Neighbour asked us to stop our Christmas lights flashing

[SuddenlyISee]

Outside Christmas lights got put up on Sunday morning going around a couple of the windows at the front of the house (we live end terrace on a close).
We were out till late on Sunday evening so they were only on for probably an hour that day and then I switched them on when I got home from work at about 3:30 yesterday. Within an hour, my opposite neighbour knocked on my door and said that although he really likes the "Christmas cheer", could we not have them flashing all the time as they are disturbing him at night. They are turned off no later than 10pm as that is when we go to bed. There are multiple settings and I can't control that my children keep changing them when I'm not in the room where the plug is. I just feel like I'm going to spend the next few weeks worrying that our lights are offending him and wonder if I should just take them down. The neighbours either side of the neighbour that complained have both got the same lights as us so I have the same view as him, if not more so, and I can't see how it would affect anyone

I've never understood the flashing light thing anyway,you can't see them when inside your home so it's others who get the full "joy"🙄 of them. We've got a full on flasher opposite in our close,the same lights and mode every year for about 15 years. It's horrendous. My neighbour asked him last year if he would mind putting them on twinkle or similar instead but apparently he can't change it as the box is faulty. I expect they'll be up again this Christmas.

I love Christmas and everything to do with it, but continually flashing lights are really selfish. Just like fireworks - absolutely unnecessary.

I think the only remaining question since OP has already capitulated is whether she's also cancelled the cheque.

Have you done that OP, have ya????

Flashing lights are just plain tacky. Stop them! Your neighbour is doing you and the entire neighbourhood a favour tbh.

Flashing lights are just tacky. No exceptions. Her neighbour is doing her a favour.

Fair enough flashing lights are a nightmare

Flashing lights are annoying. Also potentially triggering for epilepsy. I think it's fairly reasonable to ask you to turn them to a different setting.

My neighbours have theirs flashing, I find them annoying, catch them out the corner of my eye or reflecting on the ceiling. I like a glow, twinkle, fade , even a gentle chase , conjures up or simulates candles, cosy fire or sparkly snow, can’t see what madly flashing ones bring to the party.😀

I like your style!

Flashing lights are a real nuisance. Lights left on that don't flash are fine. If your kids change the settings without your permission, I would make them apologise to the neighbour in person. We had a neighbour once with a garden fountain that sounded like a horse urinating. Then they got wind chimes which they hung next to our conservatory. Grrr. We all live so close to one another it isn't great to impinge on others.

YABU that would bother me so much!!

Any type of flashing light triggers a migraine for me

Errrm of course you can stop the children changing them - you're the parent.

Maybe switch them off by 9pm.

Yes this baffles me.

A firm "don't do that" from my parents would have stopped me.

Are people incapable of reading a full thread before vomiting out their pointless opinions?

Seriously people...it's been resolved and OP is a flipping good neighbour...as is the gent who knocked on her door.

Someone had flashing Christmas lights at the back of their house which used to keep my children awake (even with blackout curtains and a blind they were so bright they were still really obvious). Flashing lights can be really annoying.

@FinallyFinalGirl

Are you incapable of understanding a public discussion forum - people can still comment after the issue has been resolved. Equally you don't have to keep reading after the Op has said it's resolved.

Am I the only one who doesn't find flashing twinkly lights annoying?

Sorry but what do you mean you can’t control when your children change them? Yes you can. Either put the remote/timer where they can’t reach (if they are too young to understand instructions - however probably shouldn’t be left in the room alone if that’s the case) or explain to them they can’t change it. If they have additional needs then again I would keep the timer somewhere they can’t reach (and perhaps buy a small table top Christmas tree with flashing lights if they are fixated on having something that flashes). I can’t bare flashing lights, there is a setting on my Christmas tree lights that let them flash and I’ve never been able to stand it more than a minute! Your neighbour has been polite enough about it. There are some mental neighbours/CF’s out there (which I’ve read about on this site) that would just rip them down 😂.

They are addressing things that we have long moved past ffs.

Yabu I've black out curtains in every room but you still get light around the sides and this would set my autistic child off massively at night time

"We" being you. If you have gotten enough of out of the tread for YOU stop reading.

Don't get narky because the discussion continues.

^"We" being you. If you have gotten enough of out of the tread for YOU stop reading.

Don't get narky because the discussion continues.^

Ok. I will try not to get narky...oh narky one.😉

Flashing lights are annoying. Can't you set them not to flash?

On or off - definitely not flashing