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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour and my washing

227 replies

insan1tyscartching · 14/09/2016 13:10

Don't have much to do with neighbour generally, say hello if we meet and pop a Christmas card through her door so it was strange for her to shout to me over the back garden fence when I was pegging out the second line of washing today.
She says that my constantly having washing out spoils the enjoyment of her garden as there is constant movement and noise from flapping clothes and so she wanted to know if I could have a day or two every week where I didn't peg out.
I was gobsmacked tbh and trying not to laugh but explained that with seven in the family there is a lot of washing and drying to be done and I like to take advantage of the drying days so planning days not to peg out wasn't really possible but come October I rarely peg out anyway as garden is mostly shade then so not much longer for her to be bothered now anyway. But of course come October she won't want to sit in the garden then anyway.
So AIBU to peg lines of washing out when neighbour wants to sit in her garden? For clarity there are no small children here so no noise in the garden otherwise and other than cutting the grass and me pegging out our garden isn't used so it's not that we do anything that might disturb her if she's in the garden anyway.

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 14/09/2016 21:37

ruslting what do u hang out crisps?

she sounds mad what did she say when u said well no ive got 7 people to wash for

PickAChew · 14/09/2016 21:38

I have laundry drying envy, btw. We've had a very cold, very wet fret, yesterday and the house is boiling from having the dryer on. Yesterday was properly hot, but so humid that I had to finish some stuff of in the dryer because nothing thicker than tissue dried properly.

EweAreHere · 14/09/2016 21:42

I'd tell her she's being ridiculous if she brings it up again, and carry on. Because she is.

TopazRocks · 14/09/2016 21:46

OP, you're going to have to give up on the tissue paper dresses. Grin Weird neighbour you've got.

LittleBeautyBelle · 14/09/2016 21:52

Hanging out the washing doesn't even make any sounds! She's concerned only with the sound and not the sight of the washing over her fence?

For one thing, hanging your wash on the line to dry does not make hardly any sounds, plus, the sound of a sheet flapping to and fro in the wind is a comforting sound to me, I would like it actually...

She doesn't like that there's any kind of commotion in your garden seven days a week and reminded that she has a neighbor seven days a week. She probably wants to sit outside just at the same time you bring your washing out and that is what is driving her bonkers. But you say you have to do it 7 days...I don't have the answer! But really, hanging out washing is pretty quiet stuff.

bangingmyheadoffabrickwall · 14/09/2016 21:58

Just hang out some sheets of tin foil and carrier bags and remind her that that is what is annoying!

Headofthehive55 · 14/09/2016 21:59

One of our neighbours once complained that we let the grass grow next to the fence ( it was a lawn) and it would get under the fence into her borders.

We had a normal sort of lawn...

Headofthehive55 · 14/09/2016 22:01

She suggested we cut a border into our lawn. It was an awkward conversation as you can imagine.

userjillybean · 14/09/2016 22:02

It's the tea bags and used condoms...that's the only thing that flaps on my line....nutter

gillybeanz · 14/09/2016 22:12

How old is she OP, it's not all that long ago that women did washing on a monday and that was it.
i'm not saying I agree with her btw, but maybe it's just her way.
The first council estate, one in London, forget the name.
They had to wash net curtains every monday and washing could only be pegged in back garden and had to be brought in by certain times, like we do now with the bins Grin Saw it on a documentary, very interesting.
maybe she is just very old fashioned and not so crazy after all.

Crunchymum · 14/09/2016 22:16

Don't you dare leave the washing out to be darked on OP.

Your neighbour will be beside herself Grin

idrinkandiknowthings · 14/09/2016 22:21

You won't believe this, but my ex has just said that if he was sat in the garden and there was someone else's washing constantly in his view it would grate on him!

Shitonmyshoe · 14/09/2016 22:23

We had a charming neighbour once who I had asked to keep her dog out of our garden as it used to escape from her garden and shit in ours. The following morning after I complained her one night stand knocked on at about 6AM to offer out my DH for a fight Shock. Could be worse OP, your neighbour is batshit crazy Grin

littlemissneela · 14/09/2016 22:29

Some people really bemuse me! Hang your washing out whenever you like. There are no rules as to how often you can do so.

I will say if you do hang out anything with bells, make sure they are a bit bigger than the ones on Indian clothing. I made something with them on and my parents can't even hear them!

Cow bells might just do it Grin

BennyTheBall · 14/09/2016 22:30

Well, I have to say we tumble dry all year round and removed the massive washing line that stretched all the way down the garden when we moved in - mostly because washing on a line looks horrid to me. I like to look at the garden, not washing.

But even me, with my prissy ways, would think your neighbour is totally unreasonable.

booklooker · 14/09/2016 22:31

Is it really so 'bat shit' to ask that there might be some days when you don't have washing hanging out? You will have to cope during the winter months.

I think it is a matter of consideration.

Luluandizzy · 14/09/2016 22:33

YANBU, she's being awkward.

dangermouseisace · 14/09/2016 22:36

booklooker obviously hasn't read the OP.

I'd buy neighbour a pair of earplugs/ear defenders as a present. Then you could hang your washing out and she can enjoy her garden flap free.

timefortea33 · 14/09/2016 22:37

Maybe have a look for blinkers, like horses wear to race, and get her some as a pressie...or suggest you're considering some nice, tall leylandii trees to mask the washing for her - she might feel the washing is the better option then :-D

CheshireChat · 14/09/2016 22:44

BennyTheBall How don't you boil in this weather? I sometimes use it during summer for small stuff and it's sweltering.

Laugh0rcri33 · 14/09/2016 22:47

It is your garden, so you can do what you like within your boundary (within local restrictions eg bonfires during the day)

I have received a few strange comments from neighbour

I usually smile and raise an eyebrow. It does not stop me doing what I want in my garden

There are some strange people

Best comment so far was "what do you put in your compost bin" ?

I would leave some old towels up on the washing line permanently !

TheLastHeatwave · 14/09/2016 22:51

Don't feel bad about hanging your washing out. You've got to do, what you've got to do!

But I'll share my pain from the other side...😁

Our houses are mirror images, unfortunately this means the neighbours front door is inches away from my kitchen window (no fence, can't have one).

They have one of those ghastly (door curtains?) plastic things you hang in the doorway to try stop flies going in the house & prevent people being able to see in so easily.

They have it on the outside of the door so it's there 24/7 flapping about. Being right next to my kitchen window, the flapping drives me batshit & the waving about at my kitchen window is very, very, bloody annoying, I keep thinking someone is stood there!

However, I've had to resign myself to putting up with it because I can't think of a way to ask them to remove it when it's not in use (ie their door is closed) that doesn't make me sound as fucking batshit as your neighbour 😁😁😁

Then there's their washing. Rotary line, casts a lovely big shadow over my patio & there's washing out there pretty much 24/7, 365, because they seem not to bring any in until they need the space on the line to hang more out? It's weird. They're weird. Thankfully they're really nice too.

Duckafuck · 14/09/2016 23:01

What a strange thing to complain about! Noise from flapping clothes? She's clearly on crack.

dansmum · 14/09/2016 23:04

How does she even see into your garden ?

sootysweep · 14/09/2016 23:10

Did I read correctly that she can see your washing? Might this be a case of underwear envy? Perhaps she has caught her partner ogling your things and feels jealous? Maybe it is making her feel insecure. Whatever, unless you have been so brazen as to strap a pair of crotchless panties and a dildo to the line, you have nothing to feel guilty for 😆