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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To run away screaming from the local Jubilee street party?

146 replies

PartyHater · 21/05/2022 08:01

I’m sure in some areas a street party might be a lovely thing to take the dc to. I’m imagining freshly cut green lawns, face painting, everyone enjoying themselves and maybe being just a little bit merry.

But that isn’t my area.

My area is fucking terrifying on a normal Monday morning (really, some man attempted to get me in to his house last Monday AM when I was walking the dog after the school run, asking me if I ‘smoked bruv’) let alone a Friday where everyone has arranged to meet in the street outside my house.

The leaflet said there would be face painting and a little something for the adults. Knowing this area, that little something will be copious amounts of drugs, alcohol and it will be considered a boring night if at least a few faces don’t get smashed in or houses/cars vandalised. My youngest son has autism and is noise sensitive, and I know that the ‘party’ will not finish until 4am at the earliest.

We are planning to travel on the said Friday morning to a large nearby forest for the day, taking a picnic, and then staying in a cheap hotel for the night that allows dogs.

DM, who lives in a similar area, says we are being ridiculous. She says that the dc will love it and she is sure that everyone will be well behaved because there are children there (not sure why that would be the case when they don’t seem to care about that usually). She now has the huff with me as I have insisted we are sticking to running away to the woods for the day.

In this scenario, am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 21/05/2022 08:03

I'd be doing similar! Hope the weather is kind to you and you have a lovely day.

megletthesecond · 21/05/2022 08:04

Yanbu. I live in a grotty estate and will run a mile if a street party is suggested.

BuckingFore · 21/05/2022 08:04

Enjoy your hotel 💐

ComDummings · 21/05/2022 08:05

YANBU at all. Even in the nicest of areas a day drinking in the sun leads to all sorts of carnage. No thank you.

Original poster
PartyHater · 21/05/2022 08:05

Thank you 🙏

I know what it will be like, but the way DM was going on I actually started to doubt myself a little.

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 21/05/2022 08:07

I've lived in similar areas and wouldn't have gone to a party because of the same reasons. Of course they won't curtail the drug taking and violence just because there's children about. Your DM is living in different times. There's some weatherspoons that I'd take my GC into and some I definitely wouldn't.

Cryingbutstilltrying · 21/05/2022 08:07

We have also deliberately planned to be away that long weekend.
Your activities sound much more fun.
Enjoy your break and don’t feel any guilt at all! Just tell people it was already planned as it’s half term/time off work/whatever, no need to make it a big deal.

Tontostitis · 21/05/2022 08:09

Please do it, your neighbours will be free of your judgemental presence and your dc will be safe from the peasants.

MaryMount13 · 21/05/2022 08:13

I don't blame you OP. It sounds awful.

And it's not being judgy to not want to be off your face. Your well-being comes first.

Original poster
PartyHater · 21/05/2022 08:21

@Tontostitis I will take that advice on board, but will point out that we are actually the peasants 😂

I can only assume you have never had the pleasure of living somewhere like here/where I grew up. Happy to be told I’m wrong if actually it’s considered snobby to not really enjoy not being able to sleep through the screaming and shouting, seeing blood on the street when you wake up, or drugs offered to your 8 year old daughter, or getting your property vandalised on a regular basis.

Though, I am used to being seen as snobby by family, who think that I’m dreaming doing a part time STEM subject degree to try to escape the minimum wage trap I’m currently wallowing in.

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 21/05/2022 08:24

If it's judgemental to want to be able to sleep through the night from the end of the evening to the next morning without noise and fear of violence and vandalism, then guilty as charged. The company of people off their faces on alcohol or other substances is very boring at best, and certainly not something I'd want to expose young children to. A picnic in the woods sounds absolutely lovely by comparison.

NellesVilla · 21/05/2022 08:28

Sounds like the estate off Shameless!!

Original poster
PartyHater · 21/05/2022 08:30

The dc are very excited 👍😊

OP posts:
Original poster
PartyHater · 21/05/2022 08:31

@NellesVilla the estate in Shameless would be preferable 👍

OP posts:
newnamethanks · 21/05/2022 08:32

YANBU. Sounds awful. Stick to your studies and get out as soon as you can, nobody should have to live in an area like that unless it's an active choice. Good luck.

MintyMoocow · 21/05/2022 08:33

We’ve got a judge, a couple of NHS consultants, an army major, a sprinkling of teachers, any number of company directors and Michelin starred chef at ours.
I expect it to be drunken carnage!

Oblomov22 · 21/05/2022 08:36

Why do you live in such an awful place? Have you tried to move? OP and all the others who choose to live in such awful places? Surely you'd do Everything in your power to move as quickly as possible?

LakieLady · 21/05/2022 08:37

I live in a naice area, full of middle-class woke types, and I still wouldn't go to a fucking street party! I'm a republican, so all this celebration of monarchy pisses me right off.

Thankfully, there has been no hint of a street party happening, and there wasn't for the golden jubilee either.

YANBU at all, OP, not at all.

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 21/05/2022 08:40

Do you live round the corner from me? Those sounds exactly what we have to look forward too

My friend who lives on the street is also going away to avoid it 🤣

orbitalcrisis · 21/05/2022 08:40

I think the screaming is unreasonable but the rest seems very sensible. I usually try to leave the country during these things!

Lizziekisss · 21/05/2022 08:41

YANBU. What you have planned sounds lovely. Why does your DM care anyway and why should her opinion count for your family. Do what's best for you and she can go to the party in her area if that's her preference. I have a real aversion to pple who think only their way is the right way.

Original poster
PartyHater · 21/05/2022 08:41

@newnamethanks will do! I’ve got to say that Open University has been fantastic and a iLife saver. Always thought I was useless at anything academic, but have been getting 85+ marks so far (in my second year) so it must have been a combination of a bad school, no ambition and me/family just assuming I’d go straight into work.

OP posts:
Jobseeker19 · 21/05/2022 08:42

This is how nottinghill carnival feels when you live in the area

2pinkginsplease · 21/05/2022 08:43

I would have done the same as you and booked a night away, I’m not a snob , just pretty antisocial.

where I stay is ok and im ok with saying hi to the neighbours and short chit chat but not for spending a long time with them,

Thissucksmonkeynuts · 21/05/2022 08:45

Have a lovely trip away. I used to live on a street that loved a good street party, city centre ish, but friendlier than yours. They were utter carnage, everyone was absolutely wasted and ended at dawn.