To be cross with my neighbour about this.

[eskimofriends]

My son and nephew (15 and 12) were playing cricket in the garden. First time in ages (bally weather!). Anyway, the ball went over the fence. The boys, polite as you like, asked the neighbour for the ball back.
She told them she'll get it in the morning when she puts her washing out. And if they want to play cricket they should go to the park.
I'm fuming. Quite apart from the fact that my 14month old twins can't go out there because her 3 cats constantly come over the fence into our garden, AIBU to expect someone who lives in a 3 bed semi (i.e. family type housing) to be a bit more considerate of kids. It's the first time it's gone over.

(The boys are now back on the PS3. No wonder we have an obesity crisis.)

YANBU

She sounds a bit of a meanie.

I have little DC's living next to me and, even though we have big gardens, I get balls come over on almost a daily basis. I don't mind at all but I often leave it a couple of days before I throw them back. I don't do this to be mean I just don't out in the garden everyday and I know they have a stash of balls to play with. I think that is OK . doubting self now, doesn't want to be seen as a mean nieghbour

think the 2 issues are totally seperate-cats roam-nothing neighbour can do-you dont want them getting obese either.
re not giving ball back-her right-why dont they play in park? you now know she's annoyed by ball going in

How many times do you think it's reasonable to go and retrieve a child's ball though?

I'd do it once a day - and I'd get really fucked off since I see clients at home if they came round more than that.

Another cat owner who thinks you should get a water pistol to her cats. I think the baby should be able to play in the garden. 12 and 15 year olds should play cricket in the park.

Oh me gawd I'm always getting my neighbour's lads footballs for him and they're often on hedges and what not. It's hardy a major hardship.

yanbu

Your neighbour is a dick. Soak those cats and reclaim your garden....

We've lived here 2 years. This is the first time the ball has gone over.

No, YANBU. A soft ball is fine to play with in any size garden. The cats need a bit of water spray to get rid of them. Don't sweat it, just tell the kids she's grumpy and buy them a decent supply of balls.

She probably doesn't feel like hunting for a ball because she has better things to do with her time and knows that if she were to waste the time she will be expected to run around after your kids balls all summer.

Let them play in the park or buy loads of spare balls. She's not your childrens skivvy.

bobble - returning one ball once makes her my kids' skivvy?? god help anyone who asks you for a neighbourly favour

What a bunch of miserable twats. She is being U, not you op, if it were me I would go and get the ball myself.

It won't just be the one time, it will be every day (and probably a few times each day) that it's not raining.

"Her cats come into our garden. Our ball goes into theirs"

but she didnt send her cats into your garden via a cricket bat

This isnt going to be popular, but...

If you have cats you need to be aware that some people do not like cats. They do not like cats shitting in their garden where children play. They do not like cats sitting at kitchen windows waiting for a chance to steal the freshly roasted beef on the counter. And in the ops case, they would appreciate the ability to use their own garden without the bat next doors cats snarling at them.

Cats are free roaming animals which lets owners off with a multitude of sins that dog owners (for example) wouldnt dream of getting away with. But heaven help us non-cat lovers if we dare to complain about your viscious pet that invites itself into our garden.

That said, why shouldnt children play ball games in their own garden? A ball goes astray. Its hardly the end of the world to allow two kids into your garden for 30seconds considering your cats go where they like.

Rant over. Im away to hide from the cat lovers now!

Unfortunately most people have neighbours these days and you don't get to choose who lives next to you. To keep the peace and be neighbourly I would have just got the ball or, like we do, throw them back over whenever we are in the garden! So she is def. BU
Also, like our neighbours cats, I would also bet the cats are shitting in op's garden too! But nothing a sprinkler system can't sort out

How low is your fence OP? My brother and I used to play in our garden a lot when we were young and our next door neighbour told us not to bother asking if it went in their garden, and that we could just hop over the fence ourselves to get it back we were very friendly with them though.

My garden is surrounded by neighbouring football playing boys (and dads).

I wait till they knock on the door to ask for the ball back as

a) I like to make them work for it
b) I don't necessarily know whose ball it is, and
c) it might put them off kicking it into my garden for a while

Seems to work