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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sitting in front gardens??

183 replies

curiousgeorgie247 · 08/05/2018 18:21

We bought an ex council house a few years ago. Lovely estate, lovely big houses with large gardens, lovely neighbours.
Most are now owner occupied but there are still a few that are council.
Was having a drink in the sun with neighbours last night in the back garden. It came up about most of the people across the road sit out in the front gardens and we were discussing why anyone would want to when we all have big back gardens. It isn't to do with the sun as they sit out there when it isn't sunny.
We have a driveway now but when it was a garden I would never have chosen to sit in the front garden as opposed to the back.
None of us have ever seen it anywhere other than on council estates. It seems to be a thing.
I'm not criticizing. It doesn't bother me. Each to their own. It just came up last night and thought I'd ask opinions.

OP posts:
mrscampbellblackreturns · 08/05/2018 19:15

Our cottage was privately owned but I did grow up on a council estate - perhaps I brought the 'council' with me Wink

ALongHardWinter · 08/05/2018 19:18

Because they're nosy?

NotCisImaWoman · 08/05/2018 19:19

Actually op I've wondered something similar....I live in a similar estate, and I'd like to know why generally, apart from myself of course, the private owners are so miserable? Is it because they are in that God awful dreary forever inbetweenness of not being rich enough to live on a 100% private estate and only being a slight step ahead of the council tenants?

EdmundCleverClogs · 08/05/2018 19:19

We just wondered why?

It’s the inner chav, a natural instinct to sit out front and display their underclass status in a loud-and-proud manner. It’s almost like a mating call. These people are too poor for normal activities like going shopping in Waitrose, attenting NCT groups, eating in independent establishments. They must bring socialisation to them by decorating their lawns with furniture and broken toys. Pity them, the poor fools.

Ohyesiam · 08/05/2018 19:20

I imagine it’s so they can watch the world go by, and connect with people.

NeepNeepNeep · 08/05/2018 19:21

It's only common if you sit on the doorstep instead of draped across a chaise lounge. Or artisan wicker pouffe.

CalF123 · 08/05/2018 19:22

Sitting in a front garden when you have a perfectly adequate back garden is incredibly bizarre behaviour IMO. It tends to be mostly extremely 'chivvy' families that do it IME.

papayasareyum · 08/05/2018 19:22

we used to live on a road with half privately owned and the other half housing association owned. The HA tenants used to sit on their front doorsteps. The privately owned houses had no one sat outside. The estate agent told us that the fact some people were sitting on their doorsteps would put people off our house. I thought she was joking, but two of our viewers mentioned it and asked if it was a regular occurrence and I think it automatically highlighted the HA properties. It didn’t bother me, but clearly it bothers some people

SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 08/05/2018 19:23

OP, I know you are trying very hard to convince us you are not judging sitting outside....but it's pretty obvious you are. You don't like it, just say so! You think it looks a bit chavvy don't you?

I also got the impression that the OP is waiting for someone else to say this, so they don't have to...

morningconstitutional2017 · 08/05/2018 19:23

Is their garden north-facing and fairly shady? My friend has a neighbour who sits in the front because it's sunnier. She owns her house.

NotCisImaWoman · 08/05/2018 19:24

They we do it because fences are lower in front gardens, so it's easier to garden surf to get away from the feds, innit

greendale17 · 08/05/2018 19:25

Doesn’t happen where I live. Not council

Grumpyoldblonde · 08/05/2018 19:25

I used to live in a lovely little terrace of pretty cottages and we all used our front gardens to sit and chat, maybe have a glass of wine and as a mum of a young baby it was quite a lifeline as I was a bit lonely back then. I miss it tbh.

MrsJayy · 08/05/2018 19:26

Where I used to live people sat out front was nicer than been shut round the back not seeing anybody, and when the kids were younger they played out so we could all watch them, the mumsnet term for this is a bit council Hmm

Allyg1185 · 08/05/2018 19:26

Does it matter? Front garden/back garden at least they have gardens to enjoy the nice weather in.

I have a front and back garden. My neighbour sits out in both his gardens depends where the sun is

Bluesheep8 · 08/05/2018 19:27

Our house is privately owned/mortgaged. The front garden is lawned and east facing. The back is more of a yard and we still need to have work done on it. On Sunday, I sat in a chair in the front garden because it was the sunniest. Later in the afternoon I sat at the back as the sun had moved. That's it really.....

SmashedMug · 08/05/2018 19:28

Sitting in a front garden when you have a perfectly adequate back garden is incredibly bizarre behaviour IMO.

What do people do with their front garden where you are? Just look at it?

Fancy using a garden! Grin

Original poster
curiousgeorgie247 · 08/05/2018 19:30

I don't think the sun is the issue as they're always n the front. Whether it's sunny or cloudy. More so when it's sunny obviously.

My neighbour used the word chavvy last night. And I suppose I have to agree. Especially when one of them started shouting at the passing police car.

OP posts:
RhinoBlue · 08/05/2018 19:30

This thread is hilarious.

witchofzog · 08/05/2018 19:31

I used to have neighbours like this. They used to sit outside on the pavement on patio chairs from 10am onwards getting pissed. As the day went on they got louder and more obnoxious and ALL their mates were regularly there.

I don't care if anyone calls me a snob but it was intimidating for people walking by and those fuckers prevented me from selling my house for nearly 2 years (regular feedback said the same thing. It was ALWAYS the neighbours and I was at breaking point by the end of it)

MrsJayy · 08/05/2018 19:34

Well we never roared at police cars it was all very classy and restrained unless somebody was shouting Levi in for his tea Wink

alittlequinnie · 08/05/2018 19:37

I always like the idea of a front porch with a swing seat on it like in the films - sleeping with the enemy etc - or like in The Waltons.

Never seems common in America like it does here - I'd love to watch the world go by and you can't do that in your back garden but I never have the nerve to actually do it!

LanguidLobster · 08/05/2018 19:38

It's their garden, who cares?

TheSassyAssassin · 08/05/2018 19:39

Grin @EdmundCleverClogs

Have lived in similar sit-on-front-step place and share wine, food and goss and it was lovely (none council but just what we all did). Kept mentality and chat if I see a neighbour etc, share a meal / dessert if I have any going spare. Just nice thing to do really!

fairgame84 · 08/05/2018 19:40

I used to live on a council estate and everyone used their back garden.
Before that I live in a very deprived area. We didn't have front gardens but our road was fully paved over. A lot of us were single parents and we used to sit on our doorsteps and watch the kids play out front and chat to each other.
Better than being sat in the back yard on your own with nobody to talk to.

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