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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be disappointed at poor response re street party

494 replies

Geminijust · 21/02/2023 13:58

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.

😐

OP posts:
Isseywith3witchycats · 21/02/2023 16:14

i would be one of the ones not attending because we are flying off on our holiday the day of the coronation was booked a few days before the queen died

SoonBeTeaTime · 21/02/2023 16:15

17 is very good, I think a lot of people us included will be going away for the weekend, it's a bank holiday weekend. Some people don't like to commit, we did join in a street thing for the jubilee but we weren't a firm yes until the week before, it isn't something I'd turn other things down for, sitting on the street eating sandwiches with people I happen to live near to. I had a nice time don't get me wrong.

NotQuiteHere · 21/02/2023 16:16

There is nothing rude about people not interested in street parties. Do you have too much time and nothing else to do?

Cocobutt · 21/02/2023 16:18

You’re joking, right? You don’t get to put an unsolicited note through someone’s door and then label them as rude for not appropriately responding to you or appreciating your “effort”. It’s rude to put obligations onto people like you have.

I agree.
I think you are rude and a bit entitled to think they are rude for not responding.

I wouldn’t mind my neighbours doing this but I wouldn’t take part as it’s just not my thing.

But I wouldn’t think to respond if I wasn’t taking part.
I would only respond if I was taking part.

Hellybelly84 · 21/02/2023 16:18

That sounds pretty good getting 17 back already. I have no idea what we are doing that weekend, depending on what is going on in our town. People probably haven’t begun arranging things with family/friends yet, so might not want to commit to a street party early on. So I would probably be one of the ones that didnt reply if it was my street.

You’ve done well for February getting people to commit so just plan with those who said yes so far, and others can join later?

bobbytorq · 21/02/2023 16:20

You clearly don't organise many community events. That's a very high response rate! There's nothing rude in not responding to a task someone else has set that you have no interest in. I wouldn't reply either if I had no interest.

SaulHudsonDavidJones · 21/02/2023 16:21

Hadjab · 21/02/2023 14:02

This may come as a shock, but a lot of people actually don’t give a toss about the Royal Family, and aren’t interested in street parties. Yes, it would have been nice for them to respond, but it’s probably not made their everyday to-do list.

100% this. I really could not care less and also, I'm friendly with my neighbours but I don't want to socialise with them.

chaosmaker · 21/02/2023 16:23

Why are they doing road closures again and for something so pointless.....

Untrainedmelody · 21/02/2023 16:24

Maybe people don’t want a street party- sounds like a nightmare to me.

Smoothlines · 21/02/2023 16:24

I think 17 is a high number. Remember, lots of people will be at work on that day or won’t know their shift patterns yet.

TeenLifeMum · 21/02/2023 16:26

I’ve no idea what we’re doing next month over the Easter bank holiday so I’ve not planned the coronation. I don’t socialise with my neighbours normally though so wouldn’t for this either. Might have friends over maybe. I don’t think anyone is rude and the response is good.

AllWorkYoPlait · 21/02/2023 16:26

kitsuneghost · 21/02/2023 15:43

Not being funny but how do people get in and out for work if you close the street? Do you just move tables then move them back?

According to my council last time, you're expected to park elsewhere. Would be better if people just did open house or garden parties.

ApathyMartha · 21/02/2023 16:30

People may be happy to attend but not to help. And maybe close a section of the road rather than the whole street. I hate these things and the need to socialise with people I just happen to live by but I was REALLY pissed off not being able to get out my own road. But i accept that some people like these things 🙄

PillBoxes · 21/02/2023 16:32

I can't imagine anything worse than celebrating the continued existence of the anachronistic RF with ANOTHER coronation! Off with their heads.

And Chuck said it would be low key, but of course it's not anymore, he has some neck thinking his loyal subjects will be delighted with the expenditure and egotistical medieval nonsense surrounding this.

But I suppose there are many out there who will enjoy it but still live in peasant mode and doff their caps in awe at a wave from a tinted window in a chauffeur driven Daimler or whatever. Good luck to them. I'll be lying low and throwing things at the TV if it drones on and on about the ermine and pearls and gold carriages, and Harry and Meghan will they won't they go and frocks, forgot about the FROCKS.

Bread and circuses is all it is.

Herroyal · 21/02/2023 16:32

For our street parties, we knock door to door for the signatures. You’ll have a load of people who will be happy to sign but forgot or meant to get round to it or might be put off by the Coronation thing.
if we had a ‘Coronation’ party with flags and bunting pretty sure no one would
come! if you explain it’s just to get neighbours together that’s another thing …

Herroyal · 21/02/2023 16:33

You don’t need the majority to close the road, just more than half

DailyMaui · 21/02/2023 16:35

A street party to celebrate a new monarch is my idea of hell.

A street party to celebrate the start of the UK becoming a republic would get my vote though.

I was thinking of having a non coronation garden party - there appears to be loads of anti-monarchy playlists online for the music options. Could be fancy dress: come as your least favourite royal grifter. And I would have great fun creating the bunting.

But I'll probably go away. Mind you I'd be leaving the teen girl alone and last time that happened she had a party and she's even more vehemently anti royal than me so...

Herroyal · 21/02/2023 16:36

‘Not being funny but how do people get in and out for work if you close the street? Do you just move tables then move them back?’

you have plenty of warning and cars are moved off the street. If you have a driveway and might need your car you move it off the street altogether.
One day a year. Close the road, clear the street, let everyone sit out, kids can play safely, get the barbies out. It’s lovely.
and we’ve had the most cantankerous of neighbours join in and admit it’s a nice thing to do.

RuthW · 21/02/2023 16:36

17 is loads. That's a really good response.

Prettypaisleyslippers · 21/02/2023 16:44

Most people I know will plan to go away. We are. We were away for the Queen’s jubilee also, arrived home at end of the street party, neighbours glared at us…..

17 is plenty to make it happen OP

DaisyDucks · 21/02/2023 16:50

If I was your neighbour I might pop out to join the party if it was going on. But I wouldn’t have the time or energy to be helping out out volunteering my time.

A drink, a vol au vent, and a quick chat is as much as I could give.

LadyKenya · 21/02/2023 16:53

I would have no desire to attend a street party in celebration of anything to do with the RF. A slip of paper shoved through my front door about this, would have found its way to the recycling bin. But 17 households on one street wanting to have a party is a good turnout.

AnnieMore · 21/02/2023 16:54

Like others, I thought you were going to say 2 or 3 responses. 17 is loads.

In our village, the only people that joined in the jubilee picnic that was held last year, were the older contingent (ie 70s plus).

You have to accept that many have zero interest in the coronation. We have organised a weekend away with friends when it takes place, I’m sure that’s the case for many.

ilovesooty · 21/02/2023 16:54

Herroyal · 21/02/2023 16:36

‘Not being funny but how do people get in and out for work if you close the street? Do you just move tables then move them back?’

you have plenty of warning and cars are moved off the street. If you have a driveway and might need your car you move it off the street altogether.
One day a year. Close the road, clear the street, let everyone sit out, kids can play safely, get the barbies out. It’s lovely.
and we’ve had the most cantankerous of neighbours join in and admit it’s a nice thing to do.

That's exactly why I'd be lodging an objection with the council if anyone tried this carry on in my road. I've got a drive to put my car on and see no reason why I should be inconvenienced and have to put it on the next road. If people want these celebrations they have no right to inconvenience their neighbours.

Smoothlines · 21/02/2023 16:58

Herroyal · 21/02/2023 16:36

‘Not being funny but how do people get in and out for work if you close the street? Do you just move tables then move them back?’

you have plenty of warning and cars are moved off the street. If you have a driveway and might need your car you move it off the street altogether.
One day a year. Close the road, clear the street, let everyone sit out, kids can play safely, get the barbies out. It’s lovely.
and we’ve had the most cantankerous of neighbours join in and admit it’s a nice thing to do.

That wouldn’t work where I am. No one has driveways or garages and nor can you park elsewhere - there are designated residents’ parking spaces on the street.

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