To think this is out of order?

[Farontothemaddingcrowd]

The children next door play football all day with their dad. A few times they have knocked on our door to ask for their ball when it has come into our garden. We have chucked it back over, but really they shouldn't be knocking on anyway! We have noticed our garden gate off the latch a couple of times and one time one of our dogs got out! Luckily we noticed in time. We have a husky and a shitzhu who like to play out there.

Today the ball came over when we were sitting in the garden. Before we could chuck it over, the boy next door opened our gate! On seeing us, he ran off, leaving the gate wide open. AIBU in being quite annoyed now? They should not be coming into our garden under normal circumstances and there is also the risk to our dogs!

Bolt the gate, don’t answer the door and don’t throw them back over for a few days. They will soon run out of balls and get the message.

They insistently knocked on for ages last time and we had to hide! Yes gate is bolted now and I will allow the husky to eat the balls...

sorry but noone else shuld even be tuching their football if you do wash yo9ur hands straight away

Are you on good terms with your neighbours generally. Is this just kicking off now because of the virus.

I don't think we are on bad terms now and nothing, apart from the football (!) is kicking off. I just don't like the ball coming over repeatedly and the kids thinking they can just walk into our garden.

If your bolt is stiff WD49 should sort that out.

WD40 that should say.

They insistently knocked on for ages last time and we had to hide! Yes gate is bolted now and I will allow the husky to eat the balls...

If the parents dare to ask why you don't answer the door just tell them that you can't always hear the bell as you've been taking the opportunity to have a bit of 'quiet time' in the bedroom each day... !

You'll throw the ball back over when you get up next time!

Why didn’t you answer the door when they knocked for ages? We are in lockdown. You were not likely to have been out. Can you set some ground rules? I would tell the parents they are bloody out of order for letting their kid come in your garden.

That should shut them up (and stop them coming over )

You shouldn't have to be at their beck and call every hour of the day, even if you are all stuck at home at the moment. I don't blame you for not wanting to jump up and answer the door or hurry about to get their ball back to them ASAP, especially when it's happening so often!

Very annoying that they were just letting themselves into your garden and letting your dog out!

My neighbours were doing the same. Told them that I have coronavirus (which is true!) and that they might not want me or anyone in our household touching their ball.

No balls have come over since!

I didn't answer when they knocked for ages because it was the third time that day and also - we are in lockdown. I should not have to answer my door.

Ha ha to 'quiet time' and also telling them I might have coronavirus . Though they can't be that bothered about coronavirus given that they are happy to walk into our garden.

I might even go so far as to 'allow' one of the dogs to puncture that ball 'because its what he does with balls - sorry'

@Mummyoflittledragon:

Bath/shower
On the loo
Dying my hair
Eating
Working
On a FaceTime call with family
Listening to music with headphones

All reasons I wouldn’t open the door when I was home!

Also the kids don't stand 2 metres away when they knock on, so I would prefer they didn't. Our kids can't even see their grandparents, so a ball is not that important.

Could you tell the parents to not let the kids come round and you will throw anything back at the end of every day but not multiple times a day.

They really should get some of that high netting to put round the garden if they're kicking balls around

The two dogs in question...looking happy to puncture any stray balls that come their way

Put a camera up and then report to police for trespassing

I would feel that was a bit extreme. It is a nice area and I want to stay on good terms. It's just irritating. I think the police have better things to do!

We have about 20 balls a day in our garden from next door. Varying from footballs to the light golfball sized ones
Normally I throw them over if I am in the garden.
As they are totally ignoring social distancing rules I told them a few days ago that they wilk now get them back once this is all over. However long that may last.

The parents know, because they were out there with the kids. So probably not worth speaking to them.

Of course it's worth speaking to them

Just tell them about the gate and the kids not being socially distant. Then perhaps tell them not to allow the kids to knock (if you really don't want them to) and that you'll throw the balls back when you spot them.

Pop the balls and say the dogs got to them before you did. This actually did happen to me on a few occasions. Three or four popped balls will make them think more carefully in the future.

It is hard to talk to the parents at the moment because of social distancing. I don't want to knock on. Easier just to bolt the gate, surely.