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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

aibu or is my neighbour?

156 replies

MsBella · 08/04/2013 20:13

Its quarter past 8pm and I'm outside sawing wood on the grass and chucking it onto the patio, also using an axe to chop some logs etc etc etc. She just came to the fence all 'what on earth is all the noise!?' I said I'm just doing this and got back on with it. She was still standing there looking.... bewildered and shocked and told me it was too loud and she 'wants to sleep' but ffs I don't see how I can be quiter. Anyway I told her 'well I don't see how I can be quiter sorry' and got back on with it, she was pissed off

OP posts:

Original poster

MsBella · 08/04/2013 23:03

Iggi, its possible to enjoy something that you need to do. Its not just for me, its so my children can be warm and have hot water. It would be pretty shit to be cold and not able to wash your face/have a bath without boiling kettles...

OP posts:

ParadiseChick · 08/04/2013 23:05

So your finding enough wood within walking distance that's just 'there' are you?

Storm fall? If so should still be seasoned,
Your lum will be manky!

Liara · 08/04/2013 23:06

you actually enjoy doing it so not exactly just a necessity is it.

So the fact that she enjoys doing it means it isn't necessary? How does that figure.

She needs it to heat her house and have hot water. How is that not necessary?

Original poster

MsBella · 08/04/2013 23:10

Paradise, I need to do a fair bit of searching but yep!

OP posts:

steppemum · 08/04/2013 23:12

I am amazed that people think 8pm is too late to chop logs outside.

There was recently on mn a thread from someone whose neighbour asked her to turn down quiet music at 8 pm and EVERYONE said that was unreasonable as you shouldn't have to be quiet until after 10 pm.

Why is it different outside? It is only some logs, it can't be that loud. I would be sympathetic if she said 'sorry but child has just gone to bed and noise is keeping him/her awake, any chance of doing that at another time?' Then it would be unreasonable to continue.

Iggi101 · 08/04/2013 23:16

not exactly just a necessity - my words were somewhat clumsy, but how you translate them liara to me saying it was not a necessity - clearly not what I said.
If op enjoys it she is less likely to take on board the sensible suggestions from other wood burners about chopping in advance etc. I don't see how it is to the benefit of her dcs tbh to have their mum out chopping wood after 8 o'clock when they need the heat/water, rather than doing more on another day. I don't know what the neighbour is normally like but I do feel sorry for her standing there "bewildered" and "shocked" and getting short shrift from op - not even saying "only another five minutes" or whatever.

Original poster

MsBella · 08/04/2013 23:20

Iggi if you read what I've said in this thread I think you'll understand a bit more

OP posts:

ChippingInIsEggceptional · 08/04/2013 23:20

8pm?! Of course it's not too late - anyone whinging about you cutting logs at 8pm deserves a snippy an honest reply. Daft mare.

KLou111 · 08/04/2013 23:26

Steppemum, have you ever chopped or heard logs being chopped? It is loud.......we bought an electric wood splitter so we didn't annoy the neighbours as much (and took the hard work away for poor dh). But we never did it in the evening.
Agree with previous poster, build up your stockpile in the summer months. We had enough for 2 years at one point as my dh chopped some trees down in our garden one summer (former tree surgeon) and we still looked for wood, piled it, then chopped it when we had a chance.

Can you not chop the wood where you find it and bring it back in a wheelbarrow?

SarahAndFuck · 08/04/2013 23:27

OP I still don't think you are being unreasonable.

But is there any way you could perhaps stockpile a little bit for days like today when you can't chop it earlier.

Then if you need to use a bit of the reserve, you can spend a couple of days building it back up again for another day like today?

SarahAndFuck · 08/04/2013 23:28

And there's a man near me who gathers wood in an old pram.

Would something like that help you carry a bit more in one go?

Iggi101 · 08/04/2013 23:30

MsBella I have read the full thread, so not sure what you mean? Some people just won't agree with you, you've had a lot of support on the thread but you can't win us all over!

steppemum · 08/04/2013 23:32

KLou - yes it is loud, but it is only logs. It is cold, so she is presumably in doors with windows shut, and anyway it is ONLY 8PM!!

If I was neighbour, and wanted to sleep at 8pm, I would realise that I am unusual, and so come from the POV that the OP would be doing me a favour by stopping.

No reaosn why OP can't do the neighbour a favour, in this instance, but a blanket ban on log chopping after 8pm is ridiculous.

In the summer, neighbours have BBQs and sit outside talking til 10/11. Everyone has windows open, and on a weekday, most would call it a day and quieten down at around 10.

Original poster

MsBella · 08/04/2013 23:32

Iggi I'm just saying how time consuming it is and all that, keeping in mind that I have young DCs its not always practical and my 'read the thread' was because some of what you said contradicted what I said but alright

OP posts:

Original poster

MsBella · 08/04/2013 23:34

She does quite a few bbqs and gatherings in the summer with music during the night, its not really loud or anything but I just can't imagine going over there to complain because I'm trying to sleep

OP posts:

Iggi101 · 08/04/2013 23:41

Well it should work both ways, if she wants you to be quiet she should extend the same courtesy to you. At least now you know she doesn't like it, if you have the choice of chopping more/chopping earlier you can take it if you don't want her popping up at the fence to complain!

DontSHOUTTTTTT · 08/04/2013 23:43

Sorry but I think YABU (but if it was a one off its OK)

I also think YABU not to be bothered about bothering people. It's not very neighbourly or nice.

If it was a one off you coud have easily told her that and then everyone would be happy.

Original poster

MsBella · 08/04/2013 23:45

Dontshout, its not about not being bothered about bothering people but ffs someone could be bothered by their neighbours speaking during the day you know, and no way would I sacrifice our needs because someones annoyed about a bit of noise at only 8pm if you see what I mean?

OP posts:

quoteunquote · 08/04/2013 23:51

for the sake of good neighbourhood relations, I suggest you get a log splitter

and that way you can get it all out the way (stack for the season or a month) in one short session when the neighbour is out,

our local hire company do brilliant ones for very little, you can do several trailer loads incredibly quickly.

anyway in this house children keep the wood pile in order, find some and train them.

Original poster

MsBella · 08/04/2013 23:54

Thanks quote but I do usually do it in the day time so don't need 1, today I did it later because I was out all day

OP posts:

DontSHOUTTTTTT · 08/04/2013 23:55

.....but if its something you could easily do abit earlier in the evening why wouldn't you. It would irritate me in the same way it would if neighbours mowed the lawn or did DIY after 8.

I think it's normal and acceptable to have kids playing out in the evening or BBQs but chopping wood is an irritating type of 'noisy'. I know, because I used to do it

DontSHOUTTTTTT · 08/04/2013 23:56

If it was a one off you don't need to worry about it at all.

Original poster

MsBella · 08/04/2013 23:58

Because I was out

I suppose I'm used to the sound of chopping wood etc

OP posts:

steppemum · 09/04/2013 00:01

But plenty of people do mow lawns and do DIY after 8pm!

and as to logs being a worse noise than say children playing, TBH I suspect that each person has a different idea as to which noise they would rather have.

Original poster

MsBella · 09/04/2013 00:14

Very true

There are definitely people that literally hate the sound of children playing for example. I've heard people saying birds tweeting is annoying!

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