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AIBU?

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Original poster

Or are my neighbours complete IDIOTS 😂

795 replies

Lilianna123 · 19/10/2016 17:51

Another neighbourly dispute, same neighbours that claimed our cat was teasing their dog, and the same neighbours who accused us of stealing blackberries off their bush that happened to grow over my fence.

Well if I hadn't thought they were ridiculous before, I definitely do now.

Woke up this morning to find a note through the door saying they have had a new piano delivered and due to space they were limited on places it could go indoors (not our problem) they are saying where they have placed it is under a window and their view from the piano is a large oak tree which is in our garden. Their problem is that they are saying the many birds nests that are in this tree are distracting and these wild birds are making too much noise therefore distracting them from the piano.

There isn't even a suggestion in the note of what they'd like us to do about it. Not that I would even consider taking any action towards the tree but FFS what on earth are they doing? They don't have a bloody leg to stand on??

OP posts:
Thread gallery
20
cdtaylornats · 19/10/2016 21:30

Loudspeaker and Radio 4 tweet of the day on a loop.

cozietoesie · 19/10/2016 21:31

They need an interest. (Other than you that is!) Haven't you any local 'causes' that would benefit from some voluntary help - that you could maybe inveigle them into? Grin

JellyBelli · 19/10/2016 21:31

Send their dog a letter from your cat made out of cut out letters from the newspaper.

mypropertea · 19/10/2016 21:33

Call the council, ask about a tree preservation order. "I'm sorry... my hands are tied".

honeyroar · 19/10/2016 21:35

Seriously though, do you not think you're encouraging them by going round and actually discussing it? I'd be telling them that at first you found their silly notes faintly amusing, but now they're just irritating and bordering on getting very annoying. Tell. Them you've had enough and won't be replying any more, so not to waste their time writing them, as you're only going to save them up to show just how ridiculous they are in case you ever need to take legal action. Tell them you're happy to draw a line and forget about things and be friendly, but you will absolutely not be involved in any more of their ridiculous drama.

badg3r · 19/10/2016 21:38

Could you squeeze a blind through their letterbox? Presumably he is able to close the curtains at night to block out the streetlight. If he doesn't want to see what's going on outside, CLOSE THE FUCKING CURTAINS!! And I f they say he needs natural light make sure to point out that concert pianists often perform in the evenings and seem to cope ok... Wink

musicposy · 19/10/2016 21:50

Suggest he gets a decent piano teacher who will train him to work through distractions so they don't affect his playing.

I won't volunteer; all my pupils are sane!

FailingandDrowning · 19/10/2016 21:52

Havent RTFT but as they are clearly bonkers and this may not be the last you hear of them, do save the note as evidence.

morningtoncrescent62 · 19/10/2016 21:56

Send their dog a letter from your cat made out of cut out letters from the newspaper.

GrinGrinGrinGrin

Haven't RTFT but I'm curious to know what your cat's been doing. Calling the dog rude names? Ringing the doorbell and running away?

WeirdAndPissedOff · 19/10/2016 21:58

Can you get some creepy halloween birds and place them in trees/bushes around the garden, and face them so they're all giving the piano window the evil eye?

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 19/10/2016 22:00

Teach the birds to chirrup in tune with his piano?

2kids2dogsnosense · 19/10/2016 22:07

Send their dog a letter from your cat made out of cut out letters from the newspaper.

Brilliant, Jelli.

Sign it "A Frend" (deliberate misspelling - Have had to have hand-to-hand combat with the autocorrect to get it through)

leaveittothediva · 19/10/2016 22:07

They are possibly heavily medicated. Avoid. Angry

Backingvocals · 19/10/2016 22:12

I think there is literally a Roobarb and Custard episode about birds tweeting too loudly, Custard getting really annoyed because it was disturbing his napping and (in a freaky twist on this story) taking up piano to scare away the birds. You'd already mentioned your cat terrorising their dog so somehow you have got stuck in an episode of Roobarb and Custard and you need to reboot yourselves asap.

Btw your neighbours are nuts. But yy to the book. Brilliant and just in time for Christmas.

Spudlet · 19/10/2016 22:12

The farmers round here have bird scarers that are basically big speakers wired to a car battery that play various bird of prey calls and bird alarm calls. You could get one of those in the garden to frighten those pesky songbirds away

milkyface · 19/10/2016 22:14

Oh this is hilarious Grin they are batshit!

Oldieandgoldie · 19/10/2016 22:15

I'd be letting them know you have CCTV cameras trained on the tree, for bird watching purposes, naturally! Just in case they're getting any ideas....Wink

cdtaylornats · 19/10/2016 22:22

Send them a letter before action from your cat threatning them with legal action if they continue to libel your cat re: their dog.

Evilstepmum01 · 19/10/2016 22:26

Wow, this is the funniest thread I've read in a while!

but you have to live it, so I guess its not that funny.

why dont you buy several of those birdboxes that have cctv in them? Pop them in your tree, they connect to your tv so you can watch the birds nesting (my PiL's have one).

Then invite neighbour round to watch birds.

josCS · 19/10/2016 22:26

Bonkers! Check to see if there is a TPO on the tree - if there is you just reply that it has one and can't be removed. If it doesnt I would not go down the route of getting one incase you need to do work to it in the future.
Simply reply we will not be removing the tree, perhaps you could replace the window with a triple glazed one and a blind so you do not have to look at it.

IWasSpartacus · 19/10/2016 22:37

DO NOT VOLUNTARILY ASK FOR A TPO Especially if you have bonkers neighbours!!

Sorry for the shouting.

Just the ball-ache that can go with a TPO is ...well...just that...a ball ache. You cannot even prune said tree without permission. See below for what you have to do:

Applying to work on a TPO-protected tree
Where work needs to be carried out on a tree with a TPO, you need to consider the following:

Permission to carry out work on a TPO tree needs to be applied for around eight weeks in advance to the Local Planning Authority for a TPO-protected tree
This includes all work, even routine pruning of a fruit tree
Notice of works on a tree in a Conservation Area must be given six weeks in advance. If the Council refuses, or if local residents object, an additional TPO could be placed on that tree
Where the tree is dead, dying, or a health and safety risk and pruning is considered urgent, then permission must be sought a minimum of five days in advance
Assessment by a tree surgeon (find one through the Arboricultural Association) may aid the application

www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=213

Bonkers neighbours would spy on your tree-pruning activity and all hell could break loose.

Woody67 · 19/10/2016 22:43

Tell them to invest in some decent double glazing. How can they even hear the birds through the window and above the sound of the bloody piano?! Is Andy secretly the 6 million dollar man, with Bionic hearing??

crashdoll · 19/10/2016 22:54

Post a leaf from the offending tree through their letter box on random occasions. Not every day, that would be weird but occasionally.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/10/2016 22:59

The note back just needs to say

Close the curtains then. HTH