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Original poster

To speak to my neighbour about her cherry knocking granddaughter

144 replies

Jannerite · 22/01/2017 18:10

On Friday night around 6-ish/6:30-ish there was a knock at the door. It woke my 5 month old nephew up, who wasn't feeling well and had just nodded off - he was staying the weekend. My mum, who I live with, went to answer the door, nobody was there. Obviously it was cherry knocking (for anybody who doesn't know, or uses another phrase, it's the act of knocking on somebody's door and hiding so they're left with nobody there when they answer). Most people have done it in their teens.

My mum came in to the living room a bit miffed at it. I just laughed. 15-ish minutes later another "knock". I answered. I waited. I heard a giggle - obviously girls. No boy would laugh like that. My neighbour's granddaughter and two friends then rounded the corner and were "shocked" to see me stood outside my house and then proceeded to get into a conversation with me.

There was about 5 knocks on Friday night. One knock yesterday. And another not long ago. My sister saw the girls knock tonight. She said it was 3 girls.

I am almost 95%, if not 100%, sure that it is my neighbour's granddaughter. I've spoken a few times with her, and get on pretty well with her. I'd say she's probably in her 50s. Would I be unreasonable to go knock on her door and have a word with her the next time there's a knock on my door?

OP posts:
FurryLittleTwerp · 22/01/2017 19:10

Is there any way you could catch them in the act? Lurk in a bush or something?

Little horrors - the joke has gone too far now - I'd want to know it it were my own brats children

monkeywithacowface · 22/01/2017 19:10

Yes I would go round and wouldn't be waiting for the next knock little sods

OopsDearyMe · 22/01/2017 19:10

On behalf of the Cherries I object to our na e being used in this manner !!!
Knock down ginger!

Original poster
Jannerite · 22/01/2017 19:13

Reboot - Once I could live with. It wouldn't even bother me. No, she doesn't live there. They live in one of the streets nearby, but I couldn't say which house.

OP posts:
DontTouchTheMoustache · 22/01/2017 19:14

Interesting all the different names for it. It's just knock-a-door run round where I'm from

Dahlietta · 22/01/2017 19:14

Most people have done it in their teens.
Really? I've obviously never lived.

I would also call it knock down ginger and was quite relieved to discover that that's what the cherry knocking referred to...

blackpoolassy · 22/01/2017 19:15

We have this issue and have involved our pcso. If we get them on camera they'll be in the shit as we've been assessed as medium risk due to having a very sick baby. These assessments were brought in after the Pilkington case where the mother and daughter died as a direct result
Of anti-social behaviour.
It's very annoying and disconcerting.

TeamLannister · 22/01/2017 19:19

We called it rap door run away...and everyone had long grown out of it by the time we left primary school! I didn't think kids still did it...!! Blush

Babbaganush · 22/01/2017 19:20

I would ask neighbour if it was happening to her and mention that you had seen her granddaughter outside and did she see anything? That way you are not accusing her but it should get the message across!

Mungobungo · 22/01/2017 19:21

When I wasn't a teen we had kids who used to do this. It went on for weeks and weeks and was frustrating at least and frightening to our elderly neighbours.

Eventually my dad had had enough and waited upstairs in the bathroom window in the dark with a bucket of cold water and when they came up the path giggling and knocked, he chucked the water out of the window!

Probably would be classed as assault nowadays but he told them if they came round again they'd get far worse and to sod off home and explain what they've been up to to their parents. They never came back and the neighbours never had any problems either.

Anyway, in your situation I'd be inclined to go to neighbour and say that their grandchild is being a nuisance and can they have a word.

AcrossthePond55 · 22/01/2017 19:22

It's 'Ding Dong Ditch' here.

Yes, I'd speak to her in a friendly, non-accusatory, non-angry tone.

"Hello, XX. I'm sure you don't realize they're doing it, and they probably don't understand how disruptive it is, but your granddaughter and her friends have been playing (whatever regional name for it) on our door repeatedly since Friday. Would you mind having a word with them?"

jennielou75 · 22/01/2017 19:22

There was a group of teenagers that targeted one street on our estate and a couple of families in particular. The police defined it as racist incidents and used cctv to track them down. I saw them do it once and took their photo, they followed me home calling me a paedophile so I called the police. They do treat it seriously as often silly behaviour becomes more serious.

mortificado · 22/01/2017 19:22

Knock door run! So much fun
Did anyone do the one when you tie string to one door knocker then next doors knocker, knock each door and watch them fight to open their doors?!
Sorry

blackpoolassy · 22/01/2017 19:24

Hilarious pp

John4703 · 22/01/2017 19:24

This thread reminded me of the story I heard of a Parish Priest walking down a road and he saw a child trying to reach a door knocker. The Priest went and said “My child, do you need help?” The child replied “Yes Father, I can’t reach the knocker”. The Priest grasped the door knocker and gave a loud knock. The child turned to him and said “Now run away as fast as fuck Father”

Trollspoopglitter · 22/01/2017 19:25

put up a note - we know it's you girls and took a picture of you last time. if you knock again, I'll be having a word with your gran and showing her your photo.

jcne · 22/01/2017 19:26

If my children were up to this I would certainly want to know so I could put them right!

FurryLittleTwerp · 22/01/2017 19:31

Mungo - good for your dad!

I can't remember for the life of me what we used to call it. None of the names used so far seem familiar perhaps I'm dementing

Nottinghamshire 1970s, if anyone can tell me!

MrDacresEUSubsidy · 22/01/2017 19:31

Knock down ginger here as well. The problem is when they do it continually. By the time I have got downstairs and to the front door they have long gone. I don't mind once or twice, but when I'm expecting a delivery and they have done it 9 or 10 times in a row I find myself losing my sense of humour.

Last time it happened I sat at the bottom of the stairs and waited until I saw a shadow in front of the door, then whipped the door open and caught 4 of them red-handed. Told them that I didn't mind them having fun but that it was very rude to keep doing it and that I knew where they lived (local kids in my street so they know I do) and that if they carried on I would be round to speak to their parents. Got some very shamefaced apologies, at which point I smiled and said all was forgiven and might have told them I did the same myself at their age and we parted friends. No issues since then Smile

lanbro · 22/01/2017 19:33

Knicky knocky nine doors here....

I'd wait behind the door til they approach to knock, fling it open and frighten the life out of them!

pictish · 22/01/2017 19:33

Chappy-door-run here. Tell the neighbour. Nicely.

creampie · 22/01/2017 19:34

It's called bobby knocking here, just for interests sake

bimbobaggins · 22/01/2017 19:35

Chap door runaway here. We used to do it when we were young but I'd definitely find it annoying now

TheElephantofSurprise · 22/01/2017 19:36

Knock-a-door-run-away. Teenagers definitely did not do this when I was young. Maximum age 10.

Thornyrose7 · 22/01/2017 19:36

Yanbu to talk to your neighbour OP.
. I am very ashamed to say I did this as a youngster. We were once chased by this woman who SCREAMED at us. I was so scared I never did it again.

I 'm also fascinated by the many different terms. Are they regional differences? It was Knock down Ginger in East London.

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