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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be pissed off that our neighbour is mowing the lawn right now at 9pm?

103 replies

IUseAnyName · 01/07/2015 21:14

Kids have just been woken up, he started about 15mins ago, currently doing hos section of the communal green space outside, I'm guessing he's then going to move on to his front and back gardens. It's a petrol one too so effing noisy!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 01/07/2015 22:48

That sort of noise from 10pm is completely unreasonable!!! 9pm not great either IMHO.

I guess he couldn't cope with the heat earlier in the day but he couldn't possibly leave it for another day or two...

Superarchie · 01/07/2015 22:50

YANBU - it's the same as doing DIY, and 9pm is too late for non essential noisy work, not just because of kids, but anyone who has been working is winding down at 9, and shouldn't have to hear someone making all that noise.

BitOfABoost · 01/07/2015 23:00

He may have been someone like my dad. Who has yet another last minute hospital appointment tomorrow to check out a growth on his lung. Who has to travel 2 hours there and back as they want him near a specialist unit for any treatment. Who has been waiting for another appointment to sort out a major bowel problem. Which has been delayed yet again due to the said growth on his lung. Who struggles hugely at the moment in the heat. Whose garden is his one pleasure. Who is very particular about keeping it neat and trim. And mowing regularly.

He has also finally realised that he cannot keep not doing anything for pleasure or having weekends away because he is constantly awaiting phone calls and hospital appointments. He has finally agreed to come and stay with us for the weekend and see his granddaughter in her stage show.

Yes I would probably have a (gentle) word if I knew it was my father mowing that late. But tbh if the thought that his lawn may not be mowed would stop him coming to see us, and now was the only time he felt strong enough to go into the garden today? Well fuck it, mow away dad.

BreconBeBuggered · 01/07/2015 23:25

Petrol mowers can make a helluva racket, especially if they're underneath your bedroom window. Our NDN specialises in noisy garden tools, and has been known to start at 10pm, which is kind of annoying when your alarm has to be set for 5:30 and you'd prefer to be awake for the drive into work.
I'd have been pissed off too. Maybe not as pissed off as I was with the twats who had the giant bonfire the other night.

If anyone wants to fund my relocation to the middle of nowhere, I accept all cash payments.

Silverdaisy · 01/07/2015 23:28

Dixie, some people do put their children out at 7.30 am though. It can be Endless as others let theirs out at various times which can go on all day/evening. I don't dislike noise, neither do I complain about lawn mowers.

gleegeek · 01/07/2015 23:29

Flowers BitofaBoost

Couldn't read and not post after your heartfelt words. Sounds like you're having a tough time. My DDad has been similarly poorly and keeping on top of things is really important to him so he feels like he is in control of something in his life. TBH the OP's neighbour could easily be my dad - he gets driven to get stuff done and doesn't necessarily think if it's the best time for other people. I hope at 82 his neighbours would cut him some slack...

SugarOnTop · 02/07/2015 00:26

yabu...at 9pm it's still daylight plus he doesn't do it all the time. maybe he wanted to avoid the heat....... or maybe he decided to kill two birds with one stone and see if it's true that electricity really is cheaper in the evenings? Grin i'm sure you can all suck it up for one evening.

BabyFeets · 02/07/2015 00:27

Would annoy me but I'm guessing he hasn't done this before so give him the benefit of the doubt that he had to do it because of reasons.
Also as others have said it was baking hot today.

chipsandpeas · 02/07/2015 06:18

id rather have my neighbours cutting their grass at 9pm than letting their kids run about screaming at that time
the joys of school holidays and kids being out til 10ish here

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 02/07/2015 06:24

Strimming until 1030 is VU

Iliveinalighthousewith2friendl · 02/07/2015 09:32

Ok so he's retired so no one can throw the old he might have been in work all day chestnut at you.
Without knowing him. I couldn't really say but I think it wS s forgetful over site rather than meaning g to piss you off.
Do you know him well enough to explain the sleep impact it had on your kids.
That's why the best advice I ever took was get the baby used to noise.

Iliveinalighthousewith2friendl · 02/07/2015 09:35

Sorry op. WTF. He was out there till 10.30pm. That does move it in to the bang out of order stakes,
Where does he live in a massive stAteley home. Who takes 90 mins+ to mow and strim a Gardnen

mammuzzamia · 02/07/2015 09:43

9pm is a little inconsiderate. Not something worth complaining about, however, given it's not likely to be a regular occurrence

Gatekeeper · 02/07/2015 09:47

very inconsiderate; time for a quiet word with him I reckon

WhyTheDrama · 02/07/2015 09:51

Yet another thread where I find the replies to be a bit much. Mowing the lawn on a week night at 9:30 is clearly VERY UNREASONABLE. I love all the suggestions as to why he might have to do it so late but I bet the real reason is that he is inconsiderate.

Op YANBU - I'd wait and see if he does it again and if so I would have a polite and friendly chat with him. He may just not have thought it through.

WhyTheDrama · 02/07/2015 09:53

My garden takes 90 mins to mow and strim and it's not particularly big. The OP had mentioned he was doing a common area too.

Chunkymonkey79 · 02/07/2015 10:08

Yanbu

It is selfish of your neighbour.

AbsintheMakesTheHeart · 02/07/2015 10:21

Living in a town, or a place surrounded by other houses, is inevitably going to bring irritations like this. Our neighbours are a young, childless couple who love to have friends round for barbecues the moment a weather forecaster slaps a sun on a chart. It's really annoying (talking and LAUGHING and general sounds of enjoyment while we are being quiet and middle aged in the garden) but it pains me to admit it's not unreasonable.

CadleCrap · 02/07/2015 10:29

Is no One else intrigued why the OP has to go up a mountain twice in two days?

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 02/07/2015 10:36

YANBU - he sounds like a bit of a twat TBH.

I've never heard anyone mowing their lawn after 7 round here.

I suggest you sit out laughing, talking & drinking late this weekend OP, preferably with a big, smokey BBQ - you couldn't risk doing that during the day now could you??

Wideopenspace · 02/07/2015 10:50

Cradle - yes, yes I am!

Turtlefeet · 02/07/2015 10:51

Swings and roundabouts. I expect people without young children moan about kids out playing early on a Sunday morning.

Its about being aware and considerate of your neighbours.

However, to expect the world to stop at 7.30pm is very early. When I was working I would rarely get home much before 6.45pm.

9pm is a little inconsiderate on a week night but 8pm ish probably fine.

The fact is, sadly most of us live on estates or relatively built up areas and not 10 acre estates where we can all choose to do what we please when we please without affecting someone else. Just a little compromise and consideration on all sides.

I am seething at the idiot around here who thought it was nice to leave their dog out barking between 11 and 1 am! I heard someone shout "Shut that fucking dog up before I shoot it" Shortly after the dog stopped barking. I assume the owner took it in as I didn't hear any shots!

afussyphase · 02/07/2015 10:54

my DH's dad (they are Sikh) used to tell him, as a teenager, not to mow the lawn in the evening, muttering that the (white) neighbours would say "... bloody Hindus..." (making noise so late). So I am very amused to read this. Glad times have moved on since then!

Mitzimaybe · 02/07/2015 11:14

YABU. For all the reasons PPs have said.

MidniteScribbler · 02/07/2015 11:45

Over here, in summer, up to about 9pm is not unreasonable. The time when everyone is getting home from work tends to be the hottest part of the day, and daylight savings means some lovely cool twilight hours to work in your garden. Everyone is outside really, whether it is working or playing in the garden, bbqing or in the pool (by 9pm I generally prefer the 'watching tv whilst floating in the pool with a glass of wine' option over gardening personally, but it doesn't bother me if others want to make the most of the daylight).

If it were every single day, then it might be getting upset over, but a once off in hot weather is worth just letting go for the sake of neighbourly relations.