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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Bloody outdoor Christmas lights!!!

141 replies

ThornAmongstRoses · 01/12/2020 22:48

One of the houses opposite mine has put Christmas lights up all over the front of the house - which admittedly looks really pretty.

However, they leave them on all through the night, on one of the flashing settings, and my bedroom is like Blackpool Illuminations Sad

I’ve got continuous bright blue, red, green and white flashes of light coming through my curtains, under my curtains and around the sides of my curtains.

It’s so hard to sleep Sad

This is the 3rd night in a row now, I’m shattered, I’ve already had enough and the thought of this going on for another 4 weeks is killing me.

I know it’s their house to do with as they please....but it’s 22.45pm and surely it’s just considerate towards all the neighbours (I won’t be the only one affected by this) to at least turn your lights off overnight?

Am I being a humbug?

I’m going to have to buy some black out blinds aren’t I...

OP posts:
Janaih · 01/12/2020 23:32

Last summer my neighbour had a squeaky side gate that kept me up all night. I got myself all worked up, thinking how can they not realise how annoying it is, moaned to deep sleeping dh about it many a time. Then one day I was feeling brave so collared neighbour going to work. He apologised and put some wd40 on it. Nobody likes confrontation but if you ask politely it usually solves the problem

Lou98 · 01/12/2020 23:33

I'd say it's likely they just don't realise that they're annoying people, if nobody has said anything to them and they don't notice inside their house, it's likely they just haven't thought. As PP said, could be they've not got a timer and forget to turn them off.

Just go and talk to them, never understand why people don't just talk to each other anymore, fair enough if you'd already been over and they refused or were really rude etc but why is this not people's first thoughts!

Failing that, an eye mask will solve your problems.

Original poster
ThornAmongstRoses · 01/12/2020 23:34

They’ve gone off!!

.....now worried the neighbour is an MN member Grin

At least now I can try and get some sleep Grin

OP posts:
PyongyangKipperbang · 01/12/2020 23:44

I would think that someone else has been round and mentioned it!

I am a proper Grinch about putting up decs early, every single year there are photos on SM from mid November and I dont get it. I really dont! By the time Xmas rolls around they are no longer special, so why do it?!

But this year, whatever gets people through is ok by me, and its actually made the old Grinch smile to see them! But the equivalent of the riot squad with all lights flashing outside my bedroom windows would piss me off too!

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 01/12/2020 23:48

Glad they've gone off! Maybe they were looking at their smart meter and were horrified at the cost.

I quite like when people have their lights up, but the blue flashing ones are annoying. I always panic if I'm driving and see them because I assume it's a police car.

maggiethecat · 01/12/2020 23:52

serious waste of energy!!!

I second a good quality sleep mask if it happens again - probably makes sense to get one in advance just in case they forget to turn them off and they're not using a timer.

PyongyangKipperbang · 01/12/2020 23:54

I do wonder how people can afford the electricity for them!

There is a house around the corner from my DP and they have HUGE blow up Santas, Snowmen etc and enough lights to make Blackpool look amatuerish. How the hell they can afford to run them is beyond me!

ConcernedAboutWarrington · 01/12/2020 23:54

Jeepers unless they appear to be violent criminals just talk to them!

"Hi neighbour! We really love your lights. In fact we probably see them more than you do! The only thing is, and I don't know if you realise, but they really light up our bedroom at night... would you be able to turn them off later on at night please? And thanks again, they really do look smashing! Happy Christmas!

Lalliella · 02/12/2020 00:07

Talk to them! FFS, does no-one talk to their neighbours anymore?

notangelinajolie · 02/12/2020 00:08

I get that you don't like flashing lights and totally sympathise with you because my neighbours have some blue ones that look like the emergency services have landed.
But what I don't get is how can you see them when your eyes are shut?

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 02/12/2020 00:10

Talk to them.

Just ask them to put them on a timer to go off at 11pm

NoSquirrels · 02/12/2020 00:19

This is the 3rd night in a row

The only thing you're unreasonable about is that you didn't go round after the first night!

We have lights on but a) very wide road and b) no flashing and c) on a timer to shut off automatically.

I would not get the hump about someone asking me to turn them off earlier. It does remind me of that Christmas movie though where the neighbours compete...

squeekums · 02/12/2020 00:20

Ours go off between midnight and 1am, when we go to bed
Being in aus it isnt even dark at 9pm. Most families leave home at 9 to go light hunting

People asking how we afford the electricity
LEDs run cheap, some solar ones run free. Our heating and cooling cost more to run

Duemarch2021 · 02/12/2020 00:29

Do they actually keep them on ALL night? Or do they turn them off when they sleep which is obviously later than you?

Maybe they sleep at midnight and turn them off before they sleep.. they probably think they are spreading cheer but yeah if they are causing you this much stress maybe you could ask them if they will turn them off at 10... personally i wpuldnt have the balls.. and would probably hang a blanket over my curtains or something lol

If it is ALL night then god they are being unreasonable.. why would you even do that... fire hazzard and waste of electricity..

veeeeh · 02/12/2020 00:35

So fkn tacky if left on all night, but they have to pay the electric bill.

It's alright up to about 10 or so, after that they are taking the piss.

I'd be over there and very kindly and neighbourly asking them to turn them down at ten or so.

If they ignore you. Put up a non Christmas strobe light focused on their house.

Surely other neighbours are not happy either. It really is provocative after a certain hour say nine or ten or so. So if they continue after that they are twats. Or wannabe kids.

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 02/12/2020 01:00

Why should she spend her money on blackout blinds - the neighbours should have a bit of cop on. And basic consideration for others. I'd definitely say something if it continues, hopefully they've got the message now though.

ladybird69 · 02/12/2020 01:15

They’re for children surely they should go off at a reasonable hour 10pm.

BlackCatShadow · 02/12/2020 02:57

@ladybird69

They’re for children surely they should go off at a reasonable hour 10pm.
They're not just for children!! I love driving around looking at the Christmas lights! But, I do agree that they should be switched off at a reasonable hour. Hopefully, your problem has been solved now, OP.
sofiaaaaaa · 02/12/2020 03:03

I live in an area where it seems like residents are competing against each other for the best light display! Some are very extravagant and extra. Luckily none of my direct neighbours are like this, but I do wonder how the neighbours of some of these houses cope!

mathanxiety · 02/12/2020 04:31

I was going to agree that yes, you are a humbug. But I think you are actually closing in on Grinch territory here, along with a lot of others..

Get yourself a cheap sleep mask.

Oblomov20 · 02/12/2020 04:48

I assumed everyone had their lights on a timer that went off at 10pm, these days. Why would you NOT?

ClaireP20 · 02/12/2020 05:35

Inconsiderate arseholes, what's the matter with people who do this?! I feel for you OP. I would have to ask them to turn them off xx

happystrummer · 02/12/2020 05:40

Magic Blackout Blinds is a roll of black plasticy stuff that is perfect for temporary black out necessity situations. I use it and it really blacks out superbly and can reuse a few times ...no tape etc needed trust me you won't see a thing

www.magicblackoutblind.co.uk/

Girlzroolz · 02/12/2020 06:03

My neighbours have similar. In fact 2 big red flashing ones face directly into our lower floor windows, and no one but us gets to see them. Not them, not the street, not even Santa. It does seem a bit pointed.

For 2 months every year I feel like I’m living in a 1970’s brothel.

Bah humbug.

They have an issue with one of our trees (not anywhere near them, but attracts bats to the fruit, which they hate). I’m sure the brothel lights are payback. I might need to train the local bats to pry open their fuse box. Halo

Original poster
ThornAmongstRoses · 02/12/2020 06:19

Well I’ve just woke up, looked out the curtains and the lights are still on, just not flashing. I guess when I thought they’d been turned off last night they hadn’t, the setting must just have been changed to put them on static.

At least I know the static ones aren’t disturbing and I might use that as a starting point when I talk to them later.

Agreeing with everyone about the cost too.

In my crescent there are 15 houses going around in a horseshoe shaped layout, and 5 of them have lots of outdoor lights that stay on all day and night. I’m just not sure why they are left on all through the night - it’s not like we have any passing traffic with drivers who can admire them.

If speaking to them doesn’t go down very well I will look into getting a black out blind or mask (or I might take some scissors to the wires and cut off the electricity supply to the bloody things).

OP posts:
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