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Original poster

Neighbours complaining about reindeer food

388 replies

wasteful26 · 26/12/2025 23:45

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?

OP posts:
TaffetaPhrases · 27/12/2025 07:59

You want sticky porridge everywhere if it rains?

Greencactusgirl · 27/12/2025 08:09

YABU and very lazy. Sweep it up.

Maybeitllneverhappen · 27/12/2025 08:10

I'd be worried about rats and danger to other wildlife. Can't see why you wouldn't choose to be considerate.

SharonEllis · 27/12/2025 08:10

Can't believe people still chuck glitter around. Bad for wildlife if they eat it straight away and more microplastics for us all. How stupid, and lazy can you be?

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 27/12/2025 08:11

If you don't clean it up I'm sure rats will do it for you. Nothing says Christmas like helping out the local vermin.

adaywithy · 27/12/2025 08:13

Bourneyesterday · 26/12/2025 23:52

You'll attract rats and mice as well by scattering did on the ground though the glitter is apparently really bad for them.

this. yabvu

Pollyanna87 · 27/12/2025 08:14

You sound daft, inconsiderate, and tacky.

myhaggisblewup · 27/12/2025 08:16

Some people are so entitled and scummy with their behaviour.
There are complete knobs on MN just clear your shit up. I don't give a toss about you as a person but I give a very big toss about the environment and wildlife.

ThatCyanCat · 27/12/2025 08:17

Just to note, even edible glitter isn't safe for wildlife. If you must feed the reindeer, OP, scatter bird seed over your garden and yeah, sweep it up if it makes a mess. That should be obvious.

LoudSnoringDog · 27/12/2025 08:17

Just go and sweep it up ffs

aphroditeflighty · 27/12/2025 08:17

If it were me, I'd just get a brush and clean it up, problem solved. No need to be indignant or feel slighted.

CatrionaBalfour · 27/12/2025 08:18

Also, the DH needs to think about his attitude. Maybe he could supervise the clean up.

Walkerzoo · 27/12/2025 08:21

When mine were kids I did a light sprinkle. I didn't want rats......

LakieLady · 27/12/2025 08:28

RabbitsEatPancakes · 26/12/2025 23:50

What do you think rain will do to oats on a pavement- it won't make them disappear will it?

Get out and clean up your mess.

It'll turn them into porridge! And possibly a slippery mess.

I'm not surprised the neighbour has complained. Chucking edible stuff in the street will be a Christmas feast for rats and mice, and the addition of glitter (unless it's edible glitter) could be harmful to birds and other wildlife.

I agree, OP needs to get out there and clean it up.

Bellyblueboy · 27/12/2025 08:30

HelpMeGetThrough · 27/12/2025 07:03

I wouldn’t give a toss, what’s on the street is not my problem, so would ignore it.

Jesus Christ what an awful attitude. This is why society is filled with lazy, feckless people who don’t give a shit about anything or anyone else. Who throw McDonald’s wrappers out of their car, who walk in front of people in queues, who yell at people in the street, who don’t have basic manners.

OP teach your children some bloody manners. Their mess, they clean it up.

and for god sake get some standards.

Wanderinggoose · 27/12/2025 08:34

The fact so many people are happily feeding local rats, with a sparkle, and then consider those who complain a problem is just the perfect Christmas ridiculousness.

Edited to add. I can also see why uk looks the way it looks with rubbish everywhere

MaddieJo22 · 27/12/2025 08:34

I wouldn't say anything, but it would piss me off as it would definitely even more attract rats and mice to our area 🤣. Why not clean it up?

YellowPixie · 27/12/2025 08:34

Glitter is plastic. Many people would object to micro plastics all over their garden and yes oats will biodegrade but until they do may attract mice or rats. A whole bag of oats is hugely excessive. And messy.

Mumof2wifeof1crazytimes · 27/12/2025 08:34

OccasionalHope · 26/12/2025 23:54

I'd be concerned about encouraging rats, and about birds being poisoned by the glitter.

This. It wouldn’t take 2 minutes to sweep it up. Also I would be embarrassed by your husband behaviour.

Left · 27/12/2025 08:35

Why would you not just clean it up?

Alwayswonderedwhy · 27/12/2025 08:36

Assuming you used wildlife safe/ edible glitter I don't really see the problem. Just chuck some water over it to help get rid.

Sadza · 27/12/2025 08:37

In the time you’ve spent creating this post you could’ve just swept it up. Set an example and clean up after you kids.

Nobumsonthetable · 27/12/2025 08:38

I have never heard of reindeer food until today. What a fucking waste of food and an ignorant mess you have let your kids make. Clean it up and have some respect for your neighbours.

LakieLady · 27/12/2025 08:39

It's a shame this isn't in AIBU with voting enabled.

I reckon YABU votes would be well into the 90s.

christmassaurus · 27/12/2025 08:39

PleaseStopEatingMyStuff · 27/12/2025 00:04

Unless it's torrential rain it'll just make the oats big and sticky and will end up looking like sparkly vomit outside your house.
I'd just Sweep it up now whilst it's dry.

Given the amount of food left out for the reindeer on Christmas eve, sparkly vomit is probably quite accurate...

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