Or are my neighbours complete IDIOTS 😂

[Lilianna123]

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??

I am agog.

He will look into where he stands? He's completely lost touch with reality, surely.

I would definitely be finding some pretext to get that key back if I were you. Or just straight up change the locks, might be less hassle.

I missed the bit where OP said the nutjobs the neighbours had a key. CHANGE THE LOCK! CHANGE THE LOCK!

That's great august

I wouldn't even dignify that with a response! Just ignore them. Ridiculous! Xx

He's looking into where he stands? Perhaps you could suggest on the edge of a cliff?

You can prune trees that have a TPO, you just need to get permission.

Tell them to bugger off. Then put loads of wind chimes on the branches of the tree.

I suspect there is no dementia. Andy is just applying to his home life the same approach he once applied to his work. He was probably a very annoying boss who relished every bit of his power and micro-managed his underlings until they quit or exploded.

Unfortunately, unlike at work Andy is not in charge of his wife (has she had to attend a scathing appraisal meeting for Telling You The Wrong Thing? Poor woman) or of you, OP. Clearly he is having trouble adjusting.

I shall just leave this here.....

I've read your previous posts about your crazy neighbours via the Facebook links and I've literally just registered to say how incredibly crazy/slightly hilarious I find it all! It's like a mini soap opera! Can't wait for the next installment

Def change the locks and make sure any access to your garden is lockable too!

I don't find this funny. I find it scary. Oak trees take about 400 years to reach maturity. They support all sorts of animal and plant life. Are they seriously implying you should cut down a valuable part of the eco-system?

Apply to the council for a tree preservation order ASAP.

Answer the note saying you are seeking advice on this matter and will respond in due course.

Wow! Anal Andy sounds like a massive bellend! How frustrating for you to have to deal with but as everyone else, I am so interested to see what happens next 😂🤔

i would def be talking to the council about the piano if the noise is unreasonable and spoiling enjoyment of your own home.
change your locks asap.
don't engage with any more notes from them, but keep any they send /record any conversations [need to tell them that] and speak to local pcso if they carry on harassing you, so then it is recorded and it might pull them up a bit sharpish.
not convinced about the dementia though, how long has andy been retired ? it can take some time to adjust from a full working life to doing very little. some people cope better than others, he probably isn't and still feels the need to run the show. the tree business is like a small stone in his shoe and it is irritating the hell out of him, this is his way of dealing with it rather than taking the shoe off.
having said that, this is a great thread !

Apply to the council for a tree preservation order ASAP
Once the TPO is granted you are stuck with it forever as they are really hard to get removed.

As the tree is in your garden, no one can make you cut it down if you don't want to but once the TPO is in place you might find that it affects you when you come to sell your house in the future.

Ask them where they get their drugs from as you'd like to try some, for research purposes! Total loons!

PP need to be careful about medicalising this as dementia, with just some info from a forum. Some people are just arseholes, you know.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! I'd be tempted to, rather than make them worse, go round and take their complaint seriously. Discuss it with them face to face rather than a note. "Oh my goodness, yes that must be very distracting". Say you'll get onto it and then when they are playing stand outside by the tree pretending to be a cat. Alternatively put a note through their door saying how lucky they are to have a piano area with such a beautiful view and make references to muscians and artists that use nature for inspriation. In despiration suggest they put up a large picture of a brick wall and that they play "forte".....

Some people react to retirement like this; those who have experienced some power in a job, with few interests outside work. They just can't cope with the change in role. I bet he's driving his wife absolutely spare.

Joking apart, Andy sounds as though he has some mental health issues. I wonder whether he retired from the city early due to these reasons and the piano is an outlet that he believes may reduce his anxiety/stress/other problems etc.

What he doesn't realise sadly though, is that he is completely irrational. Mrs Andy may be humouring him (and therefore enabling him) as she doesn't know how to deal with his issues either.

having worked with many people with dementia their behaviour doesn't quite fit…more likely Andy is someone who is used to having their own way

There was a fabulouse programme about a year in the life of an Oak Tree wasn't there? Suggest they watch it.

Given that Halloween is approaching there are load of spooky birds and bats with glowing eyes on sale evwrywheru, plus lots of garden ornaments that are solar powered and have glowing bits - could you fill the tree with these as well as bird feeders?

I was going to say before the update - they want rid of that tree. But I really suspect it's not about Andy's love of music, they're worried the roots are going under their house, or the tree is going to fall through their bedroom window.

Out ndn on both sides are a bit like this. As is my dm.