to find people, who light bonfires on nice evenings, bloody irritating

[Caan]

gets washing in and shuts doors and windows

YANBU, I'd be pissed off too.

YADNBU, my next door neighbour had been burning rubbish all afternoon in an old oil drum, he did wait until id taken in my washing but the whole house smells of smoke and its too hot to open the windows.

YANBU - winds me up nicely does that!

When are we they meant to light them, can't have them when it's pissing down with rain

We don't all have the luxury of being home all day.

I don't mind the bonfires as they usually smell quite nice and I don't have my washing out in the evening.

But I hate the barbecues that start first thing in a morning and go on late into the evening in a sort of mexican wave along the street every time we get a nice day. Even the ones we are invited to.

Actually, especially the ones we are invited to.

what are they burning anyway? I expect it in the autumn but not this time of year.

Lucky you, having it during the evening! One of our neighbours (and we've never worked out who it is - possibly someone from some allotments up the road) lights a small bonfire during the afternoon on a Saturday or Sunday, as soon as the weather is lovely. Guaranteed. Usually mid-afternoon, when we've got all the windows open, and maybe washing hanging to dry. Makes me weep with frustration. We've complained to the council about it, but there's rock-all they can do. They gave us some leaflets to poke through the offender's door, gee thanks.
I thought that people were only allowed to light bonfires after dusk, but apparently that's a myth.

You know it's nearly summer when these threads start

YANBU - it is very annoying but I must admit I've been considering getting one of those bin things you can burn things in to just to get my own back (and saves the trips to the tip)!!

Not really any different from barbecues to me. I quite like the smell of both.