Why can't you do something nice

[pissedoff2019]

Name changed as so outing.

We have an alleyway that is quite steep that leads to the primary school.

Struggle to get kids up it most days and it is well used. I decided it might be nice to make some clay shapes to make it a bit fun to walk up. Painted and covered them in PVA and stuck them up with industrial glue. They weren't great, helped by the kids but a bit of fun.

They have been up one day and half have already been pulled off. WHY would you let your primary school age kids do this in front of you and not say anything.

I didn't see it, I've heard from others what happened when they found out it was me, as I didn't broadcast it, as not entirely sure it is legal

I'm just really pissed off, tried to do something nice for the kids and people have ruined it. Got to tell my kid now, what has happened now and she will be gutted, she's only 5

I can't quite picture what you mean, but are you sure they've been pulled off rather than falling off when they've been played with?

Just shapes, hearts, stars and lady bugs made of clay and glued on about 10/15 steps apart for the kids to look at and walk to (just to keep them walking forward) and no they didn't fall off, as other mums said how lovely they were in the morning and then saw the kids pulling them off with the other (not to be approached) mums present. I'm guessing the other mums didn't say don't do that or weren't close enough or don't care as much as me

It's been a 'thing' for a few years now to decorate rocks and leave them in public place for others to find, they then take them and leave them elsewhere. The kids probably thought they'd found something similar.

I can't picture what you mean?
If they're not completely flat to the ground I would have thought they could be dangerous, easily slipped on, and painful if you fell on them.

Also if a child just saw them on the ground they might easily think they'd been dropped, and go to pick them up. If they come off with the children just picking at them, then they're not going to last anyway.

Maybe they didn’t like your decorations. Personally I think it’s a bit of an odd thing to do. I get where you were coming from but clay covered in PVA glue was never going to last very long and presumably they weren’t your walls that you were glueing them to?

You're sure it's not someone from the council who has taken them off, because I'm afraid I agree that it's not completely legal. I mean, you're unlikely to get charged with vandalism for it, but also, sticking things to public pathways with industrial glue is generally frowned upon.

You glued ornaments to the outdoors? The ground or the walls?

I've never seen anything like that. I'm sure they were nice (?) but you can't just go around sticking random stuff everywhere! Or am I being a miserable sod?

If something is left outside like that I'd say it's fair game isn't it?

I must say that I think it's a bit of an odd thing to do and hardly surprising they didn't last?!

They were super super glued to a fence that runs up the alleyway.

I have a photo of the shapes in my kitchen but I didn't take any on the wall.

(Hopefully) included two photos, one of the shapes and one of what I was going for but made of clay and more space out, although I really like it and might give it another go in the dead of night.

If it's an alleyway, did the walls or fences they were stuck to belong to people? Perhaps the house owners either side of the alley didn't take too kindly to you sticking stuff to their property?

Do some more and put them a bit higher up so still visible but out of reach for pulling off?

OP, I think what you did was lovely. Things like that are usually appreciated around schools.

What a shame there are so many miserable people around these days.

Agree that I'm not sure it's completely legal, hence the name change.

Also agree it's odd but it is a very miserable, dull and steep alleyway and I just wanted to put a bit of fun into the drudgery of the walk to school.

It's a mixture of council and neighbouring fences, asked one neighbour who thought it was a lovely idea, but don't know the others at the top end, so some criminal damage there, I guess.

Ok I'll take the Mumsnet ruling (and my OP) that people were always going to destroy them and I am a loon (even though he helped me stick them on)

I did them quite low as they were mainly for the smallies, they have a nursery up there too and there are at least three 2/3 year olds that I see, who have to walk up everyday and are not happy about it.

Just because you liked it doesn’t mean others will. They will think it’s equally within their rights to take down something they don’t like.

I would be pretty pissed off if someone glued lumps of clay to my fence.

They took them down, because they liked them!

It would have been 3 clay shapes on the neighbours fence which is pretty much falling into the alleyway and they don't seem so bothered about fixing it and constantly has nettles growing out of it, which I also pick up, as kids have been stung by them. I will probably get told now that I'm damaging their plants by removing the nettles.

Well then there no pleasing you! So the kiddies liked them and took them home? What are you going to do about that? Honestly think you are over thinking this but you did take this upon yourself

How do you know the fence doesnt belong to an elderly couple who are saving up to get it fixed or something. Seriously though you cant go around sticking clay stuff to peoples fences. Its their property, not yours.

What a really lovely thing to do! Why would anyone mind if they were stuck on the side of your fence that you can't see? And anyway you've said children we're seen pulling them off. No YANBU but unfortunately not all parents have the same values as us. Probably the same ones whose kids drop litter and they ignore. Or don't ensure that their kids wear bicycle helmets so yours will think its uncool to wear theirs. Sorry, gone off piste!

Ok ok ok some of you get me (thank you) for all you misery guts out there, how can I cheer up a miserable alleyway for the winter months to get the kids moving and exercising and enjoy their walk to school.

Over to you

"Why would anyone mind if they were stuck on the side of your fence that you can't see? And anyway you've said children we're seen pulling them of"

Because when people pull them off, the fence then gets damaged. I wouldnt like it. I paid a lot of money for our fence and it annoys me when the neighbour hangs stuff off it on his side.

I despair at some of the replies here...

Dear Op, I think they are amazing and look lovely. I imagine they would have brightened up the grim alleyway.

There are some horrid ppl on here.

How do you know its damaged when you can't see it from your side? I'm sorry but I'm pretty sure your neighbour has the right to do whatever they like on their side, they can oaint it pink if they like.

Absolutely lovely idea, OP. Your painted models look magical.

You're absolutely right - no one should be pulling them off the fences - they are obviously decorative, not to be taken by whoever walks past. And clearly not going to damage a fence, let alone one backing on to a dank alleyway.

Keep going and put them higher.. they really are lovely.