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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to light a bonfire even though next doors left her washing out?

128 replies

deemented · 03/07/2011 20:03

Manshape knocked at hers earlier and told her that he was having a bonfire this evening. She pulled her face and said she'd take her washing in later.

It's still out, and tbh, i don't think she's any intention of taking it in at all.

Manshapes reluctant to light the fire, but i say go for it - she doesn't bother telling us when she's having a bonfire wether i've washing out or not, at least he gave her fair warning.

So AIBU to go ahead and light it?

OP posts:
itsastrawpoll · 03/07/2011 20:27

Is it a cultural thing to you, having a bonfire? I don't know anyone who would burn wood in a garden rather than disposing of it in a way that doesn't annoy other people. I want to say YABU for having a bonfire at all, but if it's part of your culture or something then maybe that's just your way, I don't know.

Never met anyone who would do this.

itsastrawpoll · 03/07/2011 20:28

Ah x-post.

Not cultural, just sheer idleness.

In that case YABU. It's your problem, not something your neighbours should have to put up with because your DP can't be arsed to hoof it round the side of the house.

misty0 · 03/07/2011 20:28

Why thank you agent Grin Ner nerny ner ner! Were you sticking your toung out at the screen while you wrote that?

I get on just fine with my neighbours ta.

cate16 · 03/07/2011 20:28

I love a bonfire - far better than stinky BBQs!!

But why burn wood? Can't you freecycle it for people with wood-burners?
My husbands has a que of people after his wood scraps.

clutteredup · 03/07/2011 20:29

If we have crap to get rid of we take it to the tip to be recycled - smug green emoticon - not sure why people feel the need to burn stuff. My new neighbours have burned stuff every nice weekend for about 4 weeks now - and it smells funny, not just wood - too wimpy to go round and complain, just grumble a lot about smelly washing.

Original poster
deemented · 03/07/2011 20:29

But why should he have to when we have an incinerator that'll take care of it?

OP posts:
itsastrawpoll · 03/07/2011 20:30

You don't have to do anything. You can choose to be considerate or you can choose to be antisocial.

Clearly antisocial is what you choose to be.

itsastrawpoll · 03/07/2011 20:31

Leaflet here from the environmental protection people about bonfires if you're interested

Original poster
deemented · 03/07/2011 20:32

People don't want these wood scraps - when he first started using pallets we offered bags of the scrap wood on freecycle and gumtree - they would be ideal for people with a woodburning stove, but no one wanted them because they have nails in them.

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 03/07/2011 20:32

hehe misty :p

LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay · 03/07/2011 20:33

Hm, sorry, in the YABU camp.

a) it's a dreadful waste of wood and not at all eco.
b) it IS anti social - it's horrible to get stinky washing with somebody else's fire.

Personally, teh first issue is bigger for me. I can't understand why there is a need to burn wood, what a dreadful thing to do.

HAVING SAID THAT ..... on the washing front...you did give her fair warning, so that was very considerate of you, IMO. If she didn't take it in, that's her own fault.

But what about all the others in the neighbourhood who had to close their windows on a hot day because of you? I don't think that's at all neighbourly.

Hm. It occurs to me - do you really give a shit? Grin

dolldaggabuzzbuzz · 03/07/2011 20:33

YABU

ktmoomoo · 03/07/2011 20:34

ppl do that near me and it doesnt go down welll , its rude and unfriendly , DONT do it

RedbinDazzler · 03/07/2011 20:36

Light the bonfire. I love the smell of smoke and flames. Ignore the recycling fanatics , most of them are townies who haven't a clue about real rural life.

misty0 · 03/07/2011 20:37

:P agent Grin

Original poster
deemented · 03/07/2011 20:37

Now you see, we seem to differ on what we deem antisocial.

I deem antisocial as dealing drugs in broad daylight, having users shoot up in your garden then leaving the wraps lying round so that they are blown into my garden and my children pick them up, not putting rubbish out on designated days and instead lighting bonfires at all hours of the day and night, with no warning. All of which my neighbour does.

And fwiw, the bonfire is safetly encased in an incinerator, and is closely watched so is unlikely to become uncontrolable.

OP posts:
LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay · 03/07/2011 20:37

yup, I'm a townie no-clue-green-eco, who lives in teh middle of fucking Wales, with a wood-burning stove for my fuel and heating.
Is that 'real' enough?
Put your judgypants away. They don't fit you.

M0naLisa · 03/07/2011 20:39

Yes go for it. Its after 6pm knock yourself out. :) she was warned.

misty0 · 03/07/2011 20:41

Is the OP rural redbin?

I'm very rural, and i've never lit a bonfire, we take our wood to the recycle centre.

WhipMeIndiana · 03/07/2011 20:41

nowt wrong with a bonfire...we have one about every 6mths
lucky enough to have a long garden, bonfire right at end backing onto open countryside, all neighbours do it.

we've agreed with our neighbours we'd all do it about this time to avoid ruining washing

Hulababy · 03/07/2011 20:42

I wouldn't be too pleased with someone lighting a fire right now. We have all our windows open as it is warm, so we need to get some breeze through. And bonfires smell and, for me, it isn't a nice smell.

The weather is due to get colder in a day or two - could it not wait till then. I don't think rain is forecast, just cooler weather.

itsastrawpoll · 03/07/2011 20:44

Hard to tell really, as I live in a nice area and it would definitely be deemed antisocial here.

But it sounds like where you live bonfires are the least of your worries, so knock yourselves out.

bibbitybobbityhat · 03/07/2011 20:45

Why can't he go out and light it at 10pm? Everyone else will be indoors by then.

LostMyIdentityAlongTheWay · 03/07/2011 20:45

Oh come on, OP!!! In that case, why haven't you reported them to the police. Talk about saving up bits of information for later in the thread Hmm

As I said - you don't give a shit about being antisocial to them (and having read your post about drugs, 'm not bloody surprised!!!!!) but I do think it's harsh on the other neighbours.

Sounds like you have bigger fish to fry, m'dear.... Is moving away from the buggers an option?!

AgentZigzag · 03/07/2011 20:46

Has he been round OP?

And is the offending bonfire crackling merrily away?