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The holidaymakers next door

532 replies

mindutopia · 17/04/2022 19:55

Just a rant really, I know I’m not being at all unreasonable. We live in a very rural area that is somewhere people like to visit. It’s pretty and remote and lovely. The only house within about a mile or more is a holiday let. Owners are lovely and actually bought the property back that their grandparents used to own 60 years ago. We have no issues with them. We also have no issues with 95% of their guests. They are usually very quiet and respectful and all that.

We had a family arrive yesterday for the week, with a 5 & 10 year old (we have a 4 & 9 year old, so great we thought!). They came over to play yesterday afternoon, fine.

I woke up this morning to their 5 year old in our lounge (we have like 5 doors, it’s a big old farmhouse, we don’t lock them usually at night as literally no one bothers us down here). I returned him to his family. Hmm

They attempted to come over several times today but I sent them back as we were having an Easter egg hunt in the garden and also having lunch. They finally came over again in the afternoon (I was in the house tidying up after lunch). We live on a farm so I can’t really see much from the kitchen, or else if I’d seen them, I would have intervened.

The 5 year old got into our chicken pen, let all the chickens out, threw about £5 worth of food and grit everywhere, and then appeared in my lounge (I was tidying up toys) and chucked 4 eggs on the floor (thankfully didn’t break!). I’m over it. Hmm

I only discovered the chickens let out (for foxes to eat) and food thrown everywhere just now as I went to tidy up outside for the evening. I went to knock on holiday let’s door but was dark inside downstairs and I could hear kids in bathroom upstairs so they are obviously doing bath and bedtime now.

I’ll speak with them tomorrow, but I just needed to rant. We’ve had so many people traveling to our lovely part of the country the past couple years and it does provide income for many local people (not Dh and I, we work in careers totally unrelated to tourism). But these are the first CF we’ve had in a long time and it just irritates me. Every time I’ve returned their children to them, they’ve just been in the kitchen, drinking, and oblivious. We had a bonfire burning today. We have a river with deep fast flowing water. We also had our puppy out this afternoon, who is lovely but very big and jumpy, which is why we are careful to only have her off lead on our own farm. She definitely could have injured one on these kids in excitement if we hadn’t known they were wondering around our land. And also just the damage and expense to our livestock. I’ve had to clean out the duck and chicken houses because they filled them with pellets and they can choke without access to water. They’re here 5 more days! I will go have a word in the morning, but in the meantime, just arghhhh!

OP posts:
DMinChi · 19/04/2022 19:07

I'd be tempted to report them to social services.

I think you have the patience of a saint.

CousinKrispy · 19/04/2022 19:14

WHERE ARE PICTURES OF THE LARGE PUPPY

DogInATent · 19/04/2022 19:15

A matinee showing of Apaches is called for.

Mitzi067 · 19/04/2022 19:29

Why no update from OP?
So annoying when the pot is bubbling and she disappears!

pinkpantherpink · 19/04/2022 19:29

Understand your rage. That's incredible. Can't imagine letting a 5yo meander about like that. Good on you. Tackling through the owners is right. They can add advice to their visitor handbook

JinglingHellsBells · 19/04/2022 19:32

It's just a bit naiive and short sighted @mindutopia to invite unknown children to play dates. You never know what will happen.

Also, holiday makers do not expect these sorts of invites.

If it happens naturally, like everyone meets by the river, beach or on a walk and an invitation is forthcoming, fine. But to have an 'open house' (literally) for holidaymakers seems rather risky.

AnnieSnap · 19/04/2022 19:35

I hope the holiday home owners nip it in the bud for you. I’m amazed at how many times you have had to explain why you don’t lock your doors and the risks of unsupervised small children wandering around your farm! You wouldn’t be unreasonable to have steam coming out of your ears and some of the responses on this thread 🙄

Bellie710 · 19/04/2022 19:36

OP we also live in a very rural area where no one locks their doors! I couldn't even tell you where the keys are for most of mine but even when we are on holiday our house is open. Even the car keys are in the ignition! It is funny how no one can understand how rural or safe a place you live in but you are not alone.

Catlady2021 · 19/04/2022 19:37

I haven’t read all 18 pages of this thread.

I find it strange that the OP doesn’t lock her doors. Yes they live in a rural area , but burglars can still target remote houses. Even in lovely areas.

I also find it weird that the family staying over didn’t realise that their 5 year old had left their house to wander over to the OPs. Surely they should lock their doors too??

Frenchie8690 · 19/04/2022 19:49

I can't get past the fact you don't lock your doors. I live in a city now but grew up very rurally and we always locked our doors. There were more burglaries out in the sticks than there ever are in my current neighborhood

LadyMil · 19/04/2022 19:57

100% what you’ve said.

I bet if anything happened you’d be the one they blamed despite not paying any attention to their children.

And people complain about what a certain couple did abroad that led to the disappearance of their child yet people do this while holidaying at home.

Eve76 · 19/04/2022 19:57

No offence meant here at all but I wouldn’t ever let my child go to a strangers house unaccompanied what kind of parents do that . Yanbu

Cattoes · 19/04/2022 20:02

Also very rural, no one here locks there doors except at night or if they're out for the day. Often the cars aren't locked either, my neighbour leaves his car lights on a lot so I just turn them off for him !
We have also had visiting children turn up in our house at 8 am after a playdate. A lot less dangerous here though there is an open slurry pit (fenced off) on the neighbouring farm I've instilled the fear of in my own DC. Even so, still very intrusive and annoying to have children randomly turn up and I did have to establish boundaries. (And put a rock in front of the garden gate so he couldn't get in...)

ElizabethBoland · 19/04/2022 20:03

How did you arrange for them to come play at yours the first day without speaking to them?
They are CF and choosing to not lock your doors is not an invitation. I would love a diagram to see how this is laid out for them to access your property. Regardless of all else you should probably report it for safeguarding

Tinkerbell1980 · 19/04/2022 20:05

CF's!!!! I neeeeed to know what has happened since OP! Please tell me you gave them both barrels....?

Pawtriarchal · 19/04/2022 20:11

On threads here just during today, I have read that women invite assault during internal examinations by consenting to the original examination, that women invite being assaulted by men due to offering them a lift, and now we have leaving your door unlocked means that anything that happens as a result is also being invited. Jesus.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 19/04/2022 20:15
Confused
JustmeandtheKIDS2 · 19/04/2022 20:18

Sorry but your thread made me smile. We have just arrived on holiday. A child a few doors away (aged 6,) had just started carrying my bags that I was unpacking from my car. He is clearly a bit lonely and desperate to play with my children. They were unpacking the car, I turned around and this random child was also unpacking my car!
He talks none stop and keeps on staring through my window. He was knocking on the window as we were trying to eat tea. I felt a bit mean but after the 3rd time of him looking at us through the window I've asked him to go away.

Miisty · 19/04/2022 20:21

Well done to you Farms are dangerous places for adults as well as children .Definitely sounds like 5year old got a learning problem which means parents should step up supervision. Brought up in the countryside but lots of townies haven’t a blue like people visiting seaside and no idea of everyday danger

Anotherselfemployedcleaner · 19/04/2022 20:37

For those concerned about locks which need a physical key to be locked/unlocked from the inside - why not install thumb turn locks? Available for Yale and Euro type locks.

AnnieSaxophone · 19/04/2022 20:38

what happened OP??

cookie4640 · 19/04/2022 20:38

Oooh please go and post this in farm wives UK or LWL on the old facey! I’d love to hear what other farming families make if it! Me, a farmer too, I’d just go round and list the dangers and just say “as you might be aware this is a working farm, and I’d hate for your little one to be harmed at all - make sure he’s supervised at all times and you know where he is” and lock your door. 😁

Anotherselfemployedcleaner · 19/04/2022 20:41

Sorry, should have added - just need to change the lock cylinder. Cost of cylinder and cutting new keys obvs, but don’t ever have to worry about being locked in during an emergency and not being able to find keys to get out.

Northernparent68 · 19/04/2022 20:54

@LemonViolet

Next time an unknown 5 year old appears in your home, I’d suggest considering phoning social services to be honest.
This.
WiddlinDiddling · 19/04/2022 20:56

18 pages later and still on about locked doors?

I live on the edge of a small rural town - doors are locked if we're out, or in bed.

My father lives in a very rural area - his front door is locked... sometimes if he is out out (say shopping in the next town, but not, in the pub round the corner) then the back door is locked.. but not really because the workshop door hasn't even got a lock.

The cowshed is always locked.. because thats where the chainsaws, lathes, bench saw etc live.

Most of our friends properties are not locked, some may appear locked up but aren't really, some its perfectly normal to wander in and shout hello, to find the postman having a brew waiting for someone to appear to sign for something...

Again, just because that isn't how you live.. does not mean it isn't how some people live. Mumsnet seems full of folk who believe if its not their personal, lived experience, it doesn't happen EVER!

OP hopefully the annoying holiday folk and their feral children are under better control now and your poultry and carpets are safe!

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