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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Letting fireworks off in our garden.

292 replies

raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 12:38

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.

OP posts:
Pipbin · 30/10/2014 19:57

Your neighbour really did over react.
While I agree with others that setting of fireworks for shits and giggles rather than bonfire night/dwali/New Years is not really on I can't see that calling someone a knobhead is a good way to react.

Was there a reason for this reaction? Were you very close to the house? Have you done this every night this week?

ArkhamOffett · 30/10/2014 19:58

The firework thing is antisocial.

I don't know why your neighbours have it in for you, as I'm not them. But twats who let off fireworks in urban areas have Antisocial branded on them permanently, for me.

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 19:59

Sirzy I do not think you read my post correctly. I said "other than the firework" I do not see what I have done wrong.
I appreciate letting the firework off was antisocial, but when I did it I was naive about it and did not think it would bother anyone.
I still have a box left, but have not set any off since and will not be setting any off until I have taken advice from the police.

OP posts:
snice · 30/10/2014 20:00

why were you letting fireworks off though out of interest? it doesn't sound like it was a party or birthday so was it just randomly because you like them?

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:01

yes, it was because I like them, no special occasion. I do not let them off all year round, just bought a box from Tesco.

OP posts:
KatieKaye · 30/10/2014 20:04

In no way do I condone what happened, but I really hope you don't let off any more fireworks on random nights just because you feel like it.

Save it for the 5th when people are expecting it. It's pretty anti-social on any other night.

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:05

Personally I think the best thing to do would be to move to a nice area, which I can afford. Was only staying around this area because some in-laws live round here and I am saving up cash for a deposit on a house.
We moved here when I first started my business as we traded at a loss for the first few months, so we needed the cheapest house possible. Now we have money coming in it may be better to move on.

OP posts:
DurhamDurham · 30/10/2014 20:07

There only two nights in the year when it is acceptable to set off fireworks. Bonfire night and New Years Eve,

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:07

Looking on Rightmove now!

OP posts:
insancerre · 30/10/2014 20:08

I just don't get fireworks
Its ' big bang'
Everyone looks up
" ooh pretty colours"
' big bang'
Everyone looks up
" ooh pretty colours"
' big bang'
Everyone looks up
" ooh pretty colours"
Ad nauseam
It reminds me of the aliens in toy story

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:08

Durham,

When I set the firework off I was really naive and did not know it would cause such offence. If it had been the neighbours letting a firework off, I would have been enjoying watching it.

If I had appreciated the upset it was going to cause I would never had done it.

OP posts:
Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:10

no incancerre you are SO WRONG!

Fireworks are brill! I love them.

OP posts:
MammaTJ · 30/10/2014 20:12

Bonfire night is the 5th November. If people kept fireworks to then it would be sort of fine. You didn't. My dog and ME are both terrified of them and we medicate against that fear, the dog on proper dog calming drugs and me on vodka. Letting them off when we or others are not expecting them is massively knobbish!

YABU!

CrashDiveOnMingoCity · 30/10/2014 20:13

Another "OP posts in AIBU but doesn't think they're being unreasonable" shocker! Grin

LadyLuck10 · 30/10/2014 20:15

The fact that it didn't even cross you mind how inconsiderate you were by not letting your neighbours know, really makes me wonder what other things you've done without giving a second thought to your neighbors.
As I said before people don't just get so riled up for absolutely no reason.

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:16

CrashDive I stated that I realise with hindsight I did something that has caused upset and has been unreasonable so I do not understand why you are stating that. All I said is at the time I did not realise it would upset folk.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 30/10/2014 20:17

ExActly insancerre

And now made worse by the fact that fireworks = smoke = asthma atrack for DS. On November the 5th we can close all windows/vents and stay hidden and safe. People setting them off in a garden nearby before then would really piss me off!

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:18

There were reasons Ladyluck. Reason one was an escaped dog, reason 2 was a firework.

OP posts:
MammaTJ · 30/10/2014 20:20

'A firework' Bollocks was it one firework! They would not have even worked out where it had come from from one firework!

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:22

It was one firework, one of those repeater ones.

OP posts:
sheldonesqueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeam · 30/10/2014 20:23

Even if you do move to a nice area, you might still find your neighbours don't like fireworks going off on random nights.

Because some neighbours may have pets, suffer from ptsd, be old, have scared little ones or may have already gone through rotten experiences with fireworks as mentioned above.

Just because you love them doesn't mean others do.

I don't think his reaction was right by the way but I can understand why someone might react like that.

I'm sorry - I agree with durham if individuals insist on setting fireworks off.

CrashDiveOnMingoCity · 30/10/2014 20:25

Please accept my apologies, I did not see your latest post when I posted mine.

Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:26

I do realise it was pretty stupid letting the firework off, but at the time I did not think it would bother someone.
We have 2 dogs and they did not seem bothered by it.

OP posts:
Original poster
raltheraffe · 30/10/2014 20:28

No I realise I have been a wally letting the firework off.

OP posts:
TSSpectreDNCOntheParanormal · 30/10/2014 20:31

Yes, but exactly how big was it. And how close to his house was it?

Because if it was a display style firework and it's gone off in the garden of a semi, 30 feet from this guys lounge windows I can see why the trouble started.

I really don't think we're talking about a box of Black Cat from Morrison's here are we?