My neighbour is driving me mad!

[Silky12]

I live in a small cul de sac, I’m at the end so the houses on either side of us are forward which means our bedroom window is level with the driveway and garden of one of our neighbours. They are an older couple and although we don’t know them well they are very nice and we’ve helped each other out with small things in the past. HOWEVER! He is driving me mad. He is up every morning between 0530-0545 filling up his watering can (surprisingly loud when water hits a plastic echo chamber), unlocking his car (loud beep), slamming his car door, talking to his dog, taking bins out etc. He’s in his 80’s so it’s not like he needs to get things done before going to work. I know this is the price you pay for neighbours but it’s just so early and I’m so fed up!

[RudsyFarmer]

Wax earplugs are your friend.

[Aquamarine1029]

Listen to thunderstorm sounds while you sleep. It helps a lot.

[Silky12]

@Aquamarine1029 i think this would stop me getting any sleep at all!

[sunshinesupermum]

Many older people wake early. Perhaps you could talk to him about it disturbing your sleep? He probably is unaware!

[TheSingingCharm]

I think you could very nicely ask him if he could delay it to, say, 8 am. Be all smiles? They sound very sweet so hopefully would oblige. Some people live relatively active lives till they’re in their 90s so could be years yet. Alternatively, double glazing that window?

[gamerchick]

Watering the garden I understand because you have to do it before it heats up or when the sun's going down.

Have you asked him to be a bit quieter though?

[Stratocumulus]

He might have dementia, or is starting on that journey? It’s not always obvious at first.

Have a word with his wife although she might have enough on her plate dealing with his disrupted sleep pattern and other issues with him?
She too could be struggling with her sleep because of his early bird habit.
They might be mortified to know they disturb you or, they might have enough to deal with without you saying anything.

It could be sensitive.

I can empathise with you. I’d hate it. I had neighbours who used to clomp across their decking which reverberated up through my back wall, very early in the morning before work. Drove me mad!

[jammydodgies]

Hi OP, I'm sure a lot of people on here will find excuses for his behaviour but that is very odd to fill up a watering can at 5:45am! And I don't think it would be unfair of you to say to him that it's loud and it's waking you up early.

I have elderly neighbours in their late 70s and god they are annoying because they go around talking really loudly to each other and banging their doors shut, I think it's because they're partly deaf which is probably your neighbours issue as well.

I would mention it to him, just as you would expect someone to mention it to you if you were doing the same. It's not acceptable.

[Dontlistitonfacebook]

Can you ask him if he'd mind filling up the watering can the night before?

[Quitelikeit]

Old people wake up very early. It’s his own desire to potter on with his day.

You could kindly mention if he would mind delaying it slightly or at least on a weekend?

You could also use the opportunity to get up early 😆

[Mylifeislikeaboatrace]

Speak to him in the first instance, he may not realise.

[CaloundraBlues]

I actually snorted at this comment!

[Mylifeislikeaboatrace]

One elderly neighbour is obsessed with his lawn, a single daisy that dare shows its pretty little face is quckly dispatched. Wanders around the garden numerous times a day just looking for the odd stone in the garden, weed etc.

[Doodar]

Howling

[zinfi]

He is up every morning between 0530-0545

Doing all of this at the above time is inconsiderate. I think most of us wouldn't consider making all that noise before 6am.

I'd have a polite word with him.

[zinfi]

We have an elderly neighbour who talks at his gate, in the front garden, most of the day. It doesn't disturb me, as I can work elsewhere in the house, but it does disturb other people working from home.

Not at 5.30 though or I would have something to say.

[Silky12]

Sadly I don’t think talking to him will change anything. He is nice but loves making passive aggressive little comments. For example I work from home and if he sees me in the daytime he’ll make little ‘jokes’ about not working hard enough. He always has workmen round who block my car in, when I ask if they could move forward he’ll laugh about women drivers. So if I say something about being woken up he’ll just laugh it off as me being lazy. I’m just going to hold on to @Lemonclub88’s comment and keep fingers crossed 😂

[sunshinesupermum]

I have elderly neighbours in their late 70s and god they are annoying because they go around talking really loudly to each other 

Jammiedodgies We elderly folk may be hard of hearing (probably are and it's no fun) but we still have to put up with listening to our neighbour's bass when he/she has their music playing. HTH

Silky12 whatever his age your neighbour sounds like a pillock. Forget talking to him as I suggested in a pp. Sorry.

[zinfi]

He is nice but loves making passive aggressive little comments. For example I work from home and if he sees me in the daytime he’ll make little ‘jokes’ about not working hard enough. He always has workmen round who block my car in, when I ask if they could move forward he’ll laugh about women drivers. So if I say something about being woken up he’ll just laugh it off as me being lazy.

He doesn't sound very nice. Not being awake at 5.30 is not laziness by most standards and schedules.

[zinfi]

Agreeing with @sunshinesupermum he does sound like a pillock.

[jammydodgies]

Ahhh I hate old men like this. I would post an anonymous note through his door about the 5:30 watering can fill up and car door slamming. Then he can't say anything to you directly and if he asks if it was you just say no, but now he mentions it you have noticed it too. Then thats "two" people on at him and might make him think twice!

[CurlewKate]

Have you actually asked him if he can keep the noise down in the early mornings?

[DiscoBeat]

Can you ask him if he'd mind filling up the watering can the night before?
He probably needs a lot more than one can. How about asking him to use a hose pipe instead? And disable the car bleeps?

[Nanny0gg]

@gamerchick

Watering the garden I understand because you have to do it before it heats up or when the sun's going down.

Have you asked him to be a bit quieter though?

Not at half-past 5 you don't!