To politely tell my neighbour to mind her own business?

[CarpeJugulum]

Glorious sunny day. I have a full washing line and a full concertina airer standing outside.

I'm taking one load in and pegging out my next load when my neighbour (who I have a polite "nice weather", "we're away for a few days. X has a key to check house" conversations with) shouts over the fence - "why on earth have you got your tumble drier going?! Surely god's sun and warmth is enough for you?!"

The reason the tumble was on was to dry DS' (18mo) towels as he cries if they're crunchy and they irritate his sensitive skin and also to get his sleepy thing dry as I can't peg it out as he then twigs he has more then one! So I told her it was for DS' towels - cue a cats bum mouth and a comment regarding me "spoiling him".

Now firstly I'm a bit about the God's bit as I didn't know she was that religious, but I'm absolutely spitting feathers about the spoiling him comment. Okay, he doesn't have excesma or anything really awful, but he does cry and his skin is really red afterwards if I use a line dry towel - and this has been since he was born, so it's not a new/learnt thing for him.

AIBU to think that is is none of her business? Obviously, I did the polite murmur and legged it, but part of me wants to tell her to bugger off!

eczema

Blooming spell checkers!

Ignore her.

Tell her the Devil's got better heaters.

just smile and nod, smile and nod...

Wait until you hear the clank of unrecycled tins and bottles from her bin bags or see her drive to the local shop.
"Not recycling then? That'll make the Baby Jesus sad"
"Plastic bags? God's good BagforLifes not good enough for you?"
"Driving? The Heavenly Father gave you good sturdy legs, didn't he?"

See how she likes them apples.

I always ignore any question or comment started with, "why on earch", they are always twatty ones.

Just answer that it's your choice.

Tell it runs on solar power...

i'd just give her a look, and say slowly "ooooooo-kaaaaaayyyy theeen".

then laugh.

why on earth

Och Ignore
I too have several machine loads outside but the towels will be coming in while still slightly damp and into the tumble drier for 10mins or so to fluff up.
I like soft towels

how did she know you had your tumble on she got spy vision ???

at Sue

I think you were wise not to retort at all.
Yes she is being an arse. I would say something to her next time I saw her 'yes I do have the tumble dryer on to soften ds's towels as his skin is sore. But tbh if you had your dryer on on a sunny day firstly I would give you the benefit of the doubt and secondly I would think it was probably none of my business. If you are puzzled by something I am doing and really feell you need to say something, do you think you could ask next time instead of shouting at me. It was pretty rude tbh'

It is shitty to be at odds with your neighbours so I wouldn't get too wound up about it. But yes, she should mind her own business.

I would have smiled sweetly and said "I tumble everything as it cuts down on my ironing" (I do and it does) followed by "yes it's a lovely day but I dont believe in God" lol......nosey old bat!

Are you sure she wasn't just joking? Even if serious, just be wary in future. Her judgemental attitude doesn't deserve this much of your energy.

I'd have told her it was actually empty and I liked it on for the white noise which I find relaxing.

YANBU.

Oooh I like the solar power one MissVerinder

Or you could say it runs on sanctimonious indignation

I'm fairly sure she was being serious. My tumble is at my back door and vents close to her house so she can hear it - so I don't think she's stalking me

It just really took me aback - the first comment I could maybe have take as a joke, but the comments about DS just pushed a button I didn't know I had IYSWIM!

Still, I've calmed down now and reached the internal giggles point.

"Yes, my tumble drier is on. I'm using it to dry the altar cloth before this afternoon's service. I'm sure God would be okay with that."

Why the sarky comments about God? Plenty of people would use that expression whether they believed in God or not, it's just a saying and doesn't mean she is overly religious at all.

I agree with you OP that it is none of her business but I do wish these God insults would stop.

Oh the 'spoiling him' thing. Really gets my goat. You're 'spoiling him' by picking him up, you're 'spoiling him' by cuddling him too much, you're 'spoiling him' by buying him the shoes he likes as opposed to the ones you like (same price), 'you're spoiling him' is just the clarion cry of the slightly older generation who are too cowardly to say 'your parenting choices are different from mine and mine were better than yours, na na na na nah.'

IMHO.

I use my drier all the time as my washing either blows away or ends up filthy and I have to rewash it, ignore them.

I was told yesterday that I spoil my child as I helped him carry some of his umpteen bags from school ! Why did we have kids if we cannot "spoil" them !!

They're not 'sarky comments about God' Rhubarb, if you're referring to my post, they're an exact mirror of the NDN's comments to the OP.
She said, what's wrong with God's sun
I said, say what's wrong with God's legs/bags/whatever.

Nobody is knocking God, that I can see.

I second Pag's suggestion to tell her your tumble-dryer runs on 'sanctimonious indignation'.