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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Re neighbour objecting to trampolining children watching her eat (allegedly)

69 replies

OhNoNotMyBaby · 08/05/2015 13:30

I have quite a big front garden - just as big as the back in fact. It's bordered on 3 sides by my living room window and high hedges. The 4th side is what was the neighbour's back garden, but is actually their driveway, which is concreted over and houses their 2 cars and a shed. They built an extension on the back of their house which they use as a second dining room.

I have put my trampoline in the front garden because of the size and the privacy and also because it's effectively 'wasted space', ie we don't sit in it, plant it etc. The children do not use the trampoline very often - maybe for 10 minutes every weekend or so.

Neighbour is vehemently objecting to the DCs using the trampoline because "they can see what we're eating." Despite the fact that the DCs aren't in the least bit interested in the neighbours at all, let alone what they might be eating.

So I put up 3 trellises on the 4ft fence, planted bamboos and other shrubs as an additional shield. Not good enough. Neighbour now positions a chair at the window when the DCs are using the trampoline and sits and stares at them fixedly. The DCs obviously find this intimidating. Neighbour also comes out of house with husband in tow and again, just stares at the children.

We had a Chinese exchange student stay for a week. She had never SEEN a trampoline before let alone been on one. She thought it was fantastic - until the neighbours came out and effectively stopped their fun.

I have reported her to the neighbourhood police because of the continued intimidation and harrassment of young children. AIBU?

PS: I don't want it in the back garden because of the rotary dryer, the dog, and the fact that potentially, there are 3 neighbours who overlook the back garden and may complain as well.

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 08/05/2015 13:32

teach them to smile and wave. the downstairs neighbour stares at s coming home, we smile and wave... stops him doing it so often.

helenahandbag · 08/05/2015 13:32

You are going to get a resounding YANBU but I will say that my mum's neighbour's kids have a trampoline and it is horribly distracting to see their grinning faces bobbing up and down over the 6ft fence when you're trying to enjoy the garden or, worse, have company over for a BBQ, etc. I realise that you're entitled to put whatever you want in your garden and your kids can play as they see fit as long as it's not hurting anyone but it did get annoying.

butterflyballs · 08/05/2015 13:33

Yanbu. You've taken steps to provide cover. Offer to plant some leilandi trees and see what she thinks.

She does sound odd. And obsessed.

AuntyMag10 · 08/05/2015 13:34

Yanbu, what's 10 minutes or even an hour every weekend. I doubt your DC are interested in her meals Grin
She sounds like a pain. What will she do in the summer, expect you to shut your DC indoors.

ThickOrSomething · 08/05/2015 13:34

keep a diary of incidents and contact your neighbourhood PCSO.
they sound mental.

OydNeverDeclinesGin · 08/05/2015 13:35

What a strange complaint she has, I'd be tempted to trampoline myself whilst staring pointedly at their dinner. Maybe even comment that saturday's evening meal looked delicious and could you have the recipe? But then, I'm not very good with diplomacy!

Hadron21 · 08/05/2015 13:36

A trampoline in the front garden is not acceptable. Why not hang your washing out in front garden or a sofa and a fridge?
Have some consideration and move it to the back garden.

midnightvelvet01 · 08/05/2015 13:36

Are you 100% sure that your children are not staring at them?

Other than that this seems to me to be about more than your neighbour eating, sounds a bit like a tip of the iceberg scenario.

Schoolaroundthecorner · 08/05/2015 13:37

It'd be one thing if they were out there for hrs every day, squealing and disrupting the neighbours (not that I'd care if I was your neighbour but I know some people would be bothered). However, they are only playing every so often and your neighbour is definitely being unreasonable!

CheerfulYank · 08/05/2015 13:39

"Can see what we're eating" Confused So?! What a couple of weirdos. YANBU.

DuelingFanjo · 08/05/2015 13:39

You could have SOOOO much fun with this!

EauPea · 08/05/2015 13:39

I think you and Dh need a fun filled weekend of trampolining.

Him in 70's style skimpy shorts and you with no bra.

Smile and Wave Grin Grin

eurochick · 08/05/2015 13:39

My parents constantly had children's heads bobbing over the fence at their last place. It did make you feel very self-conscious when you were in the garden. It wasn't exactly relaxing. They stopped sitting out there when the trampoline was in use. The neighbour could have put the trampoline elsewhere but stuck it near the boundary, no doubt so they could enjoy their own patio in relative peace!

londonrach · 08/05/2015 13:40

Check bylaws or convents as sometimes they prevent trampolines or caravans in front garden before you complain. Hate the pcso to turn up and tell you you cant have it there. Remembers shed being delivered when child on thursday night and had pcso over on friday morning to say it couldnt stay in front garden due to bylaws. Pcso was very polite and felt they just responding to complaint. Dad said not a problem moving it at the weekend the back garden but couldnt till weekend as he was working.

WorraLiberty · 08/05/2015 13:42

YANBU

Some people are real miseries and forget that they were once kids themselves.

If they can't learn to ignore kids bouncing on a trampoline for 10 minutes at the weekend, they should go and live somewhere totally secluded or grow the fuck up

Icimoi · 08/05/2015 13:43

I must say having some madwoman waste her time watching me trampolining would make me want to do it even more. And I would be so tempted to do it at mealtimes, holding up signs saying "Too stodgy", "Pity you burnt that", and "Looks yummy, can I have some?"

But in the alternative, how about posting some net curtain catalogues through her door?

sparechange · 08/05/2015 13:44

Can you ask them to just try and face the other way while they bounce?

jeee · 08/05/2015 13:45

Are your dc drooling? Is saliva dripping down their chin as they eye up your neighbour's lunch? If so, she is NBU.

MNpostingbot · 08/05/2015 13:45

I'd fight Fire with fire.

Next time they go on there ask the kids to shout every item on the plate with each bounce

PORK

I THINK

MAYBE LAMB

DEFINITELY A CHOP OF SOME SORT

THERES GRAVY COVERING IT

NEW POTATOES

PEEEEEAAAAAAS!!!!!!

They will soon stop complaining.

MrsNextDoor · 08/05/2015 13:45

The whole family should jump up and down whilst peering into their window...rubbing your stomachs and licking your lips.

TooMuchRain · 08/05/2015 13:46

If it's really 10 minutes then YANBU and the complaint about seeing what they are eating is weird but I do find it invasive when the trampoline is close to the boundary. It just seems so unnecessary/selfish, I don't want to see my neighbours when we're in our garden.

chaletdays · 08/05/2015 13:47

If its only for 10 mins every weekend I don't really see the problem.

But are you sure that's all it is? Their reaction seems a bit extreme for that. Also, why not just move the trampoline to the back garden if it's causing that much aggravation.

Ohbollocksandballs · 08/05/2015 13:48

That's very odd.

I'd probably go with icimoi and hold up some signs. Maybe give them a rating out of 10 complete with constructive criticism.

IggyStrop · 08/05/2015 13:49

If it's really just for ten minutes each weekend they're insane. If you backed down and moved the trampoline to the back garden, surely they'd be galvanised to find other faults too.

How did they stop your exchange student's fun, did they come out and tell her to stop bouncing or something?

Jobless123 · 08/05/2015 13:51

Play equipment in front garden annoys people.

www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/petty-council-orders-resident-remove-8095232