Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour asking us not to buy takeaways

249 replies

Ribrabrob · 09/09/2021 14:28

Very recently moved house and have no working oven (should be ready by Friday) so we’ve unfortunately been relying on takeaways/eating out. We are also still sorting things out and kitchen is one of the last things to do. Not ideal but the end is in sight.

Neighbour introduced themselves on the first day, seemed very nice and friendly.

Today I came home, coffee and sandwich in hand, to him calling me over and saying he’s noticed we’ve had a lot of takeaways since we’ve moved and could we not do so. Apparently his 8 year old daughter sees and asks why she can’t have one.

I explained the above and said we don’t really have much choice right now, but that from the weekend we should have an oven etc. he seemed ok about it.

He wasn’t rude when asking but aibu to think he’s very nosey? And that he can’t dictate what we eat?! For info, none of the takeaways have been delivered, all collected by us so it’s not like a delivery driver is knocking on his door or anything.

OP posts:
RubyGoat · 09/09/2021 15:01

I sympathise OP. When we moved house (start of the pandemic!) we had kitchen units, an instant pot, a kettle, & a toaster. We managed to get an electric hotplate, fridge freezer, an electric egg cooker, & a microwave after a month. The oven was delivered about 2 months after we moved in, but due to covid/gas pipe issues, wasn't installed for 10 months. We ate a lot of takeaways & ready meals!

Justmuddlingalong · 09/09/2021 15:01

So your temporary lack of kitchen absolves him from properly dealing with the demands of his 8 year old DD? What a grade A arsehole.

Hoppinggreen · 09/09/2021 15:02

I think you are being very unreasonable and un neighbourly.
Order extra so his daughter can have some too - but first be sure to find out any preferences/allergies

CatJumperTwat · 09/09/2021 15:03

It's really unlucky your takeaway worries have followed you to your new house. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a3890221-Takeaways-and-other-deliveries-in-flats

Mankyfruitbowl · 09/09/2021 15:03

If he was that bothered by your takeaways maybe he could have offered to drop round an extra couple of portions of the healthy food he was making for his family!

brokenbiscuitsx · 09/09/2021 15:04

Today I came home, coffee and sandwich in hand, to him calling me over and saying he’s noticed we’ve had a lot of takeaways since we’ve moved and could we not do so. Apparently his 8 year old daughter sees and asks why she can’t have one.

What on Earth? Are some people ok? 🤣 OP - it shouldn’t matter if you have working oven and still get takeaways every day, you shouldn’t have to change because numbnuts there can’t say no to his kid. You shouldn’t have explained why you were getting takeaways it’s none of his business!

greenlynx · 09/09/2021 15:04

I completely understand you OP. I could answer to a neighbour like this at the very beginning if I’ve just moved. I’m not very assertive in general and would prefer a nice polite start. But from now on I would be on my highest alert with this neighbour and would always consider him unreasonable and nosy CF whenever he approaches me whatever the question.
I also would continue with my takeaways as it suits me and would make a point always coming home with my cup of takeaway coffee/ box of KrispyKreme doughnuts etc rather than deposit of them on the way.

x2boys · 09/09/2021 15:05
Hmm
Wilkolampshade · 09/09/2021 15:05

Oh Christ OP, d'you live on the other side of my neighbour? We've just had a load of building work done and he's behaved like this ALL the way through... Asking if our guys could schedule to down tools EVERYDAY between 11 am and 2 pm as that's when his daughter takes a nap.... and more, much more....
Relations have completely broken down tbh and I've had more than a few sleepless nights...
Good luck. Develop a very, very thick skin.

Ludo19 · 09/09/2021 15:06

Sign of things to come I'm afraid. Keep him at arms length.

Hamster1111 · 09/09/2021 15:06

Oh dear, best not get any other deliveries OP, not unless you get one for next door too... don't want them to get jealous

youwouldthink · 09/09/2021 15:07

Do you know what?? People are fecking mad!!! Lol. . Drop a few delivery leaflets through his door for his daughter!!

Zilla1 · 09/09/2021 15:08

HNRTT but does he tell her the chimes of an ice cream van means they've run out of ice cream?

HaveringWavering · 09/09/2021 15:08

This can’t be real!

ChargingBuck · 09/09/2021 15:10

@Wilkolampshade

Oh Christ OP, d'you live on the other side of my neighbour? We've just had a load of building work done and he's behaved like this ALL the way through... Asking if our guys could schedule to down tools EVERYDAY between 11 am and 2 pm as that's when his daughter takes a nap.... and more, much more.... Relations have completely broken down tbh and I've had more than a few sleepless nights... Good luck. Develop a very, very thick skin.
fucksake, Wilko!

"Sure, we can down tools for 3 hours a day.
Our site overhead if £200/hour, so if you send me £600 a day for every day you wish us to comply with your batshittery, that will do nicely."

Harlequin1088 · 09/09/2021 15:10

What a dick. I'd make a point of ordering more takeaways and then loudly talking about the contents of each bag as I carry them through my front door just to make a point. Who the hell does he think he is?

WitchBaby · 09/09/2021 15:10

Why are posters saying to get his DD a takeaway too? Little madam (and her wet lettuce Father) can sod right off with that and learn you don't always get what you want.

VividImaginationAgain · 09/09/2021 15:11

Can I just say that when we moved house we had no cooker/oven for a couple of weeks and we’re mostly relying on food we could heat in the microwave along with the occasional takeaway - which was being delivered. When our neighbour found out about it she was horrified and offered to cook extra for us. We declined so she baked us cakes. I can’t believe he would have the nerve to approach you about something so stupid.

OneMoreStitch · 09/09/2021 15:11

"Hi, just wondering if your children could stop playing with -expensive toy or play equipment- in the garden. My daughter sees / hears them and keeps asking why she can't have one, too..."

"Hello, would you mind not letting your daughter wear that new coat she has, the red one? Every time my daughter sees her wearing it, she comes asking for a red one, too, and we've only just bought her one in green, so..."

Rainbowsew · 09/09/2021 15:12

Er no! Did you laugh in his face?

He needs to parent his own child and explain different people have different rules!

ChargingBuck · 09/09/2021 15:12

OP, maybe you could ask him to paint his front door a different colour.

Because you really, really wanted a red (whatever) front door, but can't be arsed to paint yours, so it's only fair that he repaints his.

Graphista · 09/09/2021 15:12

Wtf! None of his damn business! Why on Earth did you engage with him on this?!

idontlikealdi · 09/09/2021 15:13

Start getting wine or gin delivered on Deliveroo and tell them to Rick off. Seriously?!?

Explosivefarts · 09/09/2021 15:13

No way I would have laughed . I’m off to ask my neighbours to not have their conservatory as my husband is desperate for one. Every time he sees theirs he wants one.

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 09/09/2021 15:14

Batshit crazy neighbour. Do they spend their lives sat at the window twitching their curtains? At least hopefully you won't be burgled.

The older I get the more I notice how weird and unreasonable some people are so I wouldn't immediately discount this actually happening.