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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Why do my neighbours insist on sitting in their front garden?

344 replies

vnk21 · 02/06/2021 10:51

I am sure this makes me unreasonable but the incessant noise is giving me the rage.

I WFH, in an upstairs room at the front of the house. Today it's about 26 degrees here so I have the windows open. And all I can here is next door.

There's currently an entire family of them outside (mum, dad, and various kids). The parents have garden chairs out in the front garden and the kids are kicking a ball around - all of them are making a load of noise. Plus every time anyone walks past they have to engage them in conversation.

The houses in this street have small front gardens, Theirs is paved, and the size of 1 large car. Their back garden is at least twice the size. Why would you not sit out there?!

I'm not expecting silence, but the incessant shouting/screaming is so bloody irritating - especially when one of them goes indoors and they carry out a yelled conversation from the house to outside! First thing this morning it was lovely, birdsong and (because it is a relatively busy road) cars going past. But their noise is far more irritating than cars going past.

There's no solution other than closing the windows (and sweating in the heat) is there? Or hoping for rain.

I appreciate it's only a week and the schools will be back next week (so at least I should get some quiet 9-3), but I'm concerned they're going to be like this for the whole 6 weeks holiday which will drive me mad!

OP posts:

DeflatedGinDrinker · 04/06/2021 01:16

Can you not go in to work?

DeflatedGinDrinker · 04/06/2021 01:18

Sorry, just read you can't

category12 · 04/06/2021 06:28

I think you need to learn to zone out their noise. (Yes it is possible).

At the moment you're laser focused on it, listening out for it and driving yourself crazy.

You need to accept it, like you accept the noise of traffic, and be a bit more zen.

People are annoying, but they're just living their lives.

DysmalRadius · 04/06/2021 07:33

For those who do not know physics, sounds are airwaves that act like punching, it is a real physical action. Nobody wants to be punched incessantly, but that is what noise does, it is a physical assault, however minor.

This is my favourite thing that I've ever read on here!

Burgess67A · 04/06/2021 08:12

You can get cds of rain/thunder or waves crashing. Could you play them with headphones in ?

starlight13 · 04/06/2021 08:46

If they have everything concreted over (no lawn or foliage) and they are sitting in the front garden, then they are chavs- simple. They will always be like this and have no manners or social awareness.
When it's raining, they probably entertain guests in their downstairs toilet or hallway as they are unaware as to what a reception room/area is.
LBH - to all sit out the front by the road - why would you?

inmyslippers · 04/06/2021 12:15

to all sit out the front by the road - why would you?

^^ so I can supervise my 4 year old and chat to my neighbours. Can't tell if the first part of your post is a parody.

Bluesheep8 · 04/06/2021 12:16

But if there's a lawn and foliage then it's permissable?

LST · 04/06/2021 13:22

@starlight13

If they have everything concreted over (no lawn or foliage) and they are sitting in the front garden, then they are chavs- simple. They will always be like this and have no manners or social awareness. When it's raining, they probably entertain guests in their downstairs toilet or hallway as they are unaware as to what a reception room/area is. LBH - to all sit out the front by the road - why would you?

Christ. God I feel so sorry for people like you.

Bluesheep8 · 05/06/2021 07:52

to all sit out the front by the road - why would you?

Er, well I would because my front garden doesn't face onto a road. Not all front gardens do. There is an assumption on here that ALL front gardens face a road which is a bit silly really.

category12 · 05/06/2021 08:06

And the front garden thing is a red herring anyway, because op said part of the reason she doesn't want to change which room she works in, is because sometimes the neighbours children are in the back garden making noise.

So really it's the fact the neighbours make noise and have fun at all while she's wfh.

The front garden thing was just something to bring out the raging snobs

Bluesheep8 · 05/06/2021 08:22

The front garden thing was just something to bring out the raging snobs

Well it worked very well

Original poster

vnk21 · 05/06/2021 12:15

If I had posted saying I was working at the back of the house, most replies would have said I should expect to be disturbed by garden noise, and work at the front.

In establishing my office at the front of the house, meaning the least disruption to us as a household in terms of repurposing rooms etc, I didn't expect - given that our front gardens are basically driveways, and rear gardens significantly larger, plus the fact we live on a busy road - that the entire family next door would be camping out on their driveway all day long. Who would expect that? It's not a thing round here that people generally do. We live on roads with cars going up and down all day so it's not safe for children to play on, we have large back gardens. So people sit in those.

And it's not a matter of having fun. They are entirely inconsiderate of anyone else around them. There are several other families with children (including the family in the house attached to mine) yet they are the only ones I hear. The only ones who continuously shout, scream, squeal and yell all day long. They're insufferable. Every conversation has to be yelled, at the highest volume. Whether it's common or chavvy is by the by, but I don't think anyone can doubt their behaviour is rude and ignorant.

I did also mention I have hearing issues. A lot of noise is quite muffled to me. For them to sound noisy gives some indication of how loud they are actually being!

OP posts:

llizzie · 05/07/2021 01:20

Any chance you want to move to a silent zone in Oxfordshire? I am about to market mine.

Maggiesfarm · 05/07/2021 01:25

You're not unreasonable at all. It seems a very strange thing to do, being 'on show' for passers by and a child kicking a ball around. Back gardens are for sitting and playing in, not the front.

DeeCeeCherry · 05/07/2021 01:34

Likely a see and be seen thing.

You'll have to get some earphones

maras2 · 05/07/2021 01:46

Why resurrect a month old zombie thread ?

memberofthewedding · 05/07/2021 02:13

Get some ear plugs and an electric fan. Or stream loud music to cover the noise.

Justilou1 · 05/07/2021 04:16

Ugh… they are absolutely “Performance Neighbouring” for the benefit of the whole street for some reason. “Look at us! Look at how happy and close we are as a faaaaaamily!!!” Bleurgh! Even if you had the space to move your gear out to the back of the house, this lot would follow you like cigarette smoke.

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