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Original poster

Or is my neighbour about my laundry...?

430 replies

laundryninja · 26/05/2017 15:14

Name changed in case she's on mumsnet

Don't know NDN well. We are quiet and (I thought!) inoffensive so no issues for the last 6 months we've lived here. There's a low fence between our gardens.

Given that I live in the west of scotland, it's a rare opportunity to hang clothes out on the line to dry, which DH and I have been doing the past few days.

Today NDN appeared at the door and asked me to "be more careful" with my laundry. I initially thought something had blown into her garden and apologised. She said no, that us hanging out "personal items" was embarrassing for her and she didn't want her young sons (who are late primary age I think) seeing things like that. After clarifying she meant bras and knickers I admit I snorted with laughter a bit and said "but don't they see YOUR pants drying indoors!?" to which she said that I clearly didn't want to help and that she'd ask her DH to come over later to speak to my DH once he's in from work!

I have not brought my laundry in and have just done another load. She's glaring from her conservatory. AIBU to ignore her? Or should I bring my offensive undies in off the line?

OP posts:
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PyongyangKipperbang · 26/05/2017 22:12

OH!!!!!

Why did I not think of this earlier?!

PANTHEAD!!!! :o

Sorry for the total over reaction but Panthead, an invented tradition in the Kipperbang family, would be brilliant for this!

When DSis and I were kids our aunt would always send us a birthday gift each. And every single year it would be pants. OK, we wore pants, pants are useful. Except that they would always be at least 2 years too big so as we were opening this years gift we would probably be wearing the gift from 2 or 3 birthdays ago. So we invented panthead and it happens to this day. If anyone in the family gets pants for a gift they have to wear them on their head until lunchtime and one Xmas we replaced christmas paper crowns with various styles of pants. My father in a dayglo green lace thong was something to behold :o

Then one day last summer I went into the garden to see the 4 youngest all running around wearing each others (clean off the line) pants on their heads and throwing clothes pegs. The rules being that if you hit the pants on anothers head with a peg then you got a point, if it attached then it was like catching the snitch in Quidditch.

Best.Game.Ever. and perfect if you have pant hating neighbours! If you dont have kids then borrow/hire some, if only because its a wonderful spectator sport! :o

Tapandgo · 26/05/2017 22:08

Pestilen
I've not heard an update - would love to know

LindyHemming · 26/05/2017 21:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

woodhill · 26/05/2017 21:56

Yes, the USA restriction is strange. I must admit to putting things out on the clothes horse outside surreptitiously in Florida, The weather is so beautiful.

mrsBeverleygoldberg · 26/05/2017 21:55

Offblackeggshell, I have huge bras too, big enough to be a hat. Good job she doesn't live next door to me!

mrsBeverleygoldberg · 26/05/2017 21:53

Maybe she doesn't wear underwear. She doesn't have to look!

LindyHemming · 26/05/2017 21:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pestilentialone · 26/05/2017 21:48

Have you tried hanging black bin liners on the line yet? did they ever find out what the black bin liners were for?

Tapandgo · 26/05/2017 21:43

Have you tried hanging black bin liners on the line yet?

kindler · 26/05/2017 21:34

'What can be'

kindler · 26/05/2017 21:33

I live in the States; hung laundry out today, and will do so all summer. I've known some Americans do so, but not many. I don't live ina 'Housing Association' area, because we object to being told what we can do in our own house - not just laundry, but paint colours, what a be parked in the drive etc., etc., etc.

'Land of the Free' 😊

SenecaFalls · 26/05/2017 21:32

Buzz You should check out state law. The covenant might be unenforceable. More states are enacting "right to dry" laws as part of environmental protection. But changing a culture is hard, and I admit I would not be inclined to test it.

flimflaminurjams · 26/05/2017 21:31

Haha that is epic. Your DH deserves a medal. I think I am going to borrow the word "eejitery" now.

PyongyangKipperbang · 26/05/2017 21:26

Americans wonder why the rest of us think that they are weird when you can sit in your house with a fuck off shot gun and more hand guns that Bruce Willis could get through in all of the Die Hard films, but you cant dry your washing in the garden!

WHY?! What is so offensive about it?

daylilies · 26/05/2017 21:24

but, but pleased don't let be darked on ...

BuzzKillington · 26/05/2017 21:23

We have a house in the US and one of the restrictive covenant items on our residents' agreement is that laundry is not permitted to be dried outside and clotheslines are forbidden.

8misskitty8 · 26/05/2017 21:23

I'd buy a large size Bridget jones style pair of knickers and leave that hanging on the line permanently to annoy her.

Once you get to know some other people in the street you'll probably get told other stories about the knicker neighbour. There's bound to be other weird things she's complained about.

JoffreyBaratheon · 26/05/2017 21:22

OP, I had a friend at uni who came from a devout catholic family and he told me his mum would never hang underwear out to dry on the line...

TBH I'd ignore the neighbour though. It's your washing line. Call them a pervert for gawping at your pants.

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 26/05/2017 21:21

First MN thread EVER that DH has actually shown an interest in!

He put all my undercrackers on the line while I was at work today! Quite a mix, mainly bright colourful Brazilian shorts but a couple of thongs, some French knickers (bedwear) and some sturdy all cotton 'running' undies. Doubt my neighbours even noticed.....

PurpleDragon76 · 26/05/2017 21:18

Your husband is awesome! Love he wouldn't tolerate their crap. Gorgeous, gorgeous kitten 🐈

SenecaFalls · 26/05/2017 21:17

Love the idea of "stunt knickers."

orenisthenewblack · 26/05/2017 21:16

Op, same thing happened to me when I first moved here. NDN said she never put smalls out on the line and I replied that I prefer them on the line than drying on radiators where every visitor could see them.

I think putting clothes out on the line is an art form and I am an exceptional artist Grin

OhOurBilly · 26/05/2017 21:10

I have a metric fuckton of tiny g-strings, neon fishnet dresses and sassy mesh attire in the loft from my young and supple days as a podium dancer. My "smalls" really were small.

I should donate them to the cause but your NDN may implode. 😁

Iamastonished · 26/05/2017 21:10

"Hanging out clothes isn't that common in the states so maybe that's why it seems weird to them"

I have heard that as well.

I would be very tempted to say to them that their children will grow up thinking that people don't wear underwear as it is never seen on a washing line.

SenecaFalls · 26/05/2017 21:09

My state actually has a "right to dry" law that is supposed to override those bans. I've never tested it though. Perhaps I should; I live in a very sunny state.