To think the NDN should ask first!

[LimeandTonic]

We have a shed with a combined garage. There are four windows which face next doors property. Two windows in the shed and two in the garage. The garage is kept locked and only used when moving the car in or out. The wall of the shed and garage form part of the boundary between our two properties. Last year a storm blew out a shed window. We have asked a local builder to fix it, either by replacing the window frame or just bricking up the window completely. He said he will do it when he has a window in his diary...( see what I did there?)
This morning I was in the shed as the NDN's mother walked past. She could clearly see in our shed, we could clearly see her walk by.
NDN has a room on that side of their house and they keep their blind down permanently. I presume in order to stop us looking in. I don't think we could see in, but maybe at night if they had a light on? But I don't hang around in our shed at night. Honestly, I really don't.
Today I heard a load of banging. It was NDN's father hammering a sheet of plywood onto our window frame on their side of the property. It looks shite. Worse from their side.
He said it was because he saw cats jumping through the open window. They hate cats, they are farmers and don't want cats peeing on the hay they feed the cattle with.
Firstly, the cats are feral and as such roam wherever and whenever they choose.
Secondly the boundary wall next to the shed is lower than the window and the feral cats can more easily access NDN's garden there.
Thirdly shouldn't he have asked before doing this? We wouldn't have objected although it's a futile exercise regarding cats. I really suspect it's because they don't want us to look at their house.
What angers me is that they don't talk to us about stuff like this, just go ahead and do things that affect us without seeking our opinion. He thinks he can just fecking go ahead and nail plywood to our property.
If it matters our house has been here 35 years, NDN 5 years. So it's not as if we were imposing on them.
All he had to do was just chat to us. We wouldn't have said no.
Maybe IABU. I feel better for getting it all out.
Thanks Mumsnet.
(Do you want photos?)

Adara, I reckon there's a market for that. Lots of places. Course, you'd have repeat business, as they'd get put through pretty quick. :)

MaryZ, that's me alright. Deco can be a bit of a farming bastard.
I can't understand why Deco doesn't want an internal view of my shed. It's a very nice open plan shed with artfully arranged lawn mower, bike ( with a basket) and two types of dustbin. Tasty.
Ok so; stained glass windows it is. I wonder does Harry Clarke have any spare?

It's almost impossible to get hold of any of HC's BVM Says Feck Off range now but you could set up an eBay alert.

Oh sorry Adara, do you do offensive cat themed stained glass windows in the style of Harry Clarke? If so, the job is yours.

YADNBU - does their house have a tacky name plate? If not they have failed in their duty to put one up and you should take it upon yourself to go round without permission and erect something. Can I suggest tacking one badly to their front door (over the knocker or bell to stop them being able to use it properly). Make up a suitable name for their house. Can I suggest Cold Comfort Farm or perhaps Bedlam?

um - presumably you could stand beside your garage and just look over the wall and get pretty much the same view ?!

You could have put a board up on your side yourself just to keep the weather out. You could have chased the builder.

Not sure it was anything to do with neighbour's parents - they sound quite interfering - presumably the actual neighbours didn't care that much if they had never mentioned it.

But just chalk it up to experience and how odd some people can be.

I'm a bit sleep deprived and can't visualise which windows are where but ndn should not have interfered with your property without your consent.

That English cat lady sounds scary - glad they all moved to Ireland .

The cat excuse is shite anyway as those gaps are big enough for cats to squeeze through! Especially skinny feral cats. You could demonstrate this by stuffing the gaps with soft toy cats (real ones wouldn't cooperate, I don't think). It would look cute and provide insulation.

Thanks everyone. I feel so much better for having discussed this with you all.
I love Mumsnet.

Dear Lime,

As a public service, as a brash American, when I retire, I am going to travel to various locales in the UK where MNetters live and tell off their neighbors/friends/family members on their behalf. In about 20 years I will give your neighbors what for! You will recognize me by the pink carnation on my lapel.

I'm totally confused.

They boarded up the window because of the feral cats, because they might wee on his hay. Do you store his hay in your garage?

But you think they don't like you looking at their house from the garage. Can you not see the house from anywhere else? Is it a stealth house? Or do you loiter inside your garage like a weirdo?

As entertaining as this thread is I haven't a clue what is going on!

I am loving the telescope in a drilled hole idea. That would be so funny, or just a hole with an empty cardboard kitchen roll sticking out - waggle it around sometimes.

I would put one of those portraits of Jesus on top of the plywood, you know, one of those ones where the eyes seem to follow you wherever you go?

zillie Yabu to suggest Jesus portraits. It's Ireland, you need a tacky light up Virgin Mary.

Hah! I don't mind working nights!

And I love a tacky Mary!

Over here people put Mary statues under a sort of half-bathtub on the front lawn: we call it Mary on the Half-Shell.

I would put a cat flap in the plywood.

Save them squeezing through the gaps, poor things.

Zulus has a point, what about a Sacred Heart with a flashing light? And eyes that follow you obvs.

Zillie not Zulus. Damn you autocorrect.

Lime - sure, just let me know the dimensions