To think neighbour isn’t nit picking for the sake of it?

[EatGrassAndPuke]

Detached houses. “Next door” is actually sideward on to us and we share the driveway. DH our Christmas lights on the outside of our house before Christmas. You can change the “light pattern” from just on all the time to slow twinkling and flashing. DD likes the flashing so we tend to have that one on. Neighbour has not mentioned it all over Christmas.

Last night we had the flashing pattern on. Neighbour has just stopped me on driveway to ask when we’re planning on taking the Christmas lights down as the flashing supposedly causes her bedroom to flash and prevents them getting to sleep. I asked why she’s not mentioned it until now so she said her DH is back at work today so they’ve “put up with it” but now he needs to be able to get to sleep on a night.

We have “history” with these neighbours and do not get on. AIBU to think this is just another excuse for them to start? We wasn’t planning on taking them down until Sunday.

@KaptainKaveman get over yourself with the grammar. Does it really make you feel better about yourself?

You say DD likes the flashing but how often is she looking at them?
Just leave them off.

Yabvu. Your neighbour was extremely fair putting up with it until now.
Why are they set til midnight? Who needs flashing lights on at midnight? 10pm would be plenty and would have allowed your neighbours to get to sleep at a decent time.

Your neighbours sound VERY patient if they waited until after Christmas, flashing lights until midnight? You are so unreasonable.

Yes, put the damn things down, and next year keep it on constant. You can have them twinkle for 1 hour between 5 and 6 if you must, but not all evening. Is your little darling really up until midnight to admire the lights?

and yes PinkCrayon lights ARE a disturbance in a country who stupidly doesn't know what shutters are.

Don’t people have black out blinds on their bedrooms?

Turn them off op.

It does Cacaca . HTH.

@StreetwiseHercules blackout curtains don't block out the like that comes in above the curtains

Just to add to the crowd...
Our neighbours have similar to you (not flashing thank godness) and where it is lights up our kitchen and bedroom, especially now they have those strobe ones. Me and dp literally had the "when are they going to take them down" discussion. They arent arses it just happens to be our house is at the wrong angle, and we arent going to tell them no christmad lights at all so we live with it until it starts to grate

I agree that midnight is far too late.

Most lights now have a six hour timer and people who are considerate will have them go on at 4/5 and finish by 10/11. Midnight is ridiculous.

They've been very reasonable to not mention it over Christmas. You don't have to take them down, but turn them off at a earlier time.

No one should have to put blackout blinds AND curtains on every single window to get some sleep. I have got some on bedroom windows, but there's still light coming from the stairs and hallway windows, and I like to be able to see outside!

The OP's neighbours shouldn't need to spend a fortune on new curtains because of inconsiderate lights.

StreetwiseHercules people often don't need nor want blackout curtains. Many people live in locations where no artificial light shines into their houses. Certainly no flashing lights!

Curious to know what the history is ?

YABU

The fact you’ve asked why they haven’t mentioned it until now makes you sound like a bit of a dick. No wonder they have a problem with you.

Very inconsiderate of you. The best you can do now is to apologise and to keep your lights set to ‘constant’ i.e. not flashing, turning them off at a decent hour. And next year, remember to be more neighbourly 😳

I’d be really annoyed with you @EatGrassAndPuke Even given a ‘history’ surely the fact that her husband is going back to work is enough of a reason to take the lights down.

So are you taking them down OP?

If you were my neighbour you'd have taken the them down the same day they went up. You deserve an ASBO.

OP you can't be serious! Why would you set them on the most annoying setting? Especially knowing it shines directly onto your neighbour due to them being sideward?

You sound like a PITA.

You're very lucky to have polite neighbours who have waited until after Christmas to have mentioned the lights.

The fact that they asked about your plans rather than complaining earlier or telling you that they need to come down, does suggest that they've had problems with you before.

I would have been so stressed by now if I'd had lights flashing into my bedroom for a month. Can't see previous posts on my phone but one pp asked in disbelief, Doesn't everyone have blackout curtains in their bedroom? They need to remember the MN mantra that not everyone is the same as you. Some people have blackout curtains and others (myself included) don't.

Also Op I would take them down now, it's not Christmas anymore and she has waited till the end of the new year to tell you. Its not like she has tried to ruin your fun. You had them up for a long enough period.

I would compromise by switching them on to static and leave them on until Sunday (but advise them to get better curtain lining for next Christmas ).

I don't like flashing Christmas lights but find twinkling and static are fine but I accept that it is Christmas and different people like different lights.

The fact you’ve asked why they haven’t mentioned it until now makes you sound like a bit of a dick.

In fairness, they might just be very passive. This comment is what makes it seem like OP is a bit of a dick:

AIBU to think this is just another excuse for them to start? We wasn’t planning on taking them down until Sunday.

Still everyone can make an error. Doubtless OP will be back shortly to acknowledge being unreasonable and say she's taking the lights down.

I’ve messaged DH and he said he isn’t faffing with the settings for the sake of a few days.

The history is mainly around parking (they don’t like us parking in our actual parking space on the drive!) and their vicious dog