had many a happy time sitting on a friends porch. One friend had a swing, it really was like you see in the movies, lol