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AIBU?

Neighbour bought a trampoline to look over our fence

301 replies

LazyJayne · 11/10/2022 17:45

Have had issues with overly friendly neighbour since we moved in. The original divider between our back gardens was a low hedge, and she would come out and talk to us every single time we were out in the garden. And boy, can she talk. She also used to lift her DC over the hedge without asking to play with our DC (who is years older and not interested).

Eventually, we put up a 6ft fence on our side of the hedge. I’d tried to warm her up to the idea of this beforehand by saying we were thinking of getting a dog and needed a fence to keep it in.

When we put up the fence she initially made few jokey comments about how it was harder to talk to us now, but she solved this problem by placing a step on her side and continued to pop up whenever we were out in garden.

My husband then planted bamboo along the fence which shot up over the summer and is now about 8ft.

Last month, we saw from our bedroom window that a large trampoline had appeared in her garden. We assumed it was for her DC and thought nothing of it. However, they don’t use it, she does.

When I was out in the garden a few weeks ago, up she popped over the top of the bamboo, laughing hysterically, and shouting ‘see what I’ve had to resort to! hahaha!’ I said something along the lines of ‘oh yes haha, is that a trampoline for X’ and she said it was originally but he wasn’t interested so she’s going to use it for exercise instead.

So far all her exercises have coincided with us being out in the garden.

We’re now back at square one and whenever we’re out she appears over the bamboo, laughing and shouting.

My husband is very non confrontational and says the bamboo will keep growing and eventually she won’t be able to see over it, but I think this will take year as she must be hitting the 20ft mark at full jump height. We would also start losing light if we let it get that high.

WIBU to tell her directly to give us some privacy? Is there a gentle way to do it that won’t hurt her feelings that we’re missing?

OP posts:
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Am I being unreasonable?

AIBU

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Eeksteek · 11/10/2022 18:33

A pergola or gazebo would give you some privacy (to which you are entitled) without having to live in a fortress. We have trees. They are far too big fur the garden and a pita (but I also don’t have neighbours who can’t take a hint!)

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TwoWrightFeet · 11/10/2022 18:33

Are you sure this story is true?

Do you have a diagram of where the trampoline is, how high the bamboo is and how night she can jump? 😀

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Whatthetrolley · 11/10/2022 18:34

I hope the bamboo is in pots and not the ground, otherwise the trampoline is the least of your worries!

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Topgub · 11/10/2022 18:35

Ops neighbour

Neighbour bought a trampoline to look over our fence
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vitahelp · 11/10/2022 18:35

This is the funniest thing I’ve read on here in ages! Have a vision of this mental woman bouncing and peering into your garden 😂

I’ve no idea what I would do, it sounds like she will always find a way!

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Remainiac · 11/10/2022 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Funny though 🤣

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MrsMacIsBack · 11/10/2022 18:37

It is time for you to buy one of your own and for you and DH to take up naked trampolining.

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EmeraldShamrock1 · 11/10/2022 18:38

It's hard to believe that someone would do this though at the same time there is a lot of strange people about.

You need to be sharp and direct with her.

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vitahelp · 11/10/2022 18:39

MrsMacIsBack · 11/10/2022 18:37

It is time for you to buy one of your own and for you and DH to take up naked trampolining.

But what if she likes that and it makes her worse 😱

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JennyForeigner · 11/10/2022 18:40

Made me laugh almost as much as that the targeted ads for this post are for giant trampolines 😆

Maybe get one and bounce past her into a peaceful stratosphere?

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DPotter · 11/10/2022 18:42

You're going to have to gird your loins and tell her you don't always want to talk when your in your garden, in fact best assume you never want to talk.

If she talks to you - ignore her.

Being non-confrontational doesn't mean you have to be a doormat

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MrsMacIsBack · 11/10/2022 18:42

vitahelp · 11/10/2022 18:39

But what if she likes that and it makes her worse 😱

Unlikely. Have you ever seen a naked man trampolining?

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ZZTopGuitarSolo · 11/10/2022 18:44

PoundShopPrincess · 11/10/2022 18:22

This happens all the time. Neighbours building higher fences. Other neighbours getting trampolines. Then someone gets a tree house. Before you know, you're taking flying lessons just to maintain that neighbourly spirit.

I think I love you.

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MrsMacIsBack · 11/10/2022 18:44

Unlikely. Have you ever seen a naked man trampolining?
**
That is a sentence I never expected to type on Mumsnet.

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Eeksteek · 11/10/2022 18:45

MrsMacIsBack · 11/10/2022 18:44

Unlikely. Have you ever seen a naked man trampolining?
**
That is a sentence I never expected to type on Mumsnet.

It’s also a mental image I can’t unsee. And deeply wish I could!

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TwoWrightFeet · 11/10/2022 18:45

MrsMacIsBack · 11/10/2022 18:42

Unlikely. Have you ever seen a naked man trampolining?

More than once.

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EmeraldShamrock1 · 11/10/2022 18:49

This happens all the time. Neighbours building higher fences. Other neighbours getting trampolines. Then someone gets a tree house. Before you know, you're taking flying lessons just to maintain that neighbourly spirit. Brilliant..😅🤪

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Lifeomars · 11/10/2022 18:49

unless you have planted the bamboo in tubs you may very well live to regret it. My ex-neighbour did this (not because I am in any way nosy nor in posession of a trampoline) and it took over their tiny back yard and invaded mine. They moved out and this year I had to have it professionally dug out as it was everywhere. It is an utter nightmare, it puts out runners that burrow many meters underground which then thrust up branches all over the place. It grew massive, invaded the guttering on my kitchen extension, blocked a lot of light and was a real headache. You'd be better with the highest fence you can get away with. As for the leaping lady next door, it sounds as if she could join a circus!

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Soubriquet · 11/10/2022 18:49

Eeksteek · 11/10/2022 18:45

It’s also a mental image I can’t unsee. And deeply wish I could!

Oh god… bet that would hurt his nuts though.

plus it won’t be that comfortable for a woman being whacked in the face with her tits either

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GemmaEdKitten · 11/10/2022 18:50

God, I wouldn't say anything. I think it would sour things and create a worse atmosphere. Then you'll have bigger problems.

What I would do is briefly chat and make an excuse everytime. E.g. "just reading".

Then she'll get the picture but no awkwardness

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Newbestmate · 11/10/2022 18:50

Good one

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Emmelina · 11/10/2022 18:51

Maybe this is an even weirder reverse.

I really want to be friends with my neighbours, but they keep putting up literal barriers! First a fence, and THEN they grew actual BAMBOO! This stuff is 8ft tall and growing!
not to be deterred I bought a trampoline, two birds with one stone - I’ll exercise and strike up conversation at the same time! WIN! Or so I thought. She still won’t talk to me, it’s baffling.

What can I do, mumsnetters?

sincerely,
IJustCantWaitToBeLoved.

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WhereYouLeftIt · 11/10/2022 18:51

Target practice?

Neighbour bought a trampoline to look over our fence
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ThistleSifter · 11/10/2022 18:51

I vote for slashing the trampoline or maybe throwing something over that’ll sink in and make it unusable such as glue… although it sounds like she’d find another way, such as erecting a sky diving wind tunnel or holding just enough helium balloons to rise 6ft & hover.

I can believe this is true; some people have no boundaries and if you try and put them in place (fence, bamboo) they’ll just keep going until you firmly tell them to fuck off leave you alone.

I have a similar neighbour- addressed it and now it’s a good relationship because he’s not peeping round every corner.

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HereForTheCommentsB · 11/10/2022 18:51

PoundShopPrincess · 11/10/2022 18:22

This happens all the time. Neighbours building higher fences. Other neighbours getting trampolines. Then someone gets a tree house. Before you know, you're taking flying lessons just to maintain that neighbourly spirit.

😂😂

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