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??

Just wow

He's obsessive. And will escalate it.

Please take a photo if your tree, change your locks or the locks to your garden. Send a letter / email to the tree man at the council, with photo, stating that he could hear from your neighbour about the tree, that you want to keep it.

If necessary, tell Andy 's wife ( who I think should be pitied, she's probably been able to ignore this up till now) that you have warned the council, that you could make a complaint about his unsocial hours for practising. And personally I would put a couple if fat balls elsewhere to seem reasonable, so she too can tell Andy you've done stuff about it.

Do you have a friendly family solicitor on call, OP?

To coin a classic MN phrase, I'd call 101 and get it logged with the police. Maybe special branch

I'll get me coat!

He said he will look into where he stands

Tell him that's a good idea, how about standing at the other side of the room?

Idont think it's dementia. My mum's nextdoorneighbour is a bit like this. She was friendly for a few years. Then flipped and turned crazy. She has rung the police on my mother several times for touching her fence (the one between their properties), even if my mum holds it to get up when gardening (my mum is 75). She has cameras trained on the fence and boundary with motion sensors that go off when mum goes to the end of her garden. It's not dementia, she never forgets and confuses, it's like full on OCD. The police always tell my mum to ignore her and not get involved.

Say you're a druid and need the tree for religious purposes.

Then write a letter complaining that the bad piano playing is disturbing the local wildlife - esp birds in your tree.

My neighbours are insane in an entirely different (more violent) way. Wish mine were just bonkers like this.

This may turn out to be the best thread ever.

So is he implying that you destroy birds nests? So he can play his piano?
Unreal. perhaps there are genuine mental health issues involved here. It certainly sounds like it.

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

It must be hard to spot when an arsehole develops dementia.

I also think it's good that posters have flagged it as a possible issue, how much worse to just fight with people and/or block them out when they need understanding and care.

Don't respond, just laugh about it and tell us. Try not to engage them

Send them back this

I get advertising leaflets for Hilarys Blinds at least once a week through the letterbox.
Get hold of some and pass them to Andy for his window to obscure view of tree.

Surely if you are playing the piano, you are looking at the keys or at the sheet music.
If you're looking out the window, you're not paying proper attention to the music.

Bloody hell - I am weeping with laughter at this thread, sorry OP, I know this must be incredibly frustrating for you.

Please please post EatsShitAndLeaves's picture through their letterbox.

Andy really is as mad as a box of frogs. I feel for his wife.

My neighbour is a little bit like this (or at least would be if his wife didn't reign him in). His hobby is pouring over the council website and objecting to anything and everything. We share responsibility for the roof and chimneys and when one needed repaired, he didn't just come round and talk to us (we've never been any trouble and if anything I used to be a bit meek towards him), he put a complaint in against himself at the council giving us 30 days to repair it. It was so stupid, and more expensive than it needed to be.

He also thinks our dog is to blame for the fox pooing in his garden (our dog "scares" it into his garden instead of ours, despite being a lazy dog who is never in the garden after dark). His wife was mortified when he told her about this rant and came round later with a box of biscuits.

Luckily we now have an even worse neighbour a few doors away who is running an illegal B&B, so his attentions are now focused on them! Perhaps you could find a local issue for him, one where he wants to keep you onside?

Make sure when you talk to either of them about it that you don't fall into the trap of emphasising and apologising. Just politely let them know that you are not going to be taking any action on this as their requests are completely nonsensical. "This is awkward, as I have no desire to fall out with you as neighbours, and of course am always happy to discuss and find common ground on genuine issues. But your request for us to chop down a tree in our garden because you have rearranged your furniture is nonsensical. I hope you are both OK, and don't waste any time, money and neighbourly goodwill on this. "

I really suggest you speak to get advice op. Andy is a) a prat and b) a dog with a bone. As in this will escalate more and you cannot be seen to be apologising to him or making concessions or it will be seen as pandering and it won't stop.

If he moans to the council about birds they will laugh at him. I'd suggest speaking to them first about concerns that this is becoming harassment.

Eee bah gum! 't sure's nowt so queer, silly ,mad as folk;!

The bit about him getting into the car and out again repeatedly made me think - ah, possible MH problems.

He may well have an unpleasant personality on top of MH problems, they're not mutually exclusive after all. However - honestly - i don't think a rational mind, however much chance that they were controlling in their past job, would ask a neighbor to cut down a tree so they could hear a piano.

I echo the advise to protect yourself by keeping all notes sent by them, keeping a note or the time and date, and yes, possibly talk further with his wife.

LetsSplash Luckily we now have an even worse neighbour a few doors away who is running an illegal B&B, so his attentions are now focused on them!

We need a way of matching these sort of people to worthy causes that need someone with a bit of brass neck to fight their corner!

What Fidelia said, its the classic Karpman Drama Triangle.
Read Games People Play by Eric Berne. It has coping strategies that might help.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karpman_drama_triangle

Write her a note back saying "on reflection, I enjoy the birds and the tree more than I enjoy your mediocre piano playing. I thank you for the suggestion to remove the tree; however, it will not be happening. I suggest you move your piano if it is affecting you so much"

Good god why on earth would you put a piano outside in the first place?? If you don't have room for it in your house then don't flipping buy one. I'm sure they could survive without one

I was nearly dying laughing and 'Anal Andy' just about finished me off.

I can't wait to hear where exactly it is that Andy stands.

I wish I could be in the room with whoever he goes to to discover where he stands as he explains the issue at hand.