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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be fucking pissed off with where I live?

26 replies

Hatesponge · 10/04/2011 17:37

firstly apologies for swearing in title but I am fuming Angry

so yesterday I woke up, went into DC's rooms (at front of house, mine is at back) and noticed something white on windows - at first I thought bird mess, however it is downstairs as well, and over our front steps. As though someone had squirted something. Anyway, no big deal if a bit annoying.

Today decided I need to sort garden out. Went to find pressure washer. Not in utility room...then remembered I got it out and put it on the decking in the back garden on Friday because I was going to do it on Sat. Check garden - not there. Check all rooms of house (in case brought it back in) also not there.

Decide will just mow lawn. Go to get garden waste bin (in front garden). Garden waste bin full of other peoples rubbish. As is my own bin. I know its not mine as these are drawstring black bags (used by several neighbours) and mine are not.

Really rather cross by now. Pressure washer my own fault, but still annoying given my garden has locked gate, high fences etc.

So, go round to side gate. Notice trellis at top of fence between my house and neighbours is all broken and in bits. As all the bits are on my side I suspect they have done it. Pick up pile of broken wood.

Think well I'll still mow lawn. Get out lawnmower. Cable has been cut through in several places. Clean cuts so cant see it being an animal.

Am now wondering wtf is going on, and when my neighbourhood turned from a nice family area to some total shithole? Does stuff like this happen, or have I just been really unlucky?

OP posts:
TheMonster · 10/04/2011 17:40

That sounds like an awful lot going on in a short space of time.
Are there some neighbours who have it in for you?

ditavonteesed · 10/04/2011 17:42

that is odd, never heard of anyone cutting cables and squirting stuff at peoples houses, alright nicking stuff from back garden but the other stuff is really odd. what a crappy run of events, have you really pissed someone off?

GypsyMoth · 10/04/2011 17:42

its odd its just started?

StuckinTheMiddlewithYou · 10/04/2011 17:43

I'd speak to the police - this needs to be nipped in the bud quickly.

Original poster
Hatesponge · 10/04/2011 17:45

Before this I would never have thought so, but now - it would seem maybe they do :( It's a bit worrying as I am a lone parent.

The stuff squirted at windows I suspect was 2 teenagers I told to stop playing football in my front garden a couple of weeks ago. I wouldn't suspect them of the other stuff though as I doubt they have the bottle to climb into my back garden.

The rubbish thing has to be my immediate neighbours who I thought were ok.

The rest of it I dont know.

OP posts:
EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 10/04/2011 17:47

It sounds like a lot in a very short time. I know that the nice weather brings out the thieves - lawnmowers, hoses, BBQs etc sell well at this time of year- but to cut the cord and spray stuff on the windows is odd. It's worth contacting your local station and asking to speak to someone about it

One of These might help with your wheelie bin.

StuckinTheMiddlewithYou · 10/04/2011 17:48

Cutting cables like that? I'd be worried.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 10/04/2011 17:51

The theft might just be the time of year, and someone might have damaged the fence climbing over it. It's not pleasant but hopefully it's just a run of bad luck.

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 10/04/2011 17:53

The only thing I'd ask about your cable is how old are your children. We went through a phase in this house of things being randomly cut that ended with a pair of curtains having to be replaced and some very stern words.

Original poster
Hatesponge · 10/04/2011 17:54

I should add, other than telling the teens to do one, I haven't had any run ins with anyone here. TBH, I almost never see or speak to any of my neighbours as I'm out at work every day, so I can't see how I could have caused offence. Other than by not being here!

The bin lock is a good idea. The rubbish thing has happened in the past once or twice, with v small bags, but there was loads this time. My next door neighbours have young DC and their bin is always overflowing. I wouldn't have minded them putting some stuff in mine if I had room, but as it is now there's barely space for my own bags.

It was the cut cable that upset me most as well.

I do feel a bit of an easy target being out all day. Think I will speak to the police. Even if it is just bad luck.

OP posts:
TheMonster · 10/04/2011 17:56

I am loving the BinLoc!

It does sound like the fencing was damaged when someone climbed over.

Have you really not heard anything? No noises when stuff was squirted? No-one in the garden?

Where was the lawnmower stored?

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 10/04/2011 17:58

Good plan. It may be that there have been a spate of thefts in your area which, though it wouldn't replace your sprinkler, would at least help you feel that it's not a personal thing.

Original poster
Hatesponge · 10/04/2011 18:02

The stuff was squirted at the front of the house - my room and our living room/kitchen are at the back so wouldn't have heard it from there. And DC sleep through anything. And my hearing isn't great tbh, so I probably wouldnt hear certain low level noise outside.

Plus my neighbours door is at the side of their house (they have a side path leading to their door, my door is at front so side path is just garden access) if i do hear anyone in the path I would assume it was neighbours.

The lawnmower is in shed right at bottom of garden. You would have to deliberately walk up there to get to it, not like its close at hand or anything.

OP posts:
Original poster
Hatesponge · 10/04/2011 18:11

Am now wondering if I can ressurect lawnmower, will have to take plug off and rewire. have never wired a plug before, left all that stuff to Exp (electrician). One of the times when I hate being a LP....

OP posts:
TheMonster · 10/04/2011 18:13

Wiring a plug is easy as pie! You'll be dead proud of yourself too!

microserf · 10/04/2011 20:51

Hmm, this seems like an awful lot in a short period of time. Personally, I would get a police report on record, just in case it's the start of something. Hopefully, it is not, but just in case.

SkinittingFluffyBunnyBonnets · 10/04/2011 20:55

You must report this....it sounds like your neighbors or someone else close. Do you get on with neighbours?

EvenLessNarkyPuffin · 10/04/2011 20:58

Young Envy I had to wire a plug in physics at school.

Zingylemontart · 10/04/2011 21:21

If you can bear it, get some rubber gloves on and see if there's anything in the rubbish bags to ID the culprits. Then go take their bags back to them.

Can't help on the other stuff, but YANBU, it's decidedly strange.

Triggles · 10/04/2011 21:21

Is it possible if you get along with those neighbours (as you seem a bit surprised that they may be involved), that perhaps someone else went into their garden and then just moved across to yours and stole/did damage? So that you were both victims?

Original poster
Hatesponge · 11/04/2011 00:10

Puffin, I was meant to wire a plug in physics as part of my practical assessment. However I got the boys in the class to do it for me Blush

I did try earlier but couldnt get the plug off with a tiny screwdriver (which was all I could find!) will try with a more suitably sized one tomorrow!

I think it is possible that someone climbed the fence into my garden and broke it - neighbours dont lock their side gate (I do lock mine) so is a possibility. and that could account for nicking my pressure washer.

the lawnmowers still a bit weird though....

rubbish in my bin was definitely from neighbours. their bin is always overflowing, my bin is often half full so maybe they didnt see a problem? Hmm. Is a bit of a cheek though as they would have had to walk quite a way into my garden to do it.

OP posts:
YouaretooniceNOT · 11/04/2011 00:33

IMO the vandals teenagers are the culprits for the broken fence, missing pressure washer and the white stuff squirted on your property etc. I would advise to log the incident at the station and ask your neighbours to keep an eye out, The binloc looks perfect too. Angry on your behalf. Good luck.

stream · 11/04/2011 00:38

I'd start to lock your shed. Maybe get an alarm for it too.

LostInSockLand · 11/04/2011 01:02

You'd be surprised at the things people do. I had one VERY strange neighbour a few years ago. I always thought she was ok, quiet, kept herself to herself (cant say I blame her the way some of them behave in this street). We were on polite terms, i'd invited her round to a bbq on a couple occasions, sent Christmas cards, gave her some stuff for her patio, did smalltalk when we bumped into each other etc.

Then she moved, bumped into two of my neighbours on different occasions (she worked in a local shop) and told them she'd moved because I was the neighbour from hell! Apparently I'd "laughed" at her whenever she walked up to her door, "talked" about her and made her feel intimidated...? Huh? I was totally gobsmacked, i'd never said a bad word about her to anyone, why on earth would I?...that was one seriously paranoid woman.

Shortly after they moved (she had a partner by this time) I went outside to find the grass on about a third of my back lawn killed in a very neat pattern. Never happened before, or since so I can only assume this was her "revenge"....odd.

snailsandwich · 11/04/2011 01:50

Find out who your community police officer is and have a chat with them, see if you can nip it in the bud now.

This sort of thing used to happen to me and my neighbour, when I lived in Croydon. We put up with this sort of malarky for ages, then one of the toerags, allegedly, broke into her house and started a fire, while she was away.

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