Neighbours complaining about reindeer food

[wasteful26]

Elder dc bought a bag of porridge on Xmas Eve to mix with glitter with their younger siblings and put out for the “reindeer”
As dc do on Xmas Eve they got carried away and as well as putting the food in our front garden they sprinkled it on the public road.
A neighbour who we do not know by name but to smile at had posted on the local FB page complaining about the mess which went over our heads but he then confronted dh in the street today when he was getting in his car.
Because of the old dry weather the porridge is still laying in the street.
Dh being his usual non diplomatic self wasn’t exactly friendly towards neighbour.
Ive no intentions of going out with a brush and shovel for what is a few handfuls of oats and it’s to rain in the next few days anyway but am wondering if this is something that others would be upset about in their street?

I think a little glitter brightens up woodland creatures in the dark months in any case.

I would have swept it up tbh as soon as the kids had gone to bed.

Yes, agreed. Some people just don't give a shit about anything/anyone else.

I’m not surprised your neighbour was cross. I’d be most annoyed about the use of glitter (really hoping it was biodegradable!!) but also leaving stuff out on the pavement in a big mess. It’s really not hard after the kids go to bed to get out with a brush and sweep it up and then you get to check in the morning the reindeer have eaten it,

You literally said they also sprinkled it in the public road.

You said they sprinkled it in the road and then said it was overspill in the road? You need to apologise to your neighbours and then clear it up. If it’s rains it will become a gloopy mess. You aren't giving your children the right message here either.

The glitter should be removed but the oats are fine to leave . I don't know how environmentally friendly glitter is , not very I don't think.

If there is any kind of mess / litter on the pavement outside my home or litter in my street or on a dog walk , I do pick it up.
It sets a good example to others .

I would sweep it up , but I know if an old busy body was demanding that I picked it up I might wait 😜

If I were your neighbour I'd have shovelled up the mess and posted it through your letterbox, thereby making it unambiguously your problem to deal with.

Right?! The husband could have just said sorry and swept it up. This post sums up exactly what is wrong with society right now - people not giving a damn about others and teaching their kids the same, then calling those who complain the miseries because “it’s Christmas” and their kids are the centre of the universe….

Swept it up yet OP?

Any foodstuff like that may attract rats and that’s why the neighbours might be out out.

Your children left a mess in a public area so you really do need to get off your backside and clear it up.

Half of them probably planning to jet off to Alcudia in a few months time with not a single thought given to the damage millions of gallons of jet fuel being spewed into the atmosphere does to the environment 🤷🏻‍♀️

Presumably you mean the people poisoning actual birds and animals with glitter in pursuit of some twattish plastic spin on Christmas

To be fair, the OP did ask for comment. However, thank you for introducing me to the word "bloviating".

It's quite entitled to make a mess and then not bother spending 2 minutes cleaning it up. Very disrespectful to others you share that space with.

Clean up your mess. It’s good manners

@Illbefinejustbloodyfine

pine nuts?! They are soooo expensive
some mumsnetters really don’t live in the real world

This! Wait till it rains and you have a worse mess to clean up as it will be soggy and horrible. Kids have had their fun so now time to tidy up.

I last flew in 2023 - to Southampton from Glasgow.

"coming on MN in full attack mode...This whole thread is a great example of frustrated people needing an opportunity to stick the boot in...sanctimonious boot up the arse" etc.

That's the irony I'm referring to.

I wouldn't be happy if a neighbour did this. My first thought was that you've made it more difficult for prams/wheelchairs to use the pavement, and there are so many other good points about killing wildlife, encouraging rats etc on this thread.
Even without all that it's just liter, even if it wasn't doing any harm, it's unsightly and you shouldn't have to be told to pick it up.

The glitter was very unreasonable

Can't remember the last time I flew anywhere

Agreed.

They do sound like charmers.

Dry porridge oats are fine for birds when they're dry.
If they get wet, they're dangerous. It can stick their beaks together so they can't feed.