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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Probably petty as hell but AIBU? Diagram included!

139 replies

PettyCardboard · 03/03/2020 20:22

Our brown bin was lost/stolen and I have ordered a replacement and waiting for it to come.

DC recently got a large birthday present that came in a tall cardboard box. I have put said box outside propped up against the wall in our back yard whilst I wait for the new bin as there was no where in the house for it and I don't have a car to tip it at the moment.

The yard at the back of our house is owned by us, it's in our title deeds but our neighbours have right of way to access their backdoor (diagram attached!).

My neighbour has taken it upon herself to move this cardboard, more than once, and literally stand it against our back door so it blocks the door/falls into the house whenever you open the door.

I have already explained that I'm waiting for a new bin so I can get rid of it just a few days ago. It's been out there for no more than 5 days.

I get it may be a bit of an eyesore but it is 100% not blocking their access when propped in-between our black bin and wall as per the picture.

As the yard is technically ours, AIBU for 1. Leaving it there until the bin comes and 2. Asking her to bloody leave it alone?! I'd understand if I'd shoved a load of rubbish into the middle of the yard and left it there for months but this is neatly tucked away and I've already explained why it's there!

Probably petty as hell but AIBU? Diagram included!
OP posts:
FAQs · 03/03/2020 21:17

I like the suggestion someone made of writing on the box, although does she have a kitchen window you could draw a scary face on it with a huge grin and prop it against her window as a nice little wake up call in the morning. That’ll chock her on her sourflakes.

Lostkeyagain · 03/03/2020 21:18

Can you write “DO NOT MOVE” on said box?

FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack · 03/03/2020 21:19

Cut out little windows and a door and sit in it waiting for her to notice, then nod and smile as if nothing unusual is happening. Pretty please?

RosiePoseyPanda · 03/03/2020 21:22

Hire a clown to hide in it and jump out and say boo when she next moves it.

overnightangel · 03/03/2020 21:22

How tall is the box? Fold it down lengthways and post it thru their letter box (all 6 foot of it)

overnightangel · 03/03/2020 21:23

“ Cut out little windows and a door and sit in it waiting for her to notice, then nod and smile as if nothing unusual is happening. Pretty please?”

Ignore my post do this!!!

PettyCardboard · 03/03/2020 21:25

Maybe I could just say I'm bird watching.

OP posts:
Potkettlexx · 03/03/2020 21:25

She sounds like a headcase.

I mean has she not got anything better to do with her time than act like a kid pranking their mates ie... moving it to annoy you. WTH is the need?!

Just keep moving it back OP, but if I were you I would knock on the door (as it’s already awkward now, even if you dont say anything) and politely say-

“Hi there, I’m just wondering why you keep moving the box? I have explained why it’s there so I can’t understand why you keep moving it back? Thought it pop over to ask as I genuinely don’t know why?”

Aesopfable · 03/03/2020 21:27

I might get a few of those 3ft gnomes and line them up outside my backdoor as a sort of creepy deterrent

Not outside your door - line them up to create a straight path from her door to the yard exit. She only has right of way.

QuixoticQuokka · 03/03/2020 21:27

I wouldn't keep loose rubbish in my yard, I'd flatten it and put it behind or under the sofa or bed. If it doesn't affect the neighbour then it's not their business though.

Smellbow · 03/03/2020 21:27

What you need is a Garda Olaf:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/3837189-It-s-a-parking-one

PettyCardboard · 03/03/2020 21:28

line them up to create a straight path from her door to the yard exit. She only has right of way

Please stay inside the gnomes at all times.

OP posts:
mrsbyers · 03/03/2020 21:32

I’d break it down into small pieces and bag it personally

Nitpickpicnic · 03/03/2020 21:35

Fill it with bells, or slime. Actually bells and slime.

Hopefully you get alerted fast enough when she moves it, to see her legging it squelchily to her door.

Nitpickpicnic · 03/03/2020 21:37

Or just befriend the box properly, decorate it to match the seasons.

Or decorate it to look like a fancy coffin. Tell her you never know when it might come in handy Grin

TrainspottingWelsh · 03/03/2020 21:38

Excellent plan mrsbyers Op could then hang the bags tastefully from hanging basket brackets and on the discreet 3' gnomes.

Vanhi · 03/03/2020 21:40

I’d break it down into small pieces and bag it personally

Yes but that's what grown ups do. It would be much more fun to cover it in something clear but sticky and see what happens next time someone moves it. If you can get the culprit to glue themselves to it, so much the better. In fact all theft could be solved by surreptitiously supergluing thieves to whatever they're trying to nick.

isseywith4vampirecats · 03/03/2020 21:47

You could get a sharp knife slice the big box into flat smaller sections and stack it tidily against the wall where your bin normally goes with something heavy like a brick in front of it so it dosent fall over that way it wouldn't be in anyones way

Xmasfairy86 · 03/03/2020 21:52

Get loads more boxes. And gnomes.

ChicCroissant · 03/03/2020 21:53

If it's got damp it can't go in the recycling anyway (no damp cardboard allowed!) so unless you know of blazing sunshine on the way to dry it OP, you may be out of luck!

LemonFrenzy · 03/03/2020 22:09

Put a couple of bricks inside it so that it doesn't blow away in the wind of course...

Sparklfairy · 03/03/2020 22:10

Can you tie a bow on it and drop it round as a gift?

'Hi Neighbour, you seem to have a fascination with my box...'

Hippee · 03/03/2020 22:19

We have a rule in our house that the last person to touch a piece of litter is responsible for disposing of it ...

Brenna24 · 03/03/2020 22:19

Genius idea @Sparklfairy - bonus point it is now her box to dispose of and you don't have to worry about waiting for the bin to arrive any more.

DishingOutDone · 03/03/2020 22:25

Is she jealous cos you have a bin IN the yard, and her bin is, I presume, outwith?

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