to not organise or take part in a 'Coronation' street party?

[weatherthestorms]

We have an annual street party at the end of the summer. Street closed, cars moved, bunting up, a band, neighbours out together, family & friends invited kids playing out - 9am -10pm. I lead the organisation for getting the council permissions, all the signatures needed etc.

This year a couple of neighbours have suggested doing a coronation one too. I'm not a royalist, and I have absolutely no intention of celebrating, or even watching the coronation. So I've said I'll sign to shut the road etc. along with everyone else but i'm not getting involved. I doubt I would even go TBH if it was all union flags and God Save the King bollocks.

The people who want to do it are a bit cat bum face with me over it. So Aibu?
For background I grew up in NI during The Troubles and have had quite enough of flag waving and nationalism of any kind to do me a life time already.

Or should I suck it up and help out for the sake of the community and kiddies etc?

Yes! 😂

I am not God, but I do know the answer. You plan ahead, using the several weeks' notice you've been given, and park round the corner the night before.

If that would be massively inconvenient for you for some reason, and no help that your neighbours can offer will solve the difficulties then you object and the council don't let it go ahead.

If there's an unforeseeable emergency on the day and you need to take the car to rush to a dying relative's bedside or whatever you say "Guys, there's been a dire emergency, I'm afraid I need to get the car out!" and they say "oh dear, sorry to hear that" and shift the gazebo and the picnic tables so you can get out.

Aren't street parties a bit common?

There's a sociology thesis to be written there, but the short answer is "sometimes, but sometimes quite the opposite".

Are you being ironic or is that a genuine question?

It’ll be interesting to see if my village does anything, after last year’s diamond jubilee non-event. There was a flier sent round to every house about a “bring and share” party, with fun activities like “stone painting”. About 3 weeks later there was a very sniffy pass-agg follow-up flier cancelling the party for lack of enthusiasm. I was so relieved, as the party was going to be in the field next to my house, and I’d been seriously considering driving my car up to the next village and walking home through the woods so I could pretend I was out and couldn’t attend.

@MavisMcMinty

I’d been seriously considering driving my car up to the next village and walking home through the woods so I could pretend I was out and couldn’t attend.

🤣🤣🤣🤣

I'm a massive royalist and I'd have no issue with this. You're respecting other people's preferences by supporting the road closure. Now it's time for them to respect your preference not to get your sleeves rolled up.

YANBU at all, but just make sure your fellow organisers know so they don’t expect you to undertake your usual role in helping arrange it all.

Sounds so miserable.
Anyone can be “not arsed”.
I live between a town that does organised events, usually it involves spending money and is a bit tacky and a village that puts on a really good do because the villagers are a riot.
Either way it’s the sort of place people like living.

How super, yay and hooray, how marvellous for you!

I’ve driven 230 miles to avoid my village party this time.