Letting fireworks off in our garden.

[raltheraffe]

Yesterday I was letting some, admittedly large, fireworks off in our garden at about 7pm. Fireworks were going vertically upwards and not into neighbours gardens.

Anyway all hell breaks loose. Guy comes out of his house screaming at my DH that he is a "fucking nobhead" and starts banging on our gate which was padlocked.

I went back into the house and locked the front door. Went upstairs to son's bedroom. Window was open as I had been painting sons walls earlier. and curtains had been removed due to the DIY.

Next thing he is shouting at me "oi you, fucking nobhead at the window". By this time the neighbours 2 doors down, who cannot stand me, had come out and were joining in on the trouble.

I replied "go away or I will phone the police" as there was now a small crowd at the front gate. I then shut the window and turned the light off in the room.

Next thing the guy jumped the fence and came in garden banging on front door. I did not answer the door.

They hung around at the front gate for about 15 minutes then got bored and dispersed.

I can appreciate that they may not like fireworks as they may have pets that could have been scared. However another neighbour set some fireworks off (far more than I did) and no-one complained.

Not sure what to do now.

"I am not the roughest of the rough. I am no longer a student, I was at Uni for 5 years and that was more than enough."

Yes that definitely looks like a 5 to me. To be accurate it was 5 years and 3 months.

You know what - you really really don't have to write your life history on here. In fact id advise against it.

Ywbu with the fireworks you accepted.

EEveryone agrees your neighbour is a twat.

i'd walk away now.

I will just say if your accounts are self assessment. Stop paying an accountant.

I need my books doing properly as I do not want to cock up my tax return or VAT returns as the fines are pretty bad if you mess up.

I will walk away now lemi, getting a bit bored with it to be honest.

OP you've been very genuine and honest, you've admitted you were BU to let off firework and taken all of this on the chin. I wish you well! It sounds like you've been in a bit of a pickle but are getting sorted.

Getting rid of dog - don't be daft. Dogs can be and should be trained not to bark.

I have 3 degrees and work in a good job. But I also work in a bar because I love it

"OP you've been very genuine and honest, you've admitted you were BU to let off firework and taken all of this on the chin."

I concur. You've had your every word picked apart and been told you have no empathy. I think you've handled this better than most!

Thank you for some nice messages for a change!

I realise with hindsight I was a prat over the firework and am leaving the remainder (which I bought and are all small) for Nov 5th.

I have noticed on MN some people make assumptions upon assumptions and the end result is ludicrous. The best example is when someone alleged DH was a drunk driver! Even him driving while sober would be dangerous as he cannot see anything.

It does not really bother me when people slate me, its rain in the shower, I have skin as thick as an elephant and find it amusing.

Getting sacked actually turned out to be a positive thing. I hated my job from the first day I started it. Now I am doing something I love and earning good money, so I am finally happy.

Well today is the big day to let the rest of the fireworks off!

I have borrowed 2 hi viz vests from one of my clients for me and DH.

We are also going to use a tape measure to accurately measure the distance we need to stand away from the firework and I am going to use a clipboard to take notes.

We have bought a super blaster water pistol which will have the dual function of putting out any accidental fires (unlikely) and cooling down any neighbours who come over shouting the odds.

Ralfheraffe safety around fireworks is no joke. Watch one blow up in your friends face, then write sarcastic comments belittling safety precautions.

I know your neighbour is, at best, very unreasonable, but might it be a good idea to drop a note through his door, telling him you are planning to let off some more fireworks tonight, and what time you are planning to do it, so he has less justification for going off on one at you?

I am just thinking that, if he were to call the police, you would look a whole lot more reasonable if you had let him know in advance, and if you had tried to pick a sensible time for the fireworks - ie. not midnight, and maybe avoiding children's bedtime.

only on MN start on first page of thread reading about fireworks and dogy neighbours, jump to last page and op is having to go into medical and employment history or something.

i just dont know who would ever let neighbours know they are letting off fireworks on fireworks night!!

as long as you are being truthful adn they are going straight up, cant see problem, yes its annoying when goes on, but thats fireworks night in the uk, or fireworks week even!

i do agree you should drop a note through door however just in case you need to call police...

Op you've had some nasty replies here.
You could have let your neighbours know you were letting fireworks off, (maybe you could do that in your new house) but that does not excuse what your neighbour did!
His behaviour was disgusting.
I love fireworks, i don't think they should be banned and i have pets!
I keep them in doors.
I dont think just because my pets are scared means other people cant have fireworks.
I also don't think you let them off at an unreasonable time!
Do think though you should make sure the ones you get are acceptable to be let off in your garden though!

KnittedJimmyChoos - you are right - and I normally wouldn't suggest that the OP notify her neighbours.

Kali - I love fireworks too, but since I have had to cope with a dog who trembles for ages after hearing even one go off, I have been less keen on people letting fireworks off in their back gardens. I am not advocating that they be restricted to properly set up, public displays only, but I would like it if there was some agreement that they be restricted to only a very few nights - if I know ahead of time when they are happening, I can do things to help my dog cope, and if it is only a few nights, then that is better than lots of nights when my poor dog is beside herself with agitation. I think that is reasonable.

whole thing ended in a big sense of anti-climax. The fireworks I bought were microscopic, unlike the giant one DH bought and no neighbours came out when we were armed with the water blaster. Never mind.

Yes sdtg i agree with you there!
I think neighbours should be notified definitely that is only polite.
Also think that the fireworks should be suitable for the garden.
Some neighbour set off a firework that was clearly a display one at 10pm. There are pieces of crap in mine and my neighbours garden, on our roofs and conservatories!
We had the added bonuses of having to pull cats out from under the bed.
Now THAT was bloody antisocial.
I still didn't go round wanting to fight the neighbour though.

Oh we had some added rockets and sonethingelse at nearly 12 too.
We've got a new dog , he weren't impressed.
So op your not antisocial by my standards!

Just thankful we weren't babysitting partners little sister, would defiantly woken her up.
Think fireworks up till 9 are fine, anything after no.