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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

My neighbours are scraping ice at 10.30PM

178 replies

Tuvala · 09/12/2022 22:31

light hearted - ish 😆

It’s frozen solid here, road is an ice rink. Neighbours are 60’s and both retired, nice couple but probably retired too soon as both seem frequently bored!
For the past 45 mins they have both been outside in -3 scraping ice off the steps, the car and god knows what else.
I was a bit concerned they had somewhere they needed to get to so popped out to ask if they needed help with anything but no, they aren’t going anywhere!
I’ve since gone to bed and the loud scraping noises are driving me potty.
What on earth are they doing it for?!
Do they want to fall on the ice or get hypothermia? Or are they just trying new ways to drive me round the bend .
Aaaarghhh!!

OP posts:

WhispersOfWickedness · 09/12/2022 22:32

How bizarre, it's just going to be back again by the time they need to go anywhere

Keyansier · 09/12/2022 22:33

I couldn't imagine getting worked up over something as small as this tbh

alasangne · 09/12/2022 22:33

Maybe they are expecting visitors for a late night after party

Grimchmas · 09/12/2022 22:35

Oh deaf, I hope they stop soon.

The ice was so thick on my car this morning that I considered pre-scraping it when I went out to my car a couple of hours after I got in this evening, does that count as the same madness? Perhaps it's contagious!

EmmaAgain22 · 09/12/2022 22:36

Are they going to cover the step in some way to stop them icing up maybe?

Sprouttreesareamazing · 09/12/2022 22:37

They go dogging on Friday nights...

determinedtomakethiswork · 09/12/2022 22:38

You should have reminded them of the ambulance crisis. If they slipped and broke a hip, they could be there all night.

Original poster

Tuvala · 09/12/2022 22:41

I knew some of the responses here would make me laugh.
It just seems so odd! They have nowhere to be and it’s so cold - like PP said it’s only going to all re ice overnight anyway.
A shovel is now out and the road being tackled as a public service, so that’s neighbourly minded - if not slightly bonkers .

OP posts:

foggywindows · 09/12/2022 22:43

Maybe they're sad and lonely and fancied a project to get stuck into. Leave them be.

SeenAndNot · 09/12/2022 23:03

Are they secretly making an ice rink?

saleorbouy · 09/12/2022 23:04

Buy some salt and sprinkle it on their path so the ice doesn't form. It'll safe them a job and you can keep your sanity.

MrsSkylerWhite · 09/12/2022 23:05

Silly sods, it’ll all be back by morning.

Rowthe · 09/12/2022 23:05

Weird.

And dangerous for them

icegoose · 09/12/2022 23:15

Where I live the streets get snow cleared at 2am and our bedroom is just below where the snow gets dumped.
It's very noisy and I share your pain OP.

allboysherebutme · 09/12/2022 23:20

But it will freeze again over night.
Maybe you should pop out and tell them, save them wasting their time. X

Redsquirrel5 · 09/12/2022 23:20

I feel your pain!
My neighbour was scraping the ice off his windscreen before he goes to work about 7am. I am retired. It is almost under my bedroom window. Her car is the other side of ours and he sometimes scraps hers as well. I bought her a foil cover one Christmas. She rarely used it. I had one and it was great.
I think I would open the window and shout out "Do you think you could do that tomorrow as I am trying to sleep." as they probably do't realise how annoying/ how loud it is.

Tothemoonandbackx · 09/12/2022 23:24

I had someone outside scraping their car at 5:00 this morning!!!!! And they were not being quiet about it, yes....you have to get to work.....yes...it's icey....but NO......please don't over exaggerate EVERY SINGLE SCRAPE!!!!!

dudsville · 09/12/2022 23:26

Definitely odd behaviour. My guess is they felt the need to do some exercise but don't like going to the gym, they need it to be socially conscious exercising, so they're going to do the neighbourhood, but not during the day as they don't want to be in anyone's way. It must be this, surely.

MavisMcMinty · 09/12/2022 23:31

For ages my Mum was disturbed when she went to bed every night by the sound of a metal shovel hitting stony or icy ground in a neighbouring garden, “like someone digging a grave”, she told us.

Turned out to be the ticking of her alarm clock.

WondrousWinger · 09/12/2022 23:32

I honestly can't believe that anyone wastes so much time scraping ice off their windscreen.

Empty 2 litre coke bottle filled with lukewarm water and all traces of ice are gone in as long as it takes me to walk once around the car.

Im always fascinated by people huffing and puffing with scrapers when there's such a quick and easy alternative.

ScreamInBlue · 09/12/2022 23:37

allboysherebutme · 09/12/2022 23:20

But it will freeze again over night.
Maybe you should pop out and tell them, save them wasting their time. X

I think as they're in their 60s they probably know that already.

MavisMcMinty · 09/12/2022 23:37

Heated windscreens are amazing. For a long while only Ford cars had them because they held the patent, but now that’s expired, many more (newish) cars have them.

raspberrytinsel · 09/12/2022 23:42

MrsSkylerWhite · 09/12/2022 23:05

Silly sods, it’ll all be back by morning.

well it won't if they are applying salt will it?

CranberryPecan · 09/12/2022 23:45

I'm going to have to scrape ice soon as I'm off to pick up my daughter. Sorry neighbours!
But if they're not going anywhere it's a bit odd to be doing it late in the evening.

DixonD · 09/12/2022 23:46