To be disappointed at poor response re street party

[Geminijust]

Smallish, quiet street, approx 45 houses, generally pretty friendly. Neighbour & I thought it might be nice to throw a party for the coronation. Council encouraging it by offering road closures & free insurance.

Sent out a note with a return slip asking people to say if they would interested, if they would be willing to help and inviting comments & suggestions. Gave them 2 weeks to respond. Deadline has passed and we have 17 responses, all positive, but that's less than half the street! AIBU to think it's really disappointing and actually rather rude :-(

Think we're going to send text to those that bothered to respond thanking them but, as we don't have a majority, informing them we will not be proceeding.

😐

I think it's a great idea...
My Nan (long since deceased) regularly dressed myself and my brother up for royal weddings. I have a great picture of me in a ginger wig a la Fergie :)

Me too - there is one planned for round here - if the weather is nice, I might wander along - but I am not interested in arranging, organising or giving concrete plans

Personally - i dont give a monkeys about a coronation, when we are all struggling, my work are asking for voluntary redundancies and I'm meant to get excited about some old white man getting some gold on his head- no thanks!!

Maybe you’re my neighbour, I didn’t respond. Sounds like my idea of hell and like fuck I want the road closed off all day so can’t get to and from work.
But lovely the neighbours want to do it and they can do it in such a way to hold it somewhere where people are trapped in their houses.

Great in principle, but here there is no where to move the cars to from designated parking spaces and what about the ones who can’t walk to their cars? Of someone wanted to close off a dead end or culdesac then go for it.

Maybe people can't afford it but don't feel they should have to disclose that.

17 is good going, I'd say. I would go ahead with your plans. If you have it on the basis of everyone bringing their own food and drinks, there's not much to lose if the weather is bad on the day. If you have a fine day, you might get more people wandering out and joining in.

This

I wouldn't jump to 'rude'. You're describing exactly the sort of party that, when it happened, I'd have wished I'd contributed to because everyone involved would be clearly enjoying themselves. However, I wouldn't be able to visualise that months previously and would have eye-rolled at what I would consider to be the out-dated silliness of it. I've missed out on so many happinesses because of this behaviour of mine - it's as if other people's attempts at proactive positivity actually cause me some sort of narcissistic pain, but then, when their efforts bear fruit and everyone has a good time I wish I'd not been such a misanthropic sulk. You'd almost be better off making it a spontaneous, 'last-minute' affair if you wanted to catch the sullen types! I hope you get it off the ground - good luck!

I think you are being rude if anything- these people don't owe you a reply just because you've put yourself in charge of an occasion that they may not even care about.

I live in a cul de sac. I'd still object very strongly to being denied access to my drive and being expected to park on the next road.

Oh you’ve just reminded me I’ve had a similar note from my neighbours. if that’s you - you should have put a phone number on I’d have whatsapped you. Or you should have set up a Facebook group for people to join and put the details in your letter. However this is 2023 and I don’t want to have to go find your house to say yes il will help you organise it - I want to text you.

You're making an assumption that everyone gives a shit about the coronation. Pretty much everyone I know couldn't care less now the Queen has passed and most don't like Charles and Camilla at all. I absolutely will not be watching and wouldn't consider celebrating it.

I would assume that people didn't RSVP a NO as they expected some sort of negative response to it. Also, it was only an idea, not an invite. If you had personally invited people to an event that you were running and they didn't RSVP then I could understand your point but not for a general idea/putting the feelers out situation.

I’m really not bothered about the coronation so having a street party is not on my bucket list.

Neighbour thinks we’d get the agreement of enough people to close the road but we have a person in the street who’s a bit of a troublemaker and would probably insist on driving in and out anyway just to be a d*ck.

Instead, our lovely neighbour who wants to do something will probably organise a do in the front gardens.

My council said if people lived on the road they were entitled to access/egress so you had to be prepared to move things. Only one house was concerned and we moved a barrier down a bit from where it was going to be and they parked just the other side of it.

Ick. What are you celebrating? Why not volunteer your time to a good cause instead.

Monday 8 May is officially designated for volunteering - 'The Big Help Out'.

I shall be spending it sitting on my arse, but if you want to volunteer, Charlie is right behind you

17 is loads!

But also, in the midst of this cost of living crisis, there will be a ALOT of people who don’t want to celebrate some over privileged guy taking over an outdated position.

After living a none too exemplary life, and showing little discernible talent too.

That's probably about 15 more responses than you'd have got in my street.

And I especially won’t be doing that! I imagine it’ll go down like a lead balloon, to especially exhausted people, who are seeing little in terms of quality of life, to “help out” for nothing on their extra day off.

We need govt action and proper investment, not a one off “help out” day

I do as well and I would hate it. When Kate and William got married our street had a party but we went away so avoided it all. Also the next road to us has parking restrictions.

During lockdown when people had the driveway parties for VE Day, some people had one, we weren't invited but it didn't inconvenience to the same extent as people couldn't take over the street so we were able to drive out.

Hopefully he helps out by getting rid of the monarchy and getting a real job! 😉

😂

We have organised a weekend away with friends when it takes place, I’m sure that’s the case for many

I wanted to go away but DH wants to watch it as he thinks he might not be here for the next one. Sigh.

We’re making the most of the long weekend and going away. Not interested in celebrating Charlie getting his promotion

This thread has just encouraged me to get on booking.com and book a trip for that weekend! Preferably somewhere remote where I can avoid the whole thing!