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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My neighbour is outside mowing/trimming land that belongs to us. Should I be annoyed or grateful?

39 replies

IHeartKingThistle · 16/05/2013 12:45

There's a small strip of grass/bushes opposite our house. It's the top of a private road so technically that bit is ours. The grass has got a bit overgrown (was mown 2 weeks ago) and one of the bushes was, admittedly, a bit too bushy.

It was on the list to do this weekend. DH is working away this week.

The neighbour has been out with a chainsaw, a strimmer, a mower. I want him to go away! I barely know him (he lives 5 doors down.) Is he doing this to be nice? Is he being an arse? Should I go out with a pitchfork?

OP posts:
FannyFifer · 16/05/2013 12:47

Send him to my house.

Think it prob just annoyed him looking at it so thought what the hell.

Tell him thanks.Grin

NotYoMomma · 16/05/2013 12:47

Maybe he is just fed up or your messy land or is thinking of selling his own and sorting out the eyesore next door ;P

Maybe he thinks its his land?

Maybe he is being friendly?

MAYBE... You should pop out and chat to him?

flowery · 16/05/2013 12:48

Why do you want him to go away? Is it too noisy or something? Confused

Original poster
IHeartKingThistle · 16/05/2013 12:50

I don't know, it's making me feel bad that he's doing it! We would have done it (eventually!).

OP posts:
toiletbrush · 16/05/2013 12:51

Yabu. Go out there and thank him and apologise for neglecting your bush!

MaxPepsi · 16/05/2013 12:51

Does he know the land is yours?

My DH loves gardening and I can't stand messy bits of grass so to please both himself and keep me quiet he'd do it!

Go out and say thanks very much, it was on our list of jobs to do this weekend. You've saved DH a job then offer him a beer/tea.
See what he says. It could be the start of fantastic neighbourly relations.

Booyhoo · 16/05/2013 12:53

he's doing his neighbiours a favour. go and thank him.

KittensandKids · 16/05/2013 12:53

My neighbour strimmed my lawn after I my dad cut it - last week I was pleased!

KittensandKids · 16/05/2013 12:55

BE careful though my ex neighbour came and did my grass whilst I was asleep last year (plugged in lawn mover in next door) he also painted my naice red/brown garden furniture black and ran out half way...........Angry

squoosh · 16/05/2013 12:59

He PAINTED your garden furniture??

Plomino · 16/05/2013 13:00

My neighbour did the strip of land between our flower beds and the road the other day . We all have to have one as a convenant that came with the house . He was doing his and just carried on , because he knows we're unlikely to get it done . One of my other neighbours came out with his tractor and flail mower and did all our field hedges for us , because he noticed they needed doing ( they really did ! ) even though they were our responsibility .

We thanked him with a bottle of wine or two , because it would have taken DH ages with the chainsaw , and been a pain in the backside to get rid of .

KittensandKids · 16/05/2013 13:02

He painted my garden furniture

Tried to re-home it on freecycle and they wouldn't even take it away free.

I kept one bench and the rest was chopped and given to DC collecting wood for bonfire display......

Original poster
IHeartKingThistle · 16/05/2013 13:03

OK OK I have gone outside! He was very lovely. I am deeply embarrassed about not maintaining my bush Blush

OP posts:
Corygal · 16/05/2013 13:03

What a sweet man. Everyone's got to look at it regardless of who it belongs to - bring him a beer.

SPsCliffingAllOverMN · 16/05/2013 13:04

Mine is so overgrown. I'm waiting for neighbour to get fed up of the sight of it and do it. They will crack soon

HesterShaw · 16/05/2013 13:06

GRATEFUL OF COURSE. Are you mad, woman?

HesterShaw · 16/05/2013 13:06

Arf at "not maintaining my bush." Grin

Floggingmolly · 16/05/2013 13:10

Are you sure the land belongs to you? He probably imagines it's owned by all the residents in common.

OneLittleToddleTerror · 16/05/2013 13:13

I would be grateful. I'd want a neighbour to come over and do my front garden Grin

OneLittleToddleTerror · 16/05/2013 13:13

And if he does it again, how about go out, chat to him and maybe offer him a tea and biscuit? Then you'll get to know him, isn't it?

OneLittleToddleTerror · 16/05/2013 13:16

Oh now read that you've gone and thanked him. Well done! I wish I have neighbours that nice!

Original poster
IHeartKingThistle · 16/05/2013 13:17

I'm just really embarrassed. I'll be seeing all the other neighbours and they all know he's done it. They're all older with immaculate houses - we're the only ones with little children, a doer-upper and messy bushes.

Blush Blush Blush

I did give him a beer.

OP posts:
reelingintheyears · 16/05/2013 14:55

I'd actually want him to leave it alone and let wildlife and wild flowers have a chance,even nettles are good for attracting butterflies.

shoofly · 16/05/2013 14:58

I used to feel embarrassed by our messy garden, but with a small child who didn't sleep, it was way down my list of priorities. I was always shamed by a quite intimidating neighbour whose garden was immaculate. I mentioned it once to the neighbour in a "Oh your lovely garden puts me to shame" kind of way. She promptly told me to not be daft, I had a husband and small child and more important things to do with my time! She said she was retired and loved gardening and basically it kept her busy! So never worry too much what other people think.

MOTU · 16/05/2013 15:02

Ha ha ha!!! This exact thing is happening to me! And it's our front garden so I am desperately trying to not make eye contact while he is right outside my window. I would move but I'm pregnant and having my one hour of resting time while my toddler sleeps! At least today he's clothed, last time he was shirtless-almost lost my lunch!