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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want my partner to have fewer Zoom meetings in the garden?

112 replies

Lunificent · 30/03/2021 21:39

Admittedly, we’ve only had one nice day so far this year so this isn’t yet an issue. However, last summer he was often having back to back work meetings in the garden for large parts of the day.
The reason it bothers me mainly is that I feel it’s not fair to the neighbours. He’s not saying anything confidential but it’s loud enough to be heard and it’s not just chit chat. I wouldn’t want to hear it if I was them. I’ve suggested not that he entirely stops doing this, but that if there are going to be many throughout the day, that he is a little more considerate.
His argument is that he is not breaking the law and it’s up to him what he does in his own garden so he will use the garden for work meetings at any time of the day he chooses (obv. He wouldn’t disturb anyone late at night).
So am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 30/03/2021 22:05

I imagine the neighbours could play music/cut the grass/put shouty kids on the trampoline etc etc if he's driving them crackers.
As could you.....

malmi · 30/03/2021 22:05

I've been doing calls and meetings on the back patio but with a headset on when I speak it is quieter than talking to someone next to me. The mic is right by my face. I'm sure none of the neighbours mind. I often see them doing the same thing.

Mistressofmany · 30/03/2021 22:05

He can never, ever complain about anything the neighbours choose to do in their gardens though.

IstandwithJackieWeaver · 30/03/2021 22:06

Inconsiderate. You take the work environment into other people's space, their space at home.

N51BU · 30/03/2021 22:10

I heard about a neighbour once who used to start up his petrol strimmer and leave it on tickover as he had annoying, loud neighbour's

Fair play to him

Sweettea1 · 30/03/2021 22:10

He can't talk in his garden? How ridiculous do the neighbours not talk in their garden either. Go ask them if it's upsetting them if so then tell him to lower his voice but you got to expect some level of chat/noise coming from neighbours garden. I think he should beable to carry on In garden.

Gumandbass · 30/03/2021 22:10

@QuimReaper

elizabeth I hate people like you. So do all of your immediate neighbours. They call you 'that inconsiderate cunt at number twenty three'.
What a strong reaction to someone using their garden. If you are lucky enough to have a garden you are entitled to use it however you like. My neighbour does lots of work video calls in the garden, doesn't bother me one bit, because I'm a reasonable person.
SleepingStandingUp · 30/03/2021 22:14

Are you home at the same time?

CandyLeBonBon · 30/03/2021 22:14

Is this him op?

BackforGood · 30/03/2021 22:17

Exactly how loudly is he talking on these meetings ? Confused

You do understand that you don't have to shout to the person on the other side of the call ?
I sometimes have Teams meetings for work, or zoom calls for social or hobby / volunteering, and my voice is no louder when I speak into a laptop than it is when I speak to someone sitting across a patio table from me - which wouldn't be loud enough to be heard on next door's patio or garden.

I mean, I don't work in the garden as I find it hard to see the screen, but I genuinely can't see how there could be any noise complaints.

AcrossthePond55 · 30/03/2021 22:29

If I were a neighbour I'd blast 'Stars and Stripes Forever' or the 1912 Overture with the speakers facing his direction as soon as I heard him.

It's rude. Just as rude as loud conversations that can be over heard by random others out in public anywhere. Just because one is in one's back garden doesn't mean that the basic rules of manners don't apply.

bigbluebus · 30/03/2021 22:30

It's not like normal family or friends chatter or the sound of children playing though - it is really irritating. One of my neighbours worked from home a lot last Summer. He is some sort of engineer and took regular phone calls loudly in the garden. Having to listen to a one sided phone call giving step by step instructions on how to fix a fault on some sort of machine is not what I want to listen to in my garden. I'm hoping he's back out working now. I've only heard him once this week around 4pm but not at all today. Today was his other half playing her music loudly and singing along. Some people have no self awareness or consideration for their neighbours.

AcornAutumn · 30/03/2021 22:31

@Geamhradh

It's highly unprofessional for a start, let alone how irritating it will be for the neighbours.
This
longtompot · 30/03/2021 22:32

Yanbu op. We have a neighbour at the end of our garden who stands on his flats balcony and broadcasts his phone calls to us all.
I think it's different when there are a couple of people in a garden chatting as there are two sides to the conversation so the talking sort of lulls into the background. When it's one person on a phone it's one person talking, loudly if my neighbour, then silence, then loud talking again, and repeat.

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 30/03/2021 22:37

I find it annoying enough listening to my own DP’s one sided phone calls! Listening to next doors would drive me mad, but I think I’d passive aggressively get the mower out or play some music if he started getting annoying so maybe your H needs to listen out for anything that might be indicating he’s overstepped and is annoying the neighbours. If he’s not considering how annoying it might be then he might also miss the subtle cues that your neighbours will try before resorting to throwing things or posting anonymous notes through your door!

itbemay1 · 30/03/2021 22:39

Our NDN spent last summer on the phone to her mum/mates for the majority of the day, every sunny day. Very loud convos, sometimes you just want a little peace in the garden.

Dashel · 30/03/2021 22:40

I think I would get a phone call from my boss asking wtf was I doing working in the garden if I did this.

Babygotblueyes · 30/03/2021 22:44

there is a big difference between illegal and being a jerk. it is not illegal for me to call someone an idiot - but it is not very nice. Is he always inconsiderate?

KeyboardWorriers · 30/03/2021 22:44

It pisses me off when someone is sat in their garden for a zoom meeting with me. It's not very professional, the background noises are irritating and they always seem more distracted

Magnificentmug12 · 30/03/2021 22:45

So what? My neighbor does this, it doesn’t bother me, people make noise.

However the other neighbours have children with a disability and that noise I can’t stand so I put the radio on in my garden when they are out playing so I can’t hear them. They make a wailing noise, obviously not their fault but it sets me off and I physically can’t bear to hear it as it sounds like a child moaning in pain and I have issues with kids getting hurt so I don’t can’t listen to it as I find it upsetting and it sets of my anxiety a little as I just feel ‘danger’!

If your neighbours minded it they would put their music on so don’t worry.

Tomnooktoldmeto · 30/03/2021 23:17

I’m CEV I’ve been at home for a year now locked in with DH doing back to back meetings in the dining room for a year, DS and DD. doing A levels from home all year in lessons

I ventured into my garden today for 5 minutes peace and my twatty neighbour is doing fecking meetings in the garden even though he has a home office

Your husband is a selfish knob

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 30/03/2021 23:24

You sound like a very reasonable neighbour. He does not.

Cherrysoup · 30/03/2021 23:36

My garden is a little haven of peace, I would HATE your partner and I’d be asking for it to please stop before I went round the bend with the constant noise. A girl at the yard regularly has work phone calls, we share a storage area so I can’t avoid her. It’s ridiculous, am I meant to creep round making no noise while she’s on a work call? Why doesn’t she stay at work (2 minutes away) to have meetings?

I loathe people imposing their music on me in the garden, I think it’s incredibly inconsiderate.

Cherrysoup · 30/03/2021 23:37

If your neighbours minded it they would put their music on so don’t worry.

See, I wouldn’t, because I’m considerate and would hate to impact my neighbour’s in any way.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 30/03/2021 23:38

@Cherrysoup

If your neighbours minded it they would put their music on so don’t worry.

See, I wouldn’t, because I’m considerate and would hate to impact my neighbour’s in any way.

Plus the music wouldn't just impact the idiot you would be trying to punish, but the other innocent neighbours too.