To feel miffed with my neighbours request?

[Aliceglass]

I don’t know if I’m being sensitive or unreasonable here. My next door neighbour approached me at the weekend to give me dates of their summer garden parties.

For context, We live in a terrace of modern houses and we all have similar sized gardens, enclosed by neighbouring gardens, back and side.

So my neighbour told me about her planned garden parties over the next few months and there were 3 dates confirmed, 2 tbc.

But, she has specifically asked us that we don’t use our garden during the days of these parties.

I was a little take aback and said that we don’t have any scheduled bbqs or parties on those dates so they will be fine. But she said they didn’t want us to use our garden, AT ALL!
Apparently it will spoil the atmosphere if I was to “pop to the bins and empty my recycling” or if they could hear the washing machine on a spin if I left the back door open!

I did laugh at this stage and say well I can’t promise to not access my garden for the whole day.

She went on to say how her friends are “well to do” and they would expect privacy and not to be interrupted by unnecessary noise.

I got a little frustrated at this point and I asked if she was just letting me know or if the neighbours the other side were also being asked this. She assured me that, yes they were and they confirmed they won’t be using their garden or the gate to their garden at the back so as to not disturb her.

Am I being unreasonable to think that this request is unusually controlling?

She is a CF
I would be planning my own parties on the same dates.
To not use your garden for a number of (hopefully) nice sunny days is a ridiculous ask.

Borrow a very loud dog that barks all day and leave it outside all day.Oh and get one of those sprinklers that move from side to side so it just goes over her fence 😂

Hire a brass band teacher, invite all the local six year olds round to learn to play the tuba, then have a concert party for their parents.

Outrageous! I’d be sorely tempted to do something passive aggressive.

When’s the first date? I think we’d all like feedback!

Time to bonfire some dog turds and set the speakers up to play death metal all evening. What a nerve.

WT actual F?! That's plain batshit.

I don’t know about feedback, dont we all want to rock up?

Use the karaoke machine indoors then you've "obeyed" so she can't complain but you're still really annoying. If she tries to complain say that you organised extra activities to ensure no one went into the garden and disturbed her

if you have any old stained towels you use for "mopping up" or drying the dog, hang them out on the washing line while they are visiting. The scabbier they look the better!

Paddling pool filled with bottles of beer
Trampoline
Hot tub
Karaoke machine
Very smokey bbq

This 100%

Would you like to borrow my very barky cf dog and pre teen son that likes to kick a football against a fence repeatedly? They are both well skilled in their ‘jobs’

This would be me!! Set the dogs barking every half hour too

Tell her majesty if she requires privacy perhaps she should relocate her hosting to her castle

Do you have a lawn?
This would be a great time to mow it.

Given how cheeky she has been, I’d probably be out there mowing paving slabs to prove a point.

She’s batshit crazy. Borrow a trampoline and some noisy children 👀

It's not a good idea to fall out with neighbours so I wouldn't retaliate. A big smile and a chuckle, and a 'well that really is a step too far when it's our garden, but I expect you are joking. Have a lovely time' is plenty.

Well one of her garden parties - you simply must repaint your fence a colour she will hate.
Im told music helps you work - my children (and I 🤦‍♀️) are finding the taco song hilarious at the mo! If you have apple music it’s at the start of the kids road trip playlist.

Seriously she’s batshit! I really hope the neighbourhood gangs up! And it’s a good thing we don’t have homeowners associations here or she’d be judge, jury and executioner!

total cf! maybe it's a opportunity for you and the other neighbours to make a bit of extra cash.. tell her you'll be quiet for say, £50 per party. Why should she get to dictate your days for free lol. That'll soon shut her up haha

I’d definitely ignore. If you have young children buy a trampoline!

Well she can fuck right off. Who the hell does she think she is.

I’d be organising a bbq for the entire street for that day.

“Come one, come all, you know that obnoxiously loud stereo that you have at number 42? Bring it please. Oh no, don’t worry, number 3 is busy that day, she won’t be coming.”

I would tell her to fuck off.

And make a point of using my garden on those days.

Hate to burst your bubble, but I’m not married and don’t have kids but am on Mumsnet 😂

I promise you I’m not your NDN though 🤔