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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

dont like gardening with a audience

32 replies

pinkstarlight · 07/04/2011 10:54

i live next to a nice young couple but they have this annoying habit of entertaining people in their front garden, i just dont get it when they have a really nice big back garden.

i have just done half of my front garden but feel really imtimidated and have come in because the couple and one set of the inlaws are sat out in the front garden just watching my every move and they dont even try to hide the fact that they are openly watching me.i know its not just me as my 15 year old daughter keeps complaining that she hates coming and going from the house as they always go quiet stare at her and then start whispering shes overheard them talking about her hair,clothes etc.

when the couple are alone they always are friendly but when they have visitors they never speak

OP posts:
Happylander · 07/04/2011 10:56

They are clearly nosy gits. Can you put a fence up?? I'd hate that too.

reelingintheyears · 07/04/2011 10:58

Get a shed load of horse shit and spread it over your garden.

MrsOtter · 07/04/2011 11:00

YANBU. Garden naked

OTheHugeManatee · 07/04/2011 11:16

Leylandii. Grin

Changing2011 · 07/04/2011 11:17

Uphill gardening?

Laquitar · 07/04/2011 12:26

My parents do this. Once i came home and found they had taken a table and chairs in the driveway and sat there to drink their coffee. In the driveway! Shock Grin We have nice garden at the back! Your neighbours must be foreigners too Grin

Ignore them. Or throw over some mud accidentally.

Chil1234 · 07/04/2011 12:29

I'd start a conversation with them rather than stand there hoeing and feeling intimidated. Meet brass with brass. Something cheerful to break the ice along the lines of..... 'I normally charge £20 for people to watch me do this but I see you're in the cheap seats so it'll be just a fiver'.

kreecherlivesupstairs · 07/04/2011 13:04

YANBU, DD and I were doing some light gardening at the weekend. Mrs Over emotional was peering through the sparse bush between our gardens like a malevolent pixie. Her DH was in a room upstairs looking down at us.

plupedantic · 07/04/2011 13:37

LOL at in being the cross-hairs of the malevolent creatures sight-lines! They're trying to triangulate and trap you! Shock Have you tried catching the eye of one of them and pointing to the other? They might freeze one another, like those Dr Who angels!

PfftTheMagicDragon · 07/04/2011 13:46

Start gardening without any trousers or knickers on.

berylmuspratt · 07/04/2011 14:00

Our neighbours do this, my DH has found if he - these are his words not mine - gives his tackle a good scratch , they go back in the house Grin

YouaretooniceNOT · 07/04/2011 14:06

Ooh i so feel your pain. My next door but one neighbour used to sit with her daughters in the front garden. Because she is a nosy cow. She did this for about 3 years. I hated coming and going from my house as she was always watching me.

The reason she now uses her front garden is because oue new neighbour is even nosier and watches her! I have to get a fence between our houses rthis summer. Sod em!

YouaretooniceNOT · 07/04/2011 14:06

she now uses her back garden

puddingface · 07/04/2011 14:10

take a loud radio out with you and really let rip with some tunes
they will have to move if they want to hear them selves talking about you

beachyhead · 07/04/2011 14:13

Lucky you don't live next door to the rootin' gardener and his misplaced strimmer!!!!

Original poster
pinkstarlight · 07/04/2011 19:47

some of your replies made me laugh,after a break i though sod it i need to get my garden finished while i can but its so bloody annoying and just down right rude.

i have a 6ft fence in my back garden hes only gone a built i really high decking so now his seating area overlooks my garden,looks like a trip to the garden centre to buy something that will block them out.

OP posts:
stream · 07/04/2011 19:49

beachyhead - lol! Grin

IreneHeron · 07/04/2011 19:54

Hosepipes can spray quite effectively. Strimmers can splat grass and sticks over people, even better if it is a petrol one that is noisy and stinks.

GrendelsMum · 07/04/2011 21:02

I don't have this problem, but I do have a very chatty, friendly neighbour who pops over to chat to me when I'm in the front garden, which stops me getting things done.

I have my iPod in, take my earphones out, say hello and 'just listening to Woman's Hour', plus beaming smile. He now takes this as 'not available for chatting' and wanders off again.

How about a friendly hello and then putting the radio on for you?

YouaretooniceNOT · 07/04/2011 21:14

IreneHeron seems to have it sorted! Grin

TastesLikePanda · 07/04/2011 22:39

Sounds like it is time to hook up an outside sound system and develop a taste for scandinavian death metal...

MrBloomEatsVeggies · 07/04/2011 22:42

They're probably saying 'She's out there gardening AGAIN and we really want to sit out there but it feels like she's listening in to our conversation.' Wink

plupedantic · 08/04/2011 09:43

Mr Bloom, do you eat veggies in front of your neighbours?!

JemimaMuddleFuck · 08/04/2011 09:59

Do you get "Gardener's arse" when you're tending your borders ? That may be what they're waiting for.

Get two big Pampas Grass plants. Hand one to them with a wink and plant the other one in your own garden.
That'll get to the root of the problem.
You'll find that they'll either run everytime you appear or turn up on your doorstep with a bottle of Tia Maria and the keys to a 2CV.

Katisha · 08/04/2011 10:06

Can you get a fence up in the front garden too?

And maybe your 15yr old is stroppy enough to say "are you talking about me?" Or at least to stand and stare back for a few moments in the way that only teenage girls can?