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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be pissed off with neighbour mowing grass today

333 replies

BarefootMe · 06/05/2018 18:52

I will probably be shot down for this. First really sunny day for months when we could enjoy our garden. We have grass and were sitting out for first time this year, enjoying late breakfast and the papers - utter bliss. Then next door neighbour started his very noisy ride-on mower. Their garden is much bigger than hours and it took nearly an hour of noise, petrol fumes etc. Then a peaceful break, and just relaxing again this afternoon when he started up again, and then produced another mower for the edges - more noise, more fumes.
For context we have had a really difficult time since last summer, very stressful and this was literally the first day we could really let go and relax without pressures to think about. Neighbour does not know that, but I am annoyed because it is inconsiderate. He works from home a lot of the time, and could have done this on a weekday. Very old fashioned probably, but I was brought up not to create any disturbance on a Sunday which was regarded as a day or rest when your neighbours deserved peace and quiet. For that reason, I never use a mower on a Sunday, or do other noisy building work, etc. Just needed to express my annoyance and regret at the return of tension so soon.

OP posts:
EdWinchester · 06/05/2018 19:21

Don't be daft.

Radio - inconsiderate, lawnmower - ok.

JustPotteringAround · 06/05/2018 19:22

I’d love to mow my lawn during the week whist I am working from home - not sure my employer would be all that happy about it though...

mindutopia · 06/05/2018 19:23

We mowed our grass at 10am today (though to be fair we have no neighbours anyway). When else would we have done it? It’s the 2nd time this week (also did it Tuesday after work). Though I’m on mat leave at the moment (with an 11 week old, normally work full time), my dh runs a a business and worked all week including yesterday too. Today was the only day to do things around the house. I think anytime after 10 ish is fine. If you don’t like it, y have to live in the middle of nowhere and have a long commute like we do so you can avoid having neighbours.

lottiegarbanzo · 06/05/2018 19:24

You are indeed very old-fashioned and ureasonable.

SoyDora · 06/05/2018 19:24

These threads about people making perfectly reasonable noise in their gardens on a sunny day are getting ridiculous now. Seriously.

LillianGish · 06/05/2018 19:26

Was coming on here to say move to Germany, but toomuch beat me to it! No mowing on Sundays or bank holidays (or even between noon 2pm in some places come to that!) Took me a while to get used to it was a bit Shock and then Blush when neighbour pointed this out to me. I think you’d love it there OP.

NotACleverName · 06/05/2018 19:26

I can't wait for winter when all the OMG my neighbour made a noise/lit a BBQ in their garden threads stop.

YABU.

Sparklesocks · 06/05/2018 19:27

Sorry but YABU. Yes you are enjoying your weekend but he is enjoying his too.

apostropheuse · 06/05/2018 19:27

YABU. It was daytime, not midnight!

I love the sounds and smells of summer. It's a happy time.

Lougle · 06/05/2018 19:29

YABU. I have a banging migraine. It's been banging all day. I've tried frozen peas, darkened room, drugs, 4head, my Cefaly machine, tights tied around my head, and still it's here, roaring away, deep into my teeth and jaw. That doesn't make my neighbours Unreasonable for having insanely loud music in their back garden while their children and grandchildren enjoy being together, playing and dancing all day. It's just life living on an estate. I just have to keep my window closed and put ear plugs in if it gets too much.

BuntyII · 06/05/2018 19:30

Summer noise is a bit irritating. My neighbours let their kids scream until 10pm. But don't let it annoy you, lawns need to be mowed and kids need to be noisy. I'm sure things you and I do irritate the neighbours too.

BarefootMe · 06/05/2018 19:30

I thought this would be the reaction. To be more clear, next door neighbour is his own boss and works only now and again during the week. He is often out in the garden just pottering, or doing DIY on weekdays. Where we live is rural and fairly quiet, and this was just such a blissfully peaceful, beautiful day. When I lived in town much closer to neighbours, of course we took in our stride, BBQs, music, laughter and chidren playing. it was part of living there and enjoyable.

.

OP posts:
CocoaGin · 06/05/2018 19:31

You're lucky. Ours likes to mow his at 7am, so he can get all his outdoor jobs done before going to church and sunday lunch. Last night, we had about 12 people here for a BBQ on the patio and he strimmed then used a mulcher. He has zero awareness of others.

NotACleverName · 06/05/2018 19:34

It's irrelevant whether he's his own boss or not, as is whether you live in suburbia or the arse end of nowhere. He's entitled to cut his grass on a nice day and you are still unreasonable.

Dancingmonkey87 · 06/05/2018 19:35

Get a grip or move to a massive field with zero neighbors

lottiegarbanzo · 06/05/2018 19:35

Maybe write him a suggested schedule for his work and leisure activities, with red, orange and green shading indicating acceptability at times when you're at home? Just pop it through his door. I'm sure he'll be grateful for your effort.

GeekyBlinders · 06/05/2018 19:35

We haven’t mowed but we will tomorrow. We have dried washing and yesterday had a barbecue, plus had an excitable toddler running around. We haven’t played music though, and neither have our neighbours - pretty grateful for this because I don’t mind any other garden noise but I hate listening to other people’s music. You must know YABU - how is your neighbour supposed to know that you’ve had a bad day and organise his gardening around it?! And YABU also so expect him to do it when WFH.

SoyDora · 06/05/2018 19:35

Last night, we had about 12 people here for a BBQ on the patio

From reading other threads on here today, it appears having bbq’s is massively selfish and unreasonable too so you probably really pissed him off as well!

Atthebottomofthesea · 06/05/2018 19:36

Well at least it wasn't 5.15am. Angry

Though since ndn put down artificial turf there hasn't been a repeat.

YABU to expect people to not do it, though YANBU for it to annoy you.

Glassofredandapackofcrisps · 06/05/2018 19:37

You sound like a nightmare neighbour bet you moan at everything! Glad I don't live next door to you!!

GeekyBlinders · 06/05/2018 19:38

Cocoa, sounds like your neighbour can’t win! Maybe your neighbour found the noise of your barbecue annoying, and decided to do some gardening while it was noisy.

fleshmarketclose · 06/05/2018 19:40

You'd love my neighbour OP he was digging in the garden today at 6.45am which is marginally later than 6.15am yesterday Hmm. That's not the worst of it though he's generally out there 12 hours a day from April to November which is probably the reason that I only use mine to hang washing out.

dementedma · 06/05/2018 19:41

i would far rather hear a lawn mower than blaring music and shrieking kids!

coffeecupofmilk · 06/05/2018 19:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhipItGood · 06/05/2018 19:42

I’m always bemused to see posters take a cursory glance at someone else’s life and assume xyz. In this case ‘ he works from home a lot of the time and could have done this on a weekday’.

He’s more than likely got stresses of his own too.