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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

just want to enjoy hearing the birds in my own garden on sunny days

85 replies

SuzzieScotland · 13/04/2014 15:06

I work full time, on the odd sunny weekend I just want to sit in the garden and read.

Unfortunately my neighbour always likes to bring their radio out and have it on for hours and this makes me retreat inside and close all the windows.

Already had an argument with one neighbour due to their security light that shined in my bedroom window every time a car went by so don't want to have another tiff. The music isn't really loud, but loud enough that I can hear the vocals and every single word of the adverts. They are nice people, so far,I just think its really selfish to play your music in the garden when other people are nearby.

OP posts:

BillyBanter · 13/04/2014 15:08

YABU.

It's their garden to enjoy too. put in earplugs.

How on earth would you cope if they had children?

Original poster

SuzzieScotland · 13/04/2014 15:12

The other side has kids, doesn't bother me as its not a constant blaring sound with loud adds on buy to let cars

OP posts:

FuckyNell · 13/04/2014 15:14

Aww don't be miserable!

BillyBanter · 13/04/2014 15:16

So it wasn't noisy but now I'm saying YABU, it's 'blaring'?

Grockle · 13/04/2014 15:17

Try having my neighbours, who blast out loud dance music - I can hear it inside so it's not just my garden that I can't use. I can hear the beat on the other side of the house. I wanted to sit outside but it's making my head hurt.

Original poster

SuzzieScotland · 13/04/2014 15:18

I said it wasn't really Loud.

OP posts:

Roshbegosh · 13/04/2014 15:18

I agree they are selfish bastards. A bit of peace is not a lot to ask for and other people's music is much more annoying than children playing. That's a normal sound of life but loud music is an imposition.

KuppiKahvia · 13/04/2014 15:18

If it wasn't a radio you'd hear something else to annoiy you. If you can't cope with noise from neighbors then you need to live somewhere more isolated.

CorusKate · 13/04/2014 15:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Calloh · 13/04/2014 15:22

YANBU. It's a pain in the arse. Our neighbour has an outdoor sound system and it really pisses me off, we can never just sit and be outside. If it's nice weather he'll be outside too listening to music, his choice is then forced on us.

It is inconsiderate and entirely different to the sound of children playing.

Could you ask him to turn it down a bit?

EvansOvalPiesYumYum · 13/04/2014 15:23

I agree, a radio is quite invasive. If OP put in her earplugs, Billy, she wouldn't be able to hear the birds.

The sound of a radio and the sound of children playing are two different things (unless the children are screaming and screeching - that's annoying)!!

Suzzie - maybe they don't realise. Perhaps you could have a gentle, friendly word and ask them to turn down the volume. We've managed to resolve things amicably with our neighbours over the years, working both ways, I hasten to add). They may have annoyed us, we've annoyed them. We get it sorted out in a friendly fashion. We've lived here for 27 years and get on nicely.
Good luck with it.

TiggyKBE · 13/04/2014 15:23

You need to try to keep noise in your own garden, but if you want quiet, buying a house among other houses is a bad idea.

And as for birds, I normally love them but I would happily have flame-throwered the dawn chorus just outside my tent at half five this morning.

Joysmum · 13/04/2014 15:26

We are all annoyed by different things. For me it's wind chimes

We now have a water feature with means that's no longer an issue. I'd highly recommend this if your neighbours radio isn't that loud but loud enough to be a nuisense.

feesh · 13/04/2014 15:28

My annoying Mum is the type to do this. If you confronted her about it, she'd be mortified and stop immediately, she wouldn't be cross. So just go round and politely ask.

yegodsandlittlefishes · 13/04/2014 15:29

I agree that taking radio outside for all hours is unreasonable. We had a neighbour who did that, and always put the radio right up against the fence by our window. Even inside with the windows closed I couldnt concentrate and ended out going out. Once or twice I did ask her to keep the noise levels down but she ignored me. So I took my radio out and tuned it in loudly to radio 3 on Sunday mornings when she was having a lie in. She hated classical music of any kind and was quick to complain, so I politely pointed out that I didn't appreciate her choice of music that I had to listen to when her radio was in the garden either, and so we agreed to both keep our music inside after that. :D

Selks · 13/04/2014 15:44

YANBU.

Using the radio in the garden sometimes is fine IMO, but to have it on every time you go out is really anti-social.

mumsnoc · 13/04/2014 15:48

Yanbu. This is also a pet hate of mine. It's really unreasonable to have any sort of unlicensed sound system outdoors even it's just a personal radio. There is no reason why they can't use headphones. You could have a polite word and if nothing changes you could bring your own radio out and see how they like it. That's the nuclear option though so try to sort it out amicably first. They might just not have considered that it could annoy others which is pretty ignorant but forgivable if they stop when you ask them to.

Purpleroxy · 13/04/2014 15:53

Yanbu. It's selfish to play music every time you go in the garden and for hours at a time. Don't think there's anything you can do about it though.

The security light is unfortunate. You can see why people need a security light, there's one across from me that shines through our curtains. I would look into a blackout blind for your bedroom if it's really troubling you. This one is unfortunate, rather than selfish though.

IamInvisible · 13/04/2014 15:54

YANBU, it pisses me off too.

Bowlersarm · 13/04/2014 15:56

YANBU. It would annoy me too.

superbagpuss · 13/04/2014 16:14

are you my neighbour?

we have had an at home day sorting out garden and garage

have had radio on indoors so we can hear,afraid its adverts as well as music on absolute better then r2 on a Sunday

and my children have been playing / killing each other all day, although I have seen trying to keep a lid on their noise and no shouting/shirking allowed

I bet my neighbours hate me

weneedtotalkaboutshriver · 13/04/2014 16:33

Well I think YABU but don't listen to me because I just do not get this birdsong thing at all! Bloody irritating iyam and it could well be that I have had the radio on in the garden to drown it out!

comingintomyown · 13/04/2014 16:35

YANBU

CalamityKate · 13/04/2014 16:49

YANBU.

If the radio was on just loud enough for your neighbour to hear it, you probably wouldn't hear it at all - or maybe just barely.

It's one thing to want to listen to the radio - there's no need to have it loud enough that your neighbour can hear every word.

People are just selfish.

TheCatThatSmiled · 13/04/2014 16:56

I knocked on my neighbours door and handed her some headphones. When she looked at me askance, I mentioned my love of Abba and all things 70s ... As opposed to her hiphop and rap.

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