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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect my new neighbour NOT to walk across my path & garden every morning??

48 replies

MascaraOHara · 10/10/2007 16:16

She moved in to my neighbour's house last weekend (he's moved in with his g/friend and is renting it out)

So far twice I have caught her close her front door and walk half across my path and then cut across my lawn (once I was even bent over doing dd's seat belt up)

I think it's just plain rude - our lawns/paths are joined and me and the bloke always will mow the others half when we are mowing our own etc but I just think how rude to just walk along my path (right in front of my winow) and over my lawn.

Also she had her washing machine on at about 4 in the morning the other day..

How long should I give her before I have words and how polite should I be?

OP posts:
meemar · 10/10/2007 17:05

Am I the only one who thinks this is a teeny weeny bit petty? It's only a lawn after all - not like she's walking over your prize rose bushes.

Maybe it's because we're renting, I don't feel the same sense of outrage!

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 10/10/2007 17:08

lol, I'm not about to grab her by the hair and knee her in the face (well maybe but you know)

I don't think I'd even mind so much if this was a habit that had crept in over time - starting with the odd day and building up but for christ sake it saves her about 5 paces.

and 10 minutes later when I drove down the road she was waiting at the bus stop so not even like she was late.

OP posts:
Upwind · 10/10/2007 17:18

Maybe you feel that having a tenant there at all lowers the tone

SquirBOOdle · 10/10/2007 17:18

I think it's rude to walk across your lawn! Especially if she is walking right past your window too!

I don't let my children run onto peoples gardens on the way to school...tis the same if you ask me.

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 10/10/2007 18:59

upwind, not sure if you are joking or not but the majority of the houses aurrounding me are rented because they are small with two double bedrooms close to a big management college. The majority of my neighbours are mature youngish married couples from overseas. So no, I don't think that house being rented lowers the tone.. it's what I will do with mine when I want to move on.

I think I'm bothered because it's lazy and rude. I never let my dd play on my heighbours half. She cut back across on her way in tonight too. bold as brass straight diagonally across my drive until the lawn (round my car), over the corner of my lawn and onto my path.

OP posts:
ChantillyLace · 10/10/2007 19:11

YANBU I have exactly the same thing here!

It is rude and disrespectful! I wouldn't dream of walking across someone's garden!

I used to bite my lip (very hard) but then I got so hacked off when someone rode across my lawn on their bike that I now comment, very loudly and apart from one ignoramus, they all seem to be getting the message!

ChantillyLace · 10/10/2007 19:12

SquirBOOdle - surprised you don't get neighboursplaying on your climbing frame!!

CaptainUnderpants · 10/10/2007 19:26

get some dog poo and dot it round the lawn , once stepped in never forgotten !!

SquirBOOdle · 10/10/2007 22:50

Oh I do, I do But not when DH is home, he scary

Just to explain we share a driveway with our neighbours, tis big with a 5 bar gate across. We do have separate gardens, but ours is much bigger than neighbours and so when all children are playing in the driveway, they garden share. Tis fine if a certain young man is playing nicely

ChantillyLace · 10/10/2007 23:12

What are you doing up so late SquirBOOdle? 'Tis well past your bedtime

SquirBOOdle · 10/10/2007 23:16

Tis the bleeding t'internets fault!! I was actually just calculating the number of hours sleep I may get now...considering DS3 has been up at 5.10, 3 mornings in a row Bless his little cotton socks

SquirBOOdle · 10/10/2007 23:17

I now officially blame mumsnet for the bags under my eyes

SquirBOOdle · 10/10/2007 23:18

...and DS3 of course...

ChantillyLace · 10/10/2007 23:49

But ds3 is so adorable, as are all of them, you can't blame him for too long!

MyTwopenceworth · 11/10/2007 06:53

I think it is because it is not fenced or marked in any way as yours, iyswim. It's psychological - no boundary - do you get me?

It is just an open bit of grass in front of the houses - NOT someone else's garden.

So either put a fence, a row of flowers, pots or some other marker to draw attention to the separation OR adopt her pov that it's a communal bit of grass and let your kids play on the lot! (and if she objects you have the perfect comeback - but you walk freely over it, so I naturally assumed you were happy with us both using it all)

I am very territorial, I understand that irrational anger! I HATE it when next doors kids walk along the wall at the front of my house. It's mine

I also get pissed off when someone parks in my space on the (public) road outside my house.

bozza · 11/10/2007 08:37

Still at least she doesn't drive on your garden like my old neighbours used to do.

Beelliesebub · 11/10/2007 09:01

How about saying "ERE....Get Off My Lawn" in a jokey and unconfrontational manner!!! and then if she keeps doing it wipe dog shit on her door handles....

GoodGollyMissMolly · 11/10/2007 09:02

Before we moved, my old neighbours used to park ON my drive and then get really arsey with me when DH (I dont drive) parked behind them
You can see why we moved.

That being said YANBU, it may be irrational but it is YOUR garden and I know how much it can grate on you. A bit of common coutesy goes a long way, and I hate it when neighbours start to take the p**s

I would try some of the suggestions such as putting up a fence, even a small one to mark out the bounderies, or a row of plant pots.

Or you could get/borrow a very large and scary looking dog and chain it up in the front with a very long chain

Sparkletastic · 11/10/2007 09:11

YANBU nor irrational - tis your private property and the lazy mare can bluddy walk on the bit that she is entitled to walk on. I'd go for the fake over-the-top sickly sweet approach as in 'Helloooooo I've been really looking forward to welcoming you to the neighbourhood and just in case you are a teensy bit confused THAT is your path and THIS is mine'

Original poster
MascaraOHara · 11/10/2007 10:58

lol, thanks all.

I've taken all of your ides into consideration and I think I'm going to go with my original bear trap solution.. I think I'd get some extra satisfaction from throwing the severed limb back on to her side

not really.. think I'm going to casually mention it to her when I next see her wearing a muddy track into my lawn making her way out in the morning

OP posts:
Original poster
MascaraOHara · 12/10/2007 11:48

Missed her this morning.

bear traps at dawn.

OP posts:
bettythebuilder · 12/10/2007 11:58

get a sprinkler on a sensor.
Less digging than a bear trap, and it works with cats, so why not naughty neighbours?

JillyE · 12/10/2007 14:23

lol!

YANBU - this would drive me mad too - I think bear traps or dog sh*t are the answer - once she's sunk her heels into it she just may avoid walking over it in the future!

And

lol. "That'll teach you"

can you tell I'm suffering hugely from PMT today and everything seems to bug me!

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