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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

is being in keeping with the neighbours more important than keeping DH happy

109 replies

PuffPastryFluff · 16/12/2023 11:28

We live in a 'naice' street with lovely neighbours. Everyone puts everyone else's bins out, waters each others' frogs, lends out power tools etc. etc. This Christmas a very few neighbours have outside decorations. They're very tasteful, warm white, gently flickering. Think John Lewis rather than Poundland.

DH wants to get a ginormous blow up snowman to put outside. I've said no on the basis that it doesn't fit in with the street and that our status as 'naice' neighbours will be called into question. DH is sad. Although I generally want to keep DH happy because I luvs him and who else is going to bring me cups of tea in bed at the weekend I've put my foot down about the blow up Santa. For context I'm not keen on blow up anything. Inside or out.

AIBU to think the 'needs' of the street are more important than DH's needs even if my cup of tea is at risk?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Original poster
PuffPastryFluff · 16/12/2023 12:47

CherryShirt · 16/12/2023 12:26

If a neighbour popped over and offered to water my frogs, I’d be quite disturbed 😳 (Although I might give it some consideration if it was him from No. 82…)

To be fair he did ask via the street WhatsApp. Also I am pretty sure that they are newts.

OP posts:
GalileoHumpkins · 16/12/2023 12:52

I absolutely hate the word naice but I love an inflatable at Christmas.

Shoxfordian · 16/12/2023 12:54

Sounds like you care more about random neighbours than your husband Hyacinth

RandomButtons · 16/12/2023 12:55

I’m meant to water my frogs? Damn that’s where I’ve been going wrong.

PaulaPocket · 16/12/2023 13:00

Surely this must be either a reverse or a joke. This 'naice' thing on MN puzzles me. I can relate to it as a sarcastic way of referring to the sort of nasty snobbery felt by petty genteel folk of what used to be called the 'respectable working class'. Sort of Hyacinth Bucket. Like Orpington or Stoneleigh, So using the word as a pisstake. But you seem to be using it seriously as if you think being 'naice' is great. If you really are, then I feel so sorry for your husband and children. I hope he sticks up a huge inflatable penis.

fingerguns · 16/12/2023 13:01

If it were strobe lights then I'd say no, but it's just a Santa. Let him have his Santa!

Renamed · 16/12/2023 13:03

I don’t want to see anybody’s Christmas decorations, keep them all inside. Especially huge inflatable things and flashy flashy lights. YANBU and Bah Humbug.

Original poster
PuffPastryFluff · 16/12/2023 13:05

PaulaPocket · 16/12/2023 13:00

Surely this must be either a reverse or a joke. This 'naice' thing on MN puzzles me. I can relate to it as a sarcastic way of referring to the sort of nasty snobbery felt by petty genteel folk of what used to be called the 'respectable working class'. Sort of Hyacinth Bucket. Like Orpington or Stoneleigh, So using the word as a pisstake. But you seem to be using it seriously as if you think being 'naice' is great. If you really are, then I feel so sorry for your husband and children. I hope he sticks up a huge inflatable penis.

Edited

Last time I looked even a penis with a Christmas hat on didn't seem particularly festive. Maybe I am looking at the wrong ones.

OP posts:
cantsleepinbed · 16/12/2023 13:11

DH bought an inflatable Santa. I hate inflatable decorations. I didn't say anything. It's his home too and I 'luvs' him.

Anyway, it lasted two weeks and then almost caught fire. We now have a giant dead Santa in the garden.

It'll be March, I'm sure, by the time DH moves it.

StoodySmithereens · 16/12/2023 13:35

Never mind the tea, you could find yourself being replaced by a blow up.

Topofthemountain · 16/12/2023 13:36

This is what you need

is being in keeping with the neighbours more important than keeping DH happy
Bearbookagainandagain · 16/12/2023 13:43

YABU, we live on a similar street, some neighbours went for taste, others for colorful flashing colours, an others for massive displays... They're all amazing in their own ways!

FictionalCharacter · 16/12/2023 13:44

Yanbu, not because of the naiceness of the neighbourhood, but because plastic tat is ugly as fuck.

sonjadog · 16/12/2023 13:50

I have a giant inflatable Santa and we have had the same discussion here. The compromise is that I am allowed to put up Santa from Christmas Eve until 27th. So I get Santa joy, but don't ruin the neighbours' tasteful decorative show.

loudbatperson · 16/12/2023 13:50

How about something like these instead? Still "fun" but much less gaudy than a large inflatable.

www.lights4fun.co.uk/products/alpaca-sledging-penguin-french-bulldog-christmas-figures

is being in keeping with the neighbours more important than keeping DH happy
ntmdino · 16/12/2023 13:52

Sod the neighbours. Have some fun, instead of being beige to fit in.

TodayForTomorrow · 16/12/2023 14:34

Compromise by having it in the back garden.

Blinkityblonk · 16/12/2023 14:36

I like the snowman inflatable, a couple of houses in the neighbourhood have them and they have made me smile, one has a giant Father Christmas which is about 2/3rds the height of the house! I say do what you want.

Treesinmygarden · 16/12/2023 14:47

You have a DH problem!!😝I hate tacky inflatables so I would put my foot down for that reason!!

On the other hand, there's one a few doors up and I just ignore it.

MikeRafone · 16/12/2023 15:19

its your house and home, let the neighbours do what they want and your husband decorate as he wants

Underthesea65 · 16/12/2023 15:29

PuffPastryFluff · 16/12/2023 11:59

I am not aware of frogs (or indeed newts) featuring heavily in the nativity. Prepared to be proven wrong.

Show quote history

Where did snowmen feature in the Nativity?

WaitingfortheTardis · 16/12/2023 15:33

I have no idea why anyone would feel the need to be 'in keeping' with their neighbours. Be your own people.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 16/12/2023 15:35

Watering frogs!!

HerRoyalNotness · 16/12/2023 15:38

Let him have it.

we went in a friends neighbourhood Santa parade on Thursday and saw this bad boy, 9ft of Xmas chicken.

then one popped up in our neighbourhood. I love it! But still unsure about the link to Xmas

is being in keeping with the neighbours more important than keeping DH happy
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