Bit of background - we have loads of plants and we're going on holiday, so I put most of them outside, but there are a few e.g. tomatoes that need to be warm. Neighbour is a keen gardener so I asked if we could pop them in her conservatory for the week and she could water them, she said yes.
Now I knew she would want to do it and then would moan about what an imposition it was - she's like that. She's older, very doom-and-gloom about everything and kind of needy. She's desperate to be involved with my kids, to help out, to give us gifts etc but at the same time she will always moan and try to make us feel beholden to her. I try to allow this to a reasonable extent but I value my privacy and boundaries and it's a bit tricky keeping her at arm's length.
She is the ultimate busybody neighbour, always reporting anyone and everyone for parking in the wrong place, etc. If you're on the wrong side of her she can be extremely unpleasant. I know she didn't get on with previous owner of our house and a feud began in which she reported the woman to SS because her kids screamed.
SOOOOOOooooooo, today I went to take the plants round, there were only a few but one in particular quite large. She changed her mind and started fussing that there wasn't space for them. I was kicking myself as I should have seen it coming. Trying to keep cool I said no no it's fine, don't worry, we'll sort something out. But she started going on at me to give her the key and she would come in every day to water.
I am not having that, I don't trust her and even more important I know she would make a MASSIVE deal of what an effort she made and basically make me feel I owe her one forever. I made various excuses and said no, said I was busy (true) and had to get on. I had to really argue my way out of it as she kept persisting, upon which she started telling me to calm down . I finally got back inside and she started posting notes through my letterbox and going in the back garden to tell the kids to fetch me to talk to her. I sad I was too busy so effectively snubbed her.
So basically the shit has now hit the fan and I will be persona non grata. I don't care whether she likes me but I am worried about it turning nasty. Part of me feels like I should go and apologise just to keep her happy. WWYD?
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AIBU?
After years of keeping "difficult" neighbour sweet, I've finally got a bit irate... long sorry.
17 replies
LadyBigtoes · 28/06/2013 20:13
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