To laugh at ridiculous neighbour

[Pettynotvindictive]

In the garden today, pruned some fruit bushes and pulled up some sprouting sprigs with roots intact.

Thinking it's wasteful to throw it, I hear neighbour next door and offer it to them she takes it says thanks and I get on with gardening.

Then her dad says to her "I don't want anything off of her" (in Hindi. I speak and understand Hindi, they don't know this) and storms out rips sprout apart throws it in bin.

I'm stunned and start laughing- always my go to reaction.

We've had issues in the past - they don't like me not letting them park over my drive, I complain if they make noise past 10:30pm or moan if they have loud parties.

He calls me, in his language, unreasonable English white idiot.

Maybe I should just translate everything he says to everyone!

Sounds like you are doing the best thing by just laughing at them. They sound like they are being ridiculous. And I would also tell him that he's being racist. If YOU called HIM an unreasonable Hindu idiot,he would most likely be up in arms about it!

Can you speak Hindi? I’d just say, next time you hear them ‘Hello just to let you know I understand what you’re saying so you might want to remember that if you’re having a private conversation.’

Wow if he’s using your race in a derogatory way I would defo be making a note of that and look into bringing charges against him. If it was the other way round you would have been hauled in already.

Brilliant to be able to understand people speaking in a foreign language when they don’t know it 😀😀 I’d not let on ......must be great (like mind reading)

Otherwise ~ ignore them

I would wait until they are both present and ask them how they are politely in perfect Hindi.

Every time he says it, his family jump on him and I'm not that precious to be bothered.

Yes. I can speak Hindi. Although they don't officially know this I have sometimes mentioned things I've over heard when they only speak in Hindi at home. Such as "looking forward to your holiday?"

Walls are thin, they are loud.

It amuses me that little cockney me can understand them and he doesn't realise!

Don't let on that you speak Hindi....you won't be able to eavesdrop if you do.

Oh I have no intention of officially telling them!

Can't add anything about weirdness, but I speak the same language as my next door neighbours and they have no idea I understand either! It's great fun, although admittedly the most exciting thing I've overheard is their young daughter moaning about needing a hair wash. Yours sounds way more fun.

That’s quite a superpower, OP!

I would be tempted to reply to His insult...in english

Oh I'd love to see his face if you answered him in Hindi. I can understand why you enjoy the secret but I don't know if I could resist.

Just say something back in Hindi so he knows you understand. Preferably "fuck off".

This has really made me giggle. Don't let on. Just subtly drop things in that they've mentioned, obviously in English- they'll be arguing over who's telling you.

And leave it until the day either of you move- then converse perfectly in Hindu with them!

Wow if he’s using your race in a derogatory way I would defo be making a note of that and look into bringing charges against him.

"white" isn't a protected characteristic.

Don’t let on. My friend is very fair skinned but is from India. She often gets talked about by women speaking punjabi or gujerati ( can’t remember) when she is at the womens swimming session. She hasn’t let on; nobody is rude just nosey e.g ‘not seen her before’ type thing.

I'd be tempted to really fuck with him. Tell him a friend is teaching you a few phrases then say something really offensive and act all confused you got it wrong,

Something like

"Oh I'm so excited, my friend has been teaching me some lovely phrases to say to you in Hindi".

"This is the nicest one she taught me " fuck you you anti social twat" . (In Hindi) then say it means "hello there good neighbour" and beam at him angelically.

Seriously I could keep it going for months. And it would give me immense pleasure.🤣

Just ignore the silly old sod. At least he's not your dad, and his daughter sounds pleasant enough.

Aside from them being rude to you this is hilarious! please report back with more tales!!

What an awesome super power. Years and years of fun.

It’s interesting though how people get away with breath taking rudeness. A black parent at our school has been heard more than once calling white women “whitey”. What would happen if the tables were turned?

has anything been done about it TSSDNCOP ?

"white" isn't a protected characteristic.

No, but “race” is. And the definitions the police work to around hate crime include nationality as well.

Not that I’m advocating contacting the police, I think the OP has responded brilliantly.

Oh OP what fun you could have.

No Vanilla. We all try to pretend we haven’t heard her. It’s an odd situation, I’ll confess.