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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

No Swimming Pool After 8pm - AIBU?

213 replies

Varala · 31/07/2020 18:28

We had a swimming pool built (outdoor) last spring which has been great fun for DD and DH (I’m not much of a swimmer), especially during lockdown.

We do have a large garden, but it is bordered by three other nearby houses. Two just by the garden, but one of the houses is up against one of the far walls of the garden, by the pool.

Earlier today, a note was found shoved under DH’s windscreen wiper (not sure what’s wrong with the letter box, but hey ho). It is signed “your neighbours” and requests that we not use the pool after 8pm as they are being disturbed by shouting and splashing.

Very rarely is the pool in use that late in the evening anyway, but on the rare occasion it is, there is certainly not any shouting (though a bit of splashing can’t be helped). Are the neighbours just jealous that we have a pool? I’m fuming and ready to go round each of the neighbours individually to discuss, but DH has told me to drop it and they’ll let it go. AIBU to think it’s nobody else’s business what we do with our pool?

OP posts:
amylou8 · 31/07/2020 18:52

I'd go out in my bikini at 8.01 tonight, for a solid hour of slashing and shrieking just to be an arse! 8 is too early to be complaining about reasonable garden noise. 9 or 10 in the week and 10 or 11 at the weekend.

TheEmojiFormerlyKnownAsPrince · 31/07/2020 18:52

Miseries. Just ignore them

Bishybarnybee · 31/07/2020 18:52

How near to their house is the pool? Because if it's a nice day and they have their windows open, it may feel like you are in their living room. I can see how that might impinge on them feeling relaxed in their own home. Especially if the pool isn't particularly near your own windows.

I think we need a thread diagram!

Elouera · 31/07/2020 18:52

I'd hardly think its jealousy- what an odd thought Confused. They are obviously annoyed! Do they have a baby or toddlers they are trying to settle at at that time? SEN children?

Neighbours to my mum have a large pool, also along her fence line next to her bedroom. The neighbours do stop the splashing and squeals before the legal time, BUT, its incredibly annoying late in the evenings- esp if she has gone to bed early.

She can't enjoy a quiet garden, the splashes from their pool have killed the grass on her side of the fence (yes, it gets splashed over the fence!) and she is sick of returning their balls that fly over. Including one hitting her on the head when she was gardening!

I agree that 8pm is early in summer, BUT, they obviously have reasons for going to the trouble of writing a note.

Original poster
Varala · 31/07/2020 18:56

@Bishybarnybee

How near to their house is the pool? Because if it's a nice day and they have their windows open, it may feel like you are in their living room. I can see how that might impinge on them feeling relaxed in their own home. Especially if the pool isn't particularly near your own windows.

I think we need a thread diagram!

Their house is a maybe two metres behind the wall, which is a good three metres away from our pool in the first place. It is enough distance that nobody could consider my daughter to be “shrieking” directly into their bedroom.

It is obviously sour grapes, because we even paid to rebuild their wall when we built the pool, so it’s surprising they would suddenly kick up such a stink!

OP posts:
BlankTimes · 31/07/2020 18:58

On the face of it, it does sound like a spurious complaint.

OP, you say there's no shouting etc, but if you are near/in your house and the neighbours are very close to your pool, your hearing of the noise and theirs could be very different. Also bear in mind you never hear your own family's noise like other people do.

I'd go and sit near the pool when it was in use to hear the level of noise for myself, over a couple of weeks.

That way, I'd know whether the neighbours had a valid complaint or not.

dontdisturbmenow · 31/07/2020 18:59

there is certainly not any shouting
Of course not, there are just making it up because...it's fun to make something like this up about your neighbours.oh wait, no, it's because they are jealous!

There's plashing but it's well known that kids who splash never shout when they do.

How about you appreciate you are a nuisance to your neighbours and accept that their request is very reasonable?

CourtneyLurve · 31/07/2020 19:00

Five metres from a pool isn't that far! I'd be annoyed at the noise, too. It isn't unreasonable for you to ask the kids to use quiet voices after 8 PM.

chrislilleyswig · 31/07/2020 19:00

Ah that old chestnut. They're "jealous". Course they are Grin

Harrykanesrightsock · 31/07/2020 19:02

Goodness people are so intolerant of others. Happy noise at 8pm in a neighbours garden would not bother us at all. I love the sound off summer, mowed gardens, hedge trimming, bbqs. Pool splashing would Make me smile. Grumpy buggers.

NerrSnerr · 31/07/2020 19:02

I think they're probably being noisier than you're letting on. The whole jealousy argument just makes you feel better about it.

terracottapot · 31/07/2020 19:02

Why not have a nice rowdy game of Twister in the garden this evening instead?

Original poster
Varala · 31/07/2020 19:02

@dontdisturbmenow

there is certainly not any shouting Of course not, there are just making it up because...it's fun to make something like this up about your neighbours.oh wait, no, it's because they are jealous!

There's plashing but it's well known that kids who splash never shout when they do.

How about you appreciate you are a nuisance to your neighbours and accept that their request is very reasonable?

You are rude and there is no need for it.

We are not “nuisance neighbours”, what an unfair and judgemental comment to make.

OP posts:
maybelou · 31/07/2020 19:02

My neighbour have a pool and the kids spend ALL day screaming their heads off, it drives me mad, I don't know why the parents don't ask them to play quietly. I don't mind the sound of splashing but the screaming grates my nerves - I think it depends how loud your family is being when using it. If out there dive-bombing the water, screaming and shrieking 'Mum look at me!!!!' constantly then yeah, pack it in.

slashlover · 31/07/2020 19:03

How close is the pool to your house OP?

Manteo · 31/07/2020 19:03

So your pool is 5 metres from their house? That's pretty close!

opinionatedfreak · 31/07/2020 19:04

How old is your DD?

I think an adult/ lane swim later in the evening is fine (when I lived really close to my gym I often swam about 9pm) but your mention of splashing and the neighbours reference to shouting makes me wonder if it is being used for horsing about which seems a bit inappropriate at that time in the evening.

PrivateD00r · 31/07/2020 19:05

From the info you have given, I definitely think they are jealous. How lovely to have your own private pool and what great timing. Continue to enjoy it and don't give it a 2nd thought.

choli · 31/07/2020 19:06

@MissTemple

I suspect you may be underestimating the noise, kids in pools usually equals screaming.

Having said that I’d wouldn’t leave a note on your car.

I agree Kids seem to find it necessary to shriek at the top of their lungs around water. I think 9pm is a reasonable time to knock it off, but that would be my choice, not the neighbors' dictation.
Notfeelinggreattoday · 31/07/2020 19:08

If its not every night then ignore them

category12 · 31/07/2020 19:08

You'd be daft to go round and discuss it with everyone or anyone.

Just live your life and ignore it.

LilyPond2 · 31/07/2020 19:09

8pm on a summer evening is too early to expect silence from neighbours. I would just ignore.

JamesArthursEyelashes · 31/07/2020 19:09

I don’t think it will be jealousy, they just sound miserable. Many people think that they should only be able to hear themselves and birds. Ignore them, throw their letter in the bin.

Enjoy the pool..I would love to get in a pool right now.

BackwashOfEffluent · 31/07/2020 19:10

@dontdisturbmenow

there is certainly not any shouting Of course not, there are just making it up because...it's fun to make something like this up about your neighbours.oh wait, no, it's because they are jealous!

There's plashing but it's well known that kids who splash never shout when they do.

How about you appreciate you are a nuisance to your neighbours and accept that their request is very reasonable?

GUYS

the neighbour has arrived

neatknottedfinger · 31/07/2020 19:11

We are not “nuisance neighbours”, what an unfair and judgemental comment to make.

You are annoying your neighbours and the shouting and splashing from your pool is a nuisance to them. Therefore, like it or not, you are a nuisance neighbour. You don't get to decide if you are a nuisance neighbour, your neighbours do and they have made that decision.

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