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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think I've got the most batshit neighbours?

444 replies

MrsGaryLightbody · 20/07/2019 10:25

I'm gobsmacked...

History of next door is one letter through my door a month or so ago to ask if I would trim my rose bush in back garden as it's grown 8.5 inches above the fence and they can now see it. It's a five foot fence. Confused but I did new ( me) neighbourly thing and trimmed it.

This morning there's a note through door again from them , letting me know that they are going to contact the RSPSA and dog warden ( is there such a thing) and report me . A list of complaints were then listed .
These include, letting puppy howl all night, leaving pup alone all day to howl. Letting pup wee against same place on fence , which apparently seeps through and is damaging their vegetables. They are fed up with me shouting at puppy. They don't like the name I've chosen. Confused
They then go on to say they apologise for not stopping to give me a lift ( rural bus service) but they saw I had pup in my bag and didn't want it in their car. But they will be writing a stern letter to the bus company to complain that people shouldn't be allowed on buses with dogs as it's a health hazard.

I'm not sure whether to reply by writing ... or just shout through the letter box that I don't have a ducking dog!! I never have and I don't have any pets. The neighbours either side of me and them have cats. They have cats.

Just what I need ! Should I ignore?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
AuchAyeTheNo · 20/07/2019 14:27

Aww OP I’m sorry your feeling a bit teary but I honestly just chuckled out loud at the whisper Grin

I’d perhaps say to the local police incase someone needs to keep an eye on these neighbours for their own safety.

olivia14 · 20/07/2019 14:27

After reading this thread I am now killing myself laughing at the thread just a few below yours Grin

To think I've got the most batshit neighbours?
thekaratekid · 20/07/2019 14:29

Wow. Sounds a bit strange, but have you tried googling their address or her name (if you know it)? Sometimes local news sites will report on convictions e.g. Jo Bloggs of 123 Street was fined for xyz offence. Could give you an idea of what kind of issue you could potentially be dealing with. Our local paper seems to report on even the most innocuous events. Hmm

Definitely try and catch another neighbour to have a chat. Hopefully they might shed some light.

loobylou10 · 20/07/2019 14:33

In all seriousness, my mum got like this with her neighbours when she had psychotic episodes before she was diagnosed with lewi body dementia.
We believed they were arguing at all hours and playing Christmas music all through the night (until the day she told me the police helicopter had landed in the garden one night and taken him away). She was totally convinced these things were happening and got very upset about it.
I would try and have a word with the husband if I were you.

ChrisPrattsFace · 20/07/2019 14:34

I thought my neighbours were crayyyyy 😳
I advise you stop peeing on her fence though OP... 😂

Bloodymary · 20/07/2019 14:37

Jetstream has the best idea yet. Please please do it OP.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 20/07/2019 14:37

Ahh she’s not well at all is she

IDontDrinkTea · 20/07/2019 14:38

Shamelessly placemarking because I’m hooked and want to know if Gerald is real or buried under the patio

HerkyBaby · 20/07/2019 14:44

Could pretend you’ve got a cat or dog called Peanuts and yell that from time to time from the back door in a bid to get the pretend pet in to eat their pretend supper. That will shut them up ( just try yelling it now and you’ll see why)

NoSquirrels · 20/07/2019 14:44

Oh dear. She sounds unwell.

Remember it's not you, OP. You don't need to do anything at all.

DishingOutDone · 20/07/2019 14:46

OMG - well its funny for us reading about it but I think I would have been so shocked I'd cry as well. What a worry. You are handling it very well though OP, esp after your H leaving etc - do you have DC? Any family nearby that could support you dealing with the crazies in RL?

romeoonthebalcony · 20/07/2019 14:47

poor lady sounds very ill, was funny at first when it seemed like a mistake but not funny anymore, especially reading the post about Lewi Body Dementia

Likethebattle · 20/07/2019 14:51

Definitely find out from nice neighbour what has gone on before.

Badcat666 · 20/07/2019 14:54

@MrsGaryLightbody

Please mention it to the Police, please.

Remember YOUR MH is just as great as hers. She may have form and she is harassing you and that needs to be nipped in the bud.

It may be they will be able to get social workers involved with her or if she is already under their care alert them to the fact she is going bat shit crazy again.

She has NO right to make you fear being in your home or garden, no right at all, no matter what her mental health status is (And I've had MH issues from my teens)

MyNewBearTotoro · 20/07/2019 14:54

Sorry. This sounds very stressful. I hope you’re able to talk to another neighbour or her husband and they can help unravel this. It sounds likely that she’s mentally unwell though. Hopefully having confronted her will at least stop her from anymore notes or issues.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 20/07/2019 15:03

It's very difficult not to laugh at the absurd situations that are introduced by people with certain MH issues, but it must be absolutely horrible being them and suffering from the issues.

I have a relative who has schizophrenia and hears voices and there really is no point in trying to reason with or gainsay them, because they ARE telling the truth - their truth - which just so happens to have no basis whatsoever in reality. We all hear voices and noises in our heads (via our ears) and accept them as truth; people who believe that they hear non-existent voices and noises have no reason to disbelieve it as proven truth - as they genuinely heard them. You'd think that you'd question how you could hear a person speaking when that person is nowhere near (or maybe doesn't even exist), but if people have lived like it for long enough, it becomes their normal - probably a bit like people who believe themselves to be psychic.

This is one of the terrible things about some mental illnesses. If you fall off your bike and break your leg, you realise, know and acknowledge that you need to go to hospital to get it seen to. However, when you have a mental illness and a defining factor of it is that you don't understand or accept that you have it, it's a very sad way to have to live your life.

Tempting though it is to engage with them and wipe the floor with them using your understanding of actual reality, I'd just gently bat away their concerns and not engage too much with them. Trying to force them to understand THE truth as opposed to THEIR truth is as pointless as trying to get a tiny baby to stop pooing in their nappy every time they need to go; although, at least a baby will develop and learn to stop doing it - for people like them, that is their life, until they die.

Depending on their behaviour, you may have to call out various branches of the authorities, but if so, leave it to them and keep it civil if you possibly can. If they get to the point where they're calling the authorities because of your perceived behaviour, that could be the catalyst to them getting the help that they really need.

Blueuggboots · 20/07/2019 15:06

Omg, she sounds unhinged!!
Ignore!
Let them call who they like.

Bwekfusth · 20/07/2019 15:06

I'd report her to the police. Fuck living next door to that.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 20/07/2019 15:06

....And, yes, to echo PPs, do whatever you need to to look after your own MH too.

littleyellowwellies · 20/07/2019 15:08

Pop a note in asking them to come and get you when Gerald is barking.

Have a lovely time not listening to any barking.. but don't drink the koolaid

AmeriAnn · 20/07/2019 15:10

I would start shouting at the imaginary dog and doing a bit of howling.

Oh the fun I'd have with this!

pollypenguin01 · 20/07/2019 15:12

I was going to post being all funny and saying how they’re bat shit, but actually she sounds very mentally unwell.

I think flagging to social services would be a good thing to do.

ContactLight · 20/07/2019 15:13

This started out funny, but it isn't at all really now, is it? Sorry OP, this must be really worrying for you.

All I can suggest is that you contact either your local PCSO or the neighbourhood watch team and ask someone to come round for a chat with you. I'd also suggest that you don't go round to the neighbour's house again by yourself, but take your normal neighbour or a friend with you if you have to speak to them. And keep all further missives.

1forAll74 · 20/07/2019 15:15

Buy a fluffy dog toy from a charity shop,and sit it on your doorstep, or get them a new writing pad,so they have more paper,to send crazy notes to you on.! They do sound quite unhinged though,,maybe they take drugs, and can see and hear things that others can't.!

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 20/07/2019 15:15

I would start shouting at the imaginary dog and doing a bit of howling.

Oh the fun I'd have with this!

So would I, if I believed that they were just obstinate, arrogant, selfish people with absurd ideas - but it sounds (very clearly to me, from the OP's description) like at least one of them (if not both) have serious MH issues. To goad them and exploit that for fun would be just like kicking a lame puppy.