To call the police on this family?

[catofdoom]

I live on a dirt road. It's single track and very windy. This particular part has a sheer drop off to the ocean.

Driving home with ds yesterday afternoon and out of nowhere two kids (between 10 and 12 I think) jump out at me and start pelting my car with water balloons. Trying to get them through the driver's window. (Luckily they didn't.)

They are my next door neighbours. They're only here for a month in the summer though.

It scared the absolute shit out of me. How I didn't crash in to a tree or go off the road I don't know.

I stopped and told them what a horrible thing to do it was and how dangerous it could have been. They laughed at me and ran off.

I drove home, turned around and drove back to go and speak to their parents (I'd seen the car home.)

Coming back they did it again!

I carried on past their house to go and sit further up the road and have a think. DH then came home and they did it to him too! He got out of the car and they ran off, their Mother was outside, dh told her what they'd been doing and she walked off and slammed the door in his face.

Turns out they did it to my brother in law the day before. They've been sat by the road with a big bucket of water balloons for a couple of days. Their Mother must have know, the only windows of the house and the porch look down at the road.

Anyway, so since we've had no apology. If it were my son I'd have marched him round there furious to apologise.

I want to lodge a complaint with the police (I've already spoken to the local policeman but he's not on duty until tomorrow night.) DH thinks we shouldn't stir things up. I think they could do with a talking to, I'm annoyed their parents clearly don't give a shit. Plus, if it happens again they could cause a nasty accident.

So I guess it's more of a - what would you do?

Also, we're in the States in an extremely low crime area (one burglary in 10 years) so I won't be wasting police time, they'd actually be thrilled to have something to do rather than sit on the side of the road trying to catch speeders.

I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend, and that you can't be there with her.

@dontfluffthefluffer

I family I worked for in London spent summers here so I came with them for two summers.

I was the nanny and dh was the boat captain. Very outing. I was basically stuck on a tiny island with him and bored.

@MissConductUS thank you. I'm wish I hadn't sent ds to camp now, nothing to stop me thinking about it.

@catofdoom I don't know if it helps and I really really don't want to give you false hope, but my dad survived a massive subdural hematoma a couple of years ago. Doctors said it was the biggest bleed they'd ever seen - literally pints of blood.

He's now back riding his bike 80 miles every weekend so it does happen outside of TV shows, but I suppose it is quite rare. He didn't go into a coma or stop breathing at any point so I guess that helped.

I hope you're OK

MrsGideon they must have caught the hematoma and drained it very quickly. Your dad was extremely fortunate.

What typically happens with a brain hemorrhage is the bleeding causes compression, essentially a pressure build up from the bleeding happening in a very limited and inflexible space. That restricts the flow in of oxygenated blood and the oxygen starved brain suffers irreversible damage.

I'm so sorry, @catofdoom. I've just read this whole thread and loved it until I hit the last few posts. Hoping for miracles but settling in for a North London hug either way.

Can you tell us more about your friend? It would be great to hear some stories and might help you to write it down.

There's no talk of surgery so I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. They've done another CT scan but not heard the results yet.

She's amazing. She was genuinely one of the kindest and fun people I've ever known.

She didn't have kids because she didn't want to bring life in to the world the way it is. She feels things very deeply, she's definitely an empath. She worked in a children's hospital. I couldn't actually listen to her stories of her patients and their parents, she was so strong and so incredible. If she dies the world has honestly lost one of the people that make a difference.

I've got to go and pick up ds in a bit. One of the downsides of living somewhere where you know everyone is times like these. I don't want to speak to people, or have people ask me how things are going, as I just burst in to tears again.

I had to tell ds's teacher as I wanted him to go to camp as soon as I heard and he wasn't scheduled for that day.

There's no talk of surgery so I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. They've done another CT scan but not heard the results yet.

Do you know what caused the hemorrhage? Trauma and aneurysms are the most common causes.

@MissConductUS it was a huge aneurysm apparently.

The cat scan showed a little less swelling and blood. They didn't operate as she's too fragile and they said the damage is too bad and there's nothing they can do.

So even though she's showing responses I don't feel we can hope much. Her Mum is though, it's absolutely horrific.

OP so sorry to hear about your friend.

for you OP. You are far away but everyone here is thinking of you and your friend. X

Thank you so much. Honestly, over the last 10 odd years you vipers have been such a comfort to me when I've needed it. Mumsnet really is bloody brilliant.

Iam so sorry to hear about your friend OP. My father and brother both died from aneurysms. I was able to be with my brother along with many other members of his extended family which really helped so I can imagine how very hard this is for you. I wish I was your neighbour so I could babysit and you could go to your friend

I'm really sorry cat. Vascular events like this take way too many people like this too young.

MN was here for me too a few months ago when I lost someone I love. I'm glad you found some comfort here as well.

Oh, I'm so sorry about your friend. It's so horrible when you can't be where you want to be, even if you have a good reason for it, which you do.

Keeping you and her in my thoughts.

How are you today, Cat? Any news about your friend? Thinking of you and her

@MissConductUS They actually didn't catch it early at all - there were two bleeds from two different impacts and the first one was there for about 2 months before he bumped his head again and set off the second one. Really really lucky he's still up and about to be honest.

Anyway I don't want to derail the thread. Sending good thoughts your way, OP x

I've not heard anything this morning.

I did see balloon lady. She saw me at the farmers market and hightailed it in the other direction. That cheered me up a little bit.

Ah, the tried and tested 'run away, run away' tactic.

At a time like this you need to take your 'wins' where you can. Whilst in the pits of grief I found myself delighted that I'd opened vacuum packed ham in one peel with the little tab on the corner that usually snaps off.

@MrsGideon They actually didn't catch it early at all - there were two bleeds from two different impacts and the first one was there for about 2 months before he bumped his head again and set off the second one.

He should play the lottery. The morality rate for patients over 70 with an acute SDH is about 50%.

Age related outcome in acute subdural haematoma following traumatic head injury.

Mortality rates for ruptured aneurysms in the brain depend heavily on the amount of brain damage done and the location.

Cat, you should have tossed a zucchini at her.

She passed away today.

I'm so sorry. Virtual handhold here.

I'm really sorry for your loss cat.

I’m so sorry@catofdoom. Sounds like the world is a poorer place without her. Big hugs.