Neighbors in our garden in the midst of project site

[unname]

I am in US and we are having a patio installed at our house. It's a process that takes several days - framing, pouring, stamping, polishing and sealing the concrete.

This morning they are pouring the concrete. 5-6 workers in our yard and it is a mess with wet grass, mud, concrete, tools and men working. I looked out 30 minutes ago and saw neighbors wandering around with their coffee, asking questions, standing smack in the middle of the project staging area, in front of tools and equipment, talking to the men.

I was floored! Who does this? I watched thought about it for 5 minutes or so, then told my husband and we agreed I should go speak with them. We are both WFH today and even we don't go out and stand in the middle of the project unless we have a quick question.

By the time I got out there they had walked out into the street, through a small gap in one of our hedges. I told them I was shocked to see people in our yard and to please knock before dong that again. I said "This is a real boundary issue for me."

He said "Well we will be back in an hour to watch them stamp the concrete."
I was just so surprised that they didn't immediately apologize, and continued to feel they had a right to be on our property without permission.

I said "Well no, I would rather you did not."

Would you mind having neighbors just entering your property without asking?

Updated diagram APPROVED. I like that we now have a cast.

They parked their motor home right by the portal hedge, opposite their own home but wanted to run a cable from Suddenly Soup’s house? I’m struggling to make sense of that! Cheeky fuckers!

Yes! and Soup guy is very very nice and also well known all around the local area. He prefers to stay on good terms with everyone even at his own expense. He let them do it last year. This year they had to move it before they actually hooked it up.

Good thing, electricity prices are really high here, too.

Three things, op:

1. Great sense of humour
2. please will you write my letters of complaint in future?
3. so impressed Jackie Weaver is a hero both sides of The Pond

Thank you and yes, I’ll gladly write your letters of dissatisfaction.

Someone who worked for me once described my “correction via email” style as:

”She really likes us! Oh no, she’s pretty unhappy with what we did here. Oh wait! She has faith we can improve!”

Your email style is what we call a ‘shit sandwich’ 😊

A positivé opener, the main bad message then ended with another ‘nice’ bit.

Can’t believe the nosey neighbours had to cross the road to come into your garden! I was imagining them being directly next door.

With op being in the US I would worry if neighbours tripped and fell in the yard in the nut and ruts and sued OP

Yeah, and I try not to do that in the real world but sometimes when communication has to be via email rather than in person it seems like the best way.

I really did worry about them falling. The people in question are in great shape physically, but a good 25 and 30+ years older than me and I am not a spring chicken.

I so want to post the picture I took of them standing there, but just cannot. They are standing in that mud circle and looks on the faces of the men working are priceless.

So if I've understood correctly, Buck and Sandy park their large recreational vehicle away from their own house (so it doesn't block out their light?) and then ask kind soup maker to charge it for them? Wow. Our streets are so small here we have parking wars if you so much as park an inch over your neighbour's property 😂

Yes!! Isn’t that bizarre?

Street width is one reason I mentioned being in the US. Even if both sides were lined with RVs, this street is still wide enough for two cars to pass one another.

Don’t give them ideas!

Great diagram, OP.

I don't think I could live in a house with such an easily accessible garden, regardless of the neighbours!

They sound bonkers.

Makes a lot of sense that you started by mentioning right at the beginning you're in the US. You'd have been inundated with advice, mostly inaccurate, about the UK laws on trespass.

I'd have been slightly nonplussed too at seeing neighbours standing in my garden, but completely livid at "Buck's" statement that he would be coming back later, and would likely have said something far more undiplomatic, probably including the word "off". Whoop-de-do for those posters who would be perfectly happy for random bods to wander through their grounds, but not everybody lives in a stately home (and even stately homes charge for the privilege).

p.s. Laying a patio jolly well is a project. Try doing it without any plans in place, e.g. how much concrete you need and what order to do things in. Guaranteed it will go pear-shaped.

I get it, OP. I'd be outraged.

My neighbours have just got the most adorable golden retriever puppy that I’m desperate to have another cuddle with. Might just hop their fence and go play with her now I know that’s okay to do because I’m just interested in their new puppy.

You'd have been inundated with advice, mostly inaccurate, about the UK laws on trespass.

Not to mention putting up signs referencing "quids."

I'm in the Southern US where many people think that any project being conducted in a neighbor's yard is a community endeavor requiring ongoing vigilance and commentary. I make DH put up yellow caution tape around the area. It helps some.

In the UK every street has an older resident who would not trespass to take a better look but would certainly stand on the edge of the garden boundary telling your workmen 'you don't want to be doing it like that. You should be doing it like this'.

Only meee!

Bess
That's proper tickled me

I’ve been rewatching the series, still brilliant after all these years.

"There was I, digging this hole" (Thank you, Bernard Cribbins)

And what if they'd tripped over some of the equipment? Or damaged something?

@YesitsBess 😂 and Unlucky Alf and the hole. "They're digging a grit big 'ole and knowing my luck I'll fall in it". Cue gust of wind. Oh bugger. 😂😂

I’ve been rewatching those too!

Suits you Sir.

We loved the fast show. Might have to rewatch too! Venomous tiger 😂