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Original poster

Note for footballs

42 replies

daisypatches · 16/04/2020 06:28

Sounds really trivial right now but wondering how my boys could go about getting their footballs back. It’s been a few days now and there’s 3 of them. Obviously don’t want them to go knocking as they can’t socially distance. What would be the etiquette with a note? Should the boys apologise for the inconvenience and should we even be putting notes through at all because of the virus? Not sure how we’d get them back otherwise. I know the wife is heavily pregnant so a bit worried about the virus transfer risk but the boys are making me lose my mind as it’s all 3 of their footballs

OP posts:
RedRed9 · 16/04/2020 11:15

If it was 3 in one day then there’s not much point in getting them back to play in the garden again as obviously the balls are just going to go flying over the fence again!

bettybattenburg · 16/04/2020 16:00

Maybe ration your boys to one ball a day and then they might learn to try and keep it over your side of the fence. Perhaps you should use the time you have to prevent it from happening as often by making your garden more child friendly?

PennyGold · 16/04/2020 20:45

I feel as I need to repost to all of the "glad I don't have you as a neighbour" people.
Three balls in one day is ridiculous. I imagine the only reason it wasn't fifteen is because he only had three balls.
Why should someone spend their day chucking balls back over the fence (more than three times a day) because your child can't keep it in your garden.
@bettybattenburg has it right.. your child could be damaging property.
Get off Mumsnet and tell your child to stop booting a ball over your fence continuously, it's highly annoying. Especially now people are so anxious about COVID-19.

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MrMeSeeks · 16/04/2020 22:05

Sorry but that is ridiculous! I have ornaments and a lot of the time animals in my garden, i would not be happy if anything was broke or hurt Hmm
Your neighbour is heavily pregnAnt amid covid, wait for HER to throw them back at her convenience.
If they have to wait a while those are the consquences.

MrFaceyRomford · 16/04/2020 22:13

Kids next door to us had 4 in our garden last week. We just chuck them back. Why wouldn't you?

heartsonacake · 16/04/2020 23:26

We just chuck them back. Why wouldn't you?

MrFaceyRomford I would refuse to hand them back so they couldn’t do it again. If they want to keep wasting money buying and losing balls that’s their loss 🤷‍♀️

Sally872 · 16/04/2020 23:31

Because the neighbour is heavily pregnant and prob already anxious I would leave it. Perhaps she just hasnt seen them yet or she might be super cautious, if so she wont want a letter or to touch the balls.

WorraLiberty · 17/04/2020 00:02

I might be missing something here but I genuinely don't understand this from your OP.

Obviously don’t want them to go knocking as they can’t socially distance.

If they're old enough to knock, surely they're old enough to know what 2 metres looks like?

If not, show them the point on the path or by the gate that they need to retreat to after knocking.

BarbedBloom · 17/04/2020 01:04

I have expensive plants, ornaments and animals in my garden so I would also be pretty annoyed at three in one day. The occasional one isn't a huge deal but I am shielding at the moment so wouldn't be too impressed at having to answer the door for this reason either

Andromeida59 · 17/04/2020 02:58

I am frustrated with people that think it's absolutely fine with children kicking their balls all over the place. I've just had to putin a complaint to my GGM's housing association as the children near her keep kicking the ball in to the living room window (this is despite them having large green to play on, they don't kick it in the other direction of a different resident as the other resident complained). On Tuesday it was 5 occasions, Wednesay, 2 and yesterday 3. It was so bad the other day that it brought on an angina attack.

Please think about the upset children could be causing neighbours/residents when they're playing. No one is saying that children shouldn't be allowed to play but there has to be a balance between their right to play and the neighbour's right to a peaceful existence.

Lala241280 · 17/04/2020 17:09

No one is saying it’s fine with balls going into neighbours gardens but give the kids a break
I am mum of a footballer who normally trains and plays 4 times a week on a full size football field is now having to train/ play in his own back garden not ideal either
He is told not to be careful with the ball but accidents happen , if he was doing it on purpose then he would be punished accordingly
The situation we are in isn’t ideal for anyone think we all need to come and go with each other a little bit it’s a stressful time

bombaychef · 18/04/2020 00:21

My kids used to play footy 8/10 hours a week. We must have 15 footballs in the garden / house. They play in the garden several hours a day. The odd ones goes over fence and comes back an hour or two later.
Anyone moaning about 3 footballs going over a fence when kids can't play out, needs their head wobbling. It's not on purpose.
Plants grow back. Kids mental health is more important.

bombaychef · 18/04/2020 00:24

And it's not just boys, There are millions of girls playing with footballs for hours on end in their gardens all over the country.
Anyone thinking that balls in gardens aren't necessary is VERY welcome to have my DD and DS for 3 weeks post lockdown, with no school or other entertainment

bombaychef · 18/04/2020 00:26

OP do you not have a street / neighbourhood Wapp etc to just message people via?? Everyone I know uses these methods.

TheChosenTwo · 18/04/2020 00:33

Well as a mum playing football with her son a lot in the garden recently, I’ve kicked plenty of balls over the fence this week.
Luckily my neighbours aren’t tossers and have just chucked them back over when they’ve next gone in their garden.
Same as I do when anything of theirs ends up in my garden. Which it does.
Not something to be tying yourself up in knots about. It’s not strenuous, being 9 months pregnant does not usually mean you can’t bend down to pick up a ball and throw it over a fence either. I’d go so far as to say even doing that 3 times isn’t particularly hard work Confused

ErrolTheDragon · 18/04/2020 00:34

We used to have two football- mad (but otherwise extremely nice and polite) boys next door - I was forever returning balls. And every Xmas they gave me a big box of chocolates or tin of nice biscuits to thank me (in addition to always actually thanking me). I miss those boys...Grin

I'd put on some gardening gloves and lob them back happily.
But, some people evidently wouldn't be nice about it ... no way to know till you ask.

If you have the neighbours number, an apologetic text would be better than a note, but a note should be ok. They'll be getting other post. Make it easy, no envelope and unfolded for minimal handling.

It’s full of DH’s BBQs, his shed and various other hobby items

Any chance he could rationalise those, the kids probably need the garden more.

Yellowcakestand · 18/04/2020 00:50

We got told off last week for the one ball that has gone over in 4 AND A HALF YEARS.
"Dont let him play football in the garden" was the neighbours advice when we asked for the ball back with an apology.
There is nothing to break next door. There is a lawn and a big tree. Nothing else at all and I have never seen this guy use his garden once. He cuts the grass but that's literally it. He isn't old or vulnerable just miserable.
It is the only time it has ever happened.
God he is annoying.

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