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?

Love it!

This is hilarious! Do keep us updated OP

Nothing new to report, thankfully. I still haven’t properly read those emails and maybe I will fortify myself and do it this week.

We did tell the wife of the couple on the corner about the emails. It was her dad that reported the RV parked for so long to the police. She said “They are selfish a* and no one likes them.” Also that her DH usually likes everyone but he can’t stand them. She didn’t say why though. Suspect we will hear more about this over cocktails.

I hate all this really. I mean, if the woman actually thinks she has cancer, I’d normally offer some support but she’s so volatile I don’t even want to send a card.

Every street have their Buck and Sandy. Ours certainly does! Ours are curtain twitchers of the highest order. They hear parts of conversations then gossip and when people call them out they act obnoxiously. They're in their 70's which is so much harder than if they were younger. People always say 'just ignore them' but that's easier said than done when you feel like you're living in the Truman Show

As a rather direct Aussie, I can’t begin to express how much I am enjoying your wit! I am showing my age here, but I was picturing Sandy and Buck as Gladys and Abner Kravitz from Bewitched. I have also attached a card you could send to Sandy/Gladys…

I so fully recommend the path of ignoring them after failing to do so myself!

Buck and Sandy Kravitz 😂

Love the card and thank you for the compliment.

Excellent diagrams op!

as for Buck and Sandy, all I can say is… bless their hearts 😂

I started to post this in the middle of the night then felt badly. I would feel awful if she read this, but anyway, here it is because it's too strange to keep to myself.

When Sandy was here for coffee I noticed what I thought were sugar crystals on my table. It seemed odd because we had used the sugar but not brought it to the table.

While clearing up after she left, I found a blown out chicken egg which had been decorated by hand - painted or drawn on with markers and it had these small crystals glued on which were falling off everywhere. I have a bunch of little things, an orchid, some small succulents and S&P grinder on a lazy Susan* in the middle of my table. Sandy had brought the egg, as a gift, I guess and tucked it in with the things there at some point without me noticing.

Finding it made me feel weird actually. Her DH was previously in some kind of govt contractor role doing security work. My weird brain wondered for a split second if it was bugged or something. (It's ok to laugh, I know this was a bizarre thought!) My DH got home, said WTF is this? and pitched it in the trash.

Does anyone else feel you have weird things happen more often in your life than others?

*Indefatigable Susan for fans of Larry David/Curb Your Enthusiasm. In fact that reference seems highly appropriate given how such a minor issue feels like it's blown up.

Oh were you also "raised in the south?"
😂😂 😂

Surprised she has not blessed my heart yet, actually.

Sounds like she’s marking her territory. What a weirdo!

@Fraaahnces yes I agree - she’s a weirdo. Hello! By the way xx

It’s probably a blessed egg to make you be a better person OP.

Hi @olympicsrock! I have often wondered how you are! Big hugs!!!!

It’s such a shame most of us are in the UK, we could all come over for a party and check out Buck and Sandy!!!!

What an odd couple

I didn't think of that. Super weird.

Well, clearly the blessed egg didn't work, nor the territory marking. But I am just imagining her face when she sees me with a bunch of mumsnetters out having a party on the patio.

Just read the update about the egg! How weird. Have you found the rotting shrimp in the curtain hems yet? And the hidden voodoo doll?! Sandy has issues 😂

I think you're being rather cruel now OP, encouraged by your new fans

give over 🙄

I’ll cop to petty but don’t see where I’ve been cruel. There is no intent on my part to intentionally inflict even mild discomfort on my neighbor. I just don’t want her in my yard. I spent time considering whether she might ever learn about this thread and can tell you, it’s highly unlikely.

I did enjoy the mild praise of my diagram skills and I think exactly two people said they got a kick out of my writing. We are not exactly in danger of a spontaneous fan club.

What a strangely over sensitive comment. Please don't wander into the AIBU section, you'll need your smelling salts.

Isn't it funny that we now live in a world where you can trespass on your neighbours land but your neighbours are in the wrong for finding that weird 🙄

Blissfully, I have not even caught a glimpse of Sandy since my last post. Until today.

It's election day here and as you may know in the current USA climate, that means there's a pretty weird vibe in the air. We vote at our local firehall now, and so DH and I drove together, parked and were walking in when a car started backing out in front of our path. We stopped to wait and as they pulled out I saw a woman with a long white bob in the passenger seat. I realized it was them and looked away just in time, without making eye contact.

We went in and voted, then came back out before we spoke about it. An "Of all the people we could see today." kind of conversation ensued and then I said "Well I didn't even look. Did they realize it was us?" He told me he had given a short wave and that Sandy blew us a kiss.

Can you think of any better way to show you have lost your marbles in a 5 second interaction occurring through a window?