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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to leave my engine running for ten mins at 6.45 each morning (M-F)?

801 replies

ThreeJumpersIsNotEnough · 16/12/2018 17:21

Neighbours have just come to the door with a Christmas card and a polite request to be more quiet in the mornings.

I usually leave at 7am to drop dd at breakfast club and get myself to work at 8am (I work Mon-Fri only - no weekends).

Now it's getting colder, the car is unbearably cold in the mornings so last week I started nipping out 10-15 mins earlier while dd was brushing her teeth so the car would be warm for us getting in and the frost/ice would be mostly melted from the window.

Neighbours have revealed that they are normally woken by me leaving most mornings at 7am but they can put up with it as I leave immediately so they are able to go back to sleep. However, they are not willing to put up with what I've been doing recently as they have found it impossible to go back to sleep having been awake for so long waiting for me to leave with the engine running ... Hmm

They have suggested I park further away from the house.

This is my first winter with these neighbours. They only moved in beginning of the year and we're polite to each other but not any more than 'hello' acquaintances. We live very rurally - just our two houses - in woodland area. Any noise carries and it is mostly silent (why I moved here - now I'm the one being a noise pest, it would appear). No street lights. 5 minute drive down our landlord's private (god awful road) onto the public road where there are other houses.

If I parked further away, that is further for me and DD to walk to the car each morning - in the pitch black - with our bags. Likewise, it is further for us to walk to the house each evening when we get back.

Not sure what the solution is. I told them I wasn't keen to park farther away (due to the above concerns) but they've asked me to give it a try at least for tomorrow. I've agreed to try it.

AIBU to ask for your ideas on what a peaceful resolution to this would be?

OP posts:
delboysskinandblister · 16/12/2018 18:29

YABU it is illegal. Apart from burning off the fuel expensive it's much nicer to have the hot water bottles on the dashboard. It was the only way mum could pursuade us to get in the car in Winter for school.

I think your neighbours have been very nice in asking you and I would definitely heed their advice. Think of the fuel and environment you'll be saving not to mention cosy bottle to drive in with afterwards! Xmas Smile

P.s. we find hot water bottle on the dash board is gentler at drefrosting the windscreen and less arduous than standing scraping the glass at frost o'clock. Xmas Grin

Boulty · 16/12/2018 18:31

YABU

winsinbin · 16/12/2018 18:33

Get a Prius. It runs silently when stationary so the car will be warm and your neighbours won’t be disturbed. And the road tax is cheap.

XiCi · 16/12/2018 18:34

OMG I HATE this. The engine wakes you up and the noise of the running engine when you are trying to get back to sleep is just fucking intolerable. I don't believe that anyone doesn't know how fucking selfish they are being when they do this, to wake the whole neighbourhood just to warm the car a bit.

OP, if you live somewhere that cold surely you have a car cover or at least one for your windscreen?

Pomegranatemolasses · 16/12/2018 18:35

"You're really lucky. I'd have arranged for your car to be stollen and you wouldn't be insured".

Very Christmassy indeed Grin

Torsz · 16/12/2018 18:36

I've just ordered a car heater from amazon - thank you whoever suggested this!
I'm also surprised people are still asleep at 7 on a weekday, but then I guess some people work shifts etc so really any time of day or night could have the same problem!

Ilikeknitting · 16/12/2018 18:36

My neighbours starts his noisy engine every morning shortly after 7am. I pointed out to my husband that my neighbours husband wakes me up far more then than my actual husband.
I work from home and have no children at home now (all adults) I really curse my neighbour for waking me with his engine every morning when I don’t need to be awake. The same neighbours have a grocery delivery every Saturday too. I’m sure they believe they are lovely neighbours, but they aren’t.
You are not being a nice neighbour.

Thespace · 16/12/2018 18:36

Everyone has a cold car in the morning at this time of year. I don’t think you should do it.

Aveeno2017 · 16/12/2018 18:37

Is this why your previous neighbours moved?? You would rather wake your neighbours than gave a few minutes being cold!!

JacquesHammer · 16/12/2018 18:37

Don't any of them work? 0700 seems a bit late to still be sleeping on a weekday

What a bizarre comment Confused

ILoveAllRainbows · 16/12/2018 18:38

Next time buy a car with heated seats. It makes a big difference.

DontCallMeCharlotte · 16/12/2018 18:40

I tried the hot water bottle on the dashboard but it only cleared a small area where the bottle was. Was lovely to drive to work with though.

I do a jug of tepid water and then just scrape the condensation off the inside with the rubber side of a scraper. I'm halfway to work before the car warms up but It's not the end of the world.

DON'T EVER EVER PUT DE-ICER ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSCREEN in case anyone else is considering it Xmas Hmm

Milly848 · 16/12/2018 18:40

7am is quite late to still be in bed tbh, unless you work shifts or don't work at all. Even people who start at 9 and work locally get up at 7 or very soon after.

Laiste · 16/12/2018 18:40

I'm surprised that anyone is surprised that not everyone is up at 7am.

OftenHangry · 16/12/2018 18:41

I heard you shouldn't use warm/hit water to pour over.
Been using this since I know it from when I was little. Takes couple of min, easy peasy. They make them uven with longer handles.

AIBU to leave my engine running for ten mins at 6.45 each morning (M-F)?
Judeeee · 16/12/2018 18:41

Many jobs start 0800-0900, if I or DH were still asleep at 0700 we'd be late.

This thread reminds me of when I used to leave at 0745 where I used to live and a neighbour came over to say my exhaust was blowing and it was waking him. This was a man who didn't work and had all day to sleep. Hmm

OftenHangry · 16/12/2018 18:42

Oh. Are you all talking about inside or the frost on the outside?

Thespace · 16/12/2018 18:42

I would have thought most people are up by 7am especially if you have children. The schools in this area start at 8.30am.

DorisToday · 16/12/2018 18:42

Yabu, that’s disgusting, stinking out the street with poisonous fumes, really irritates me.

olivertwistwantsmore · 16/12/2018 18:42

I put on my engine and then scrape all the windows, then go. It is cold! Have you got a windscreen cover? That helps to save time. Pop a blanket over the radiator before you get into bed, and take it with you to keep you warm in the car the next day?

jarhead123 · 16/12/2018 18:42

YANBU in my opinion. We leave the car running to warm up, its fine round here. They sound very dramatic!

Mumof1andacat · 16/12/2018 18:43

My heaters are rubbish in my car regardless of how long I run it. When frost is expected I use a windscreen shield, de icer and a scrapper if needed. Not rocket science!

HolgerLowCarbingLoser · 16/12/2018 18:44

Yes, YABVVU.

Schuyler · 16/12/2018 18:44

Judeee did it occur to you that some people get up and ready very quickly and don’t have long commutes?

RandomWok · 16/12/2018 18:44

Is an extension lead and a fan heater an option?

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