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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask about nice neighbour stories?

38 replies

PurpleMac · 16/07/2018 10:26

So many threads on here dealing with CF or nightmare neighbours. I know this is only a small sample because those who aren't having problems won't post, so thought I'd start a thread appreciating our lovely neighbours!

I'm currently a SAHM to DS(20mo) although returning to work in a few months. My NDN has had building works being done since April, six days a week. He has asked his builders if they can try to take a tea break at 11am as that's the time my DS goes down for a nap - he can sleep through anything once he is down but getting him to sleep when it's noisy can be difficult. I have never asked him to do this or complained about the noise, hes just done it to be kind. If hes around and i have to park a bit further up the road because of work vans etc, he always runs up to my car when I park to see if I need a hand carrying anything.

Anyone else have nice stories to share?

OP posts:

Malbecfan · 16/07/2018 10:30

Our neighbours are amazing! They are both retired but worked in the same field as me and we have similar hobbies. They have been like surrogate grandparents to our kids. When they have problems with their computers or iPad, we willingly help them out and they will arrange for their gardener to cut the shared hedge at no cost to us. Whoever gets up first brings in all the bins and in the snow, we help each other out.

We also get on well with the people on the other side, but this is a small community and almost everyone rubs along well.

CluedoAddict · 16/07/2018 10:34

I have awful neighbours but my parents have lovely neighbours. One old man has just sold his house and moved away to live with his daughter as he could no longer live alone. He invited my parents and a few other neighbours to his daughters house. He gave them all a cheque for £1000 for being lovely neighbours.

Readyfortheschoolhols · 16/07/2018 10:37

Our neighbours are the quick hello only type. Perfect!!
When we were organising a holiday they got wind and offered to feed our dcats!
And reptiles, even replaced a bulb in the tank!
There if we need them, quiet when we don't!

Bambamber · 16/07/2018 10:37

Our neighbours grow vegetables in their garden and give us any surplus they won't use. They also always offer to help carry bags if I'm juggling bags, puppy and toddler. They also sometimes give my toddler coins to put in her piggy bank and also got her an easter egg

perroy · 16/07/2018 10:39

I have fabulous neighbours. They have seen me through some rough patches and its just been a year and six months. They are people I can truly trust.

OracleofDelphi · 16/07/2018 10:39

I live in a road with lovely neighbours. Yes there is sometimes noise, little children shouting, teenagers, but over all my neighbours are wonderful. Our new neighbours made me a lovely loaf of sourdough last week and are so lovely. Our other neighbours buy our children easter eggs every year and let my dad park on their drive when he comes to visit.

Cismyass · 16/07/2018 10:41

I got my neighbours from hell kicked out and now our street is blissful to live on; proper sense of community, caring wonderful people. There are only 8 houses and half are council let and half now privately owned if that interest anyone . We all manage the street parking considerately and half the street are 'Auntie' or 'Uncle' too the kids. DD(4) keeps her eye on our elderly next door neighbour and he was thrilled with his honorary 'Grandad' Fathers' Day card.
I grew up isolated in a very big detatched house and would never wish this on DD. She adores our 'little (terraced) house'. Next door neighbour even gave us half his garden when we ran out of garden.

wellBeehivedWoman · 16/07/2018 10:42

Our neighbours are lovely. On one side is a lady who sent us a welcome card when we moved in with her mobile number telling us to text if we ever needed anything. She sometimes looks after our cats if we're away and is just a lovely, sweet person.

On the other side was a gorgeous family who sent us a welcome card drawn by their young kids and who gave us food at Eid. They have now moved and we popped round to meet new neighbours and give them some homemade biscuits and they were really friendly so I have a good feeling!

EssentialHummus · 16/07/2018 10:43

I love mine! We moved in when I was heavily pregnant and promptly started renovating so I expected them to hate me but upstairs bought a HUGE teddy for DD when she was born, downstairs are happy to have her if I’m busy with work/at the end of my rope, I’ve redone the communal bit of garden with their blessing, we share all gardening tools/costs for building stuff, water each other’s plants... I love them. And that’s before I start on the rest of the street!

CharlotteFlax · 16/07/2018 10:45

In my old house our neighbours were an elderly brother and sister who were the first family to live in the house when it was built (in the 1930s) The sister had married and had a family but moved back when her husband died, the brother had never lived anywhere else!

They were so sweet and kind to us, especially after I had my first baby. They took our bins out every week despite us being far younger and healthier than them and gave the kids presents every Christmas And Easter.

youropinionspleease · 16/07/2018 10:46

During the really heavy snow we had a newborn at home. Out neighbours shovelled all of the snow off our path to the front door so we didn't slip and fall with the baby! They are so kind and thoughtful and we always have a chat when we are leaving in the morning

Worlds0kayestmum · 16/07/2018 10:49

I have lovely neighbours. During the snow, my DS was poorly with a temp and I had no medicine. I asked on our local FB page if anyone on our road had some calpol to spare and so many people offered to help. It's a nice, friendly community

CuppaSarah · 16/07/2018 10:50

Our lovely neighbour is an elderly woman who you would never guess is the age she is. She's so friendly and hilarious. When we moved in we were told she uses the vegetable patch at the end of our garden and while it was fine to ask she didn't it was fine for her to continue too, especially as we have the same landlord. Obviously we were absolutely fine with it and DH does any heavy lifting she needs doing like moving water butts about.

So she's often in our garden and if the kids see her they run off out to help her. I'm useless at growing plants and vegetables so it's amazing the kids get to experience it with her. She's so good with the kids too.

She uses our washing line for bedding too as it's a long one and hers is a rotary. I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant and a few weeks ago had an awful kidney infection. She noticed I hadn't been outside as often and when she's seen me I was looking rough, so called round to check in on me which was really kind. When she had a chest infection I cooked a little for her and kept an eye out. We'rely lucky to have such a lovely neighbour she's an absolute one of a kind woman.

AntiHop · 16/07/2018 10:55

Our neighbours were buying some shelving units and knew we needed the exact same size. They bought some for us at the same time and refused to accept payment.

thegreylady · 16/07/2018 10:57

My neighbours are lovely. It would take too long to go into detail but here is a partial list.
Cleared whole cul de sac of snow(mostly elderly people here ndn 50s)
Helped with housework when I had chemo
Painted our fence when they did theirs
Feed cats when we go away including cleaning litter trays
They are the salt of the earth.

LakieLady · 16/07/2018 10:59

One of my NDNs is lovely. She's a single lady, early 60s, and really quiet. She has a dog, who gets on with my dog, and will sometimes take my dog out with hers. She has a spare key for the purpose and when I'm at work and it's very hot, she opens the back door so the dog gets a bit more air.

When she goes away, she invites us to use her drive if there's nowhere to park in the street. When I had a broken arm, she would take me to the supermarket in her car. She works in a charity shop and takes stuff in for me quite regularly.

We reciprocate by taking stuff to the tip for her when we go, and DP helps her with heavy stuff in the garden etc.

twoheaped · 16/07/2018 11:03

I am firm friends with my old neighbour.
She was away and her dog was out barking all day, very unusual for the dog.
I went over to check all was well. It ends up neighbour was away and elderly aunt had left dog out all day and dog was protesting.
When she got back, she came over to thank me for caring enough to come and check all was well.
For my sins, I now get to look after her dog and cat, even though we moved over 30 miles away.
Her and her dh are the same age as my parents and they are like family to us, 14 years on.

Sleepyandtired21 · 16/07/2018 11:06

We have great neighbours - my neighbour over the road has become my parents very close friend and is always round, we look after her young kids a lot and they call us aunties and uncles. They would do anything for you and vice versus. My other neighbours are all friendly and we invite each other to parties and gatherings. It’s really lovely to have nice neighbours

Sunkist12 · 16/07/2018 11:07

I have amazing neighbours! Always posts DCs cards through the letterbox on their birthdays. Often take them into their garden to pick the Apple tree etc and other fruits they've grown. Will put out and bring in the bin if we've forgot for whatever reason. They don't have any grandchildren, but if and when they do, they will be great.

TimeIhadaNameChange · 16/07/2018 11:08

The family I grew up next to were appalling, especially the father. The couple who moved in when they left, though, were a completely different kettle of fish. They'd only been there a matter of days when my A Level results came out, and they asked how I'd done when they saw me. A while later they asked me to fetch my mother out, which I did, and then lingered just inside the door as I wanted to know what they wanted. Turned out they'd bought some Harrods champagne for the Millennium, and wanted to open a bottle to celebrate my success. It was such a lovely gesture!

The family who replaced them were also lovely. They basically included my mother (who, by then, was on her own) as part of their family, and would invite her over for Eid etc.

sunshineandshowers21 · 16/07/2018 11:13

my neighbour is a lady in her eighties and her son. they don’t leave the house much so we don’t speak very often, but they do love my cats and have asked before if it’s okay to give them treats. then a few days ago the son came round with two hand knitted blankets that his mum had knitted for the cat’s baskets! i thought that was really lovely. the other neighbours however are a whole different story... 😂

ClinkyMonkey · 16/07/2018 11:19

We're pretty lucky with our neighbours. They are friendly and really decent people, but aren't interfering or nosey. We exchange Christmas presents and all get along without being in each other's pockets. The lady on one side of us likes writing and composes little stories and poems for DS's and posts them through the letterbox. We keep an eye on things if neighbours are away and vice versa.

ducked12 · 16/07/2018 11:24

your neighbour sounds lovely OP.
my NDN is lovely, she's always buying the kids little treats and made me a beautiful hanging basket,in return for some surplus vegetable plants I gave her.
She came to ours for Xmas too and I often take her to the sales as she doesn't drive.
Another neighbour gives us apples and pears from her tree and the neighbour across the street takes in parcels and keeps an eye on the house all day and will tell us whos been round etc..(we don't ask him too he just let's us know).

MaitlandGirl · 16/07/2018 11:34

One side don’t talk to us at all but our other neighbour is pretty much family now. We both moved in over the same weekend and have helped each other out so much since we’ve been here.

He comes for dinner at least twice a week (he’s single and neither DP nor I can manage to cook for just our normal 5 so there’s always too much lol), in return he mows our front lawn, helps us with all the maintainable on the back/side fence lines. He helped try to get my previous car back on the road, spending hours in the rain and rescued me from the side of the road many a time.

He checked out my new car for me and this past week I leant him my car as his was off the road.

He’s building us floor to ceiling handcrafted wooden bookcases and a bespoke entertainment unit as thanks for all the food (and beer!) over the past couple of years.

We’ve had some awful neighbours but having someone like him next door makes life a delight (especially when it’s dark, foggy and raining and he texts me to say he’ll collect DD2 from work for me so I don’t have to go out).

NoIsACompleteAnswerSometimes · 16/07/2018 11:48

Lovely neighbours here too. We share tools, driveways, parking etc. Everyone takes parcels in for everyone, DHL loves us! I pick weeds for next doors pets, they give me a box of chocolates occasionally to say thank you.
Us and the attached neighbours have done a lot of renovation work and we always tell each other we're doing it, tho it's never been a problem.
There's an elderly lady down the road, she gets Christmas and Easter presents for my grandson. I walked her dog for her and got her medicine when we had bad snow, and bring her cheap flowers when we have them at work.
I love it here. The last place I lived had similar neighbours, I've been so lucky.

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