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?

Shame we can't organise a Mumsnet roadtrip.

@OP I'm begging you for an update for each soiree.

I can think of nothing that would be more likely to make me spend the afternoon in my garden with my big stereo playing Black Sabbath at high volume, farting loudly between tracks.

I’d sit in the garden in my pants and a tee shirt, drinking beer, playing Chas and Dave on a loop and singing along loudly.

🤣🤣🤣

What a great idea! I might hire a karaoke machine for good measure as well, let the kids go wild on that! 😂

Invite all of your friends, family and associates over, and ask them all to bring a big white sheet to wear.

Rig up a theramin to a very loud boombox and have them all float and glide ethereally around your garden whilst loudly complaining in quivering voices about how this country has seriously gone to the dogs since they were children five centuries ago.

Argh CF neighbours are the devil’s work!
i actually wouldn’t do anything except what I would normally do in my own fucking garden. Ignore ignore ignore. If she says anything just reply that you couldn’t possibly have thought she was serious and walk away.

What a cheeky cow.
If her guests are ‘well to do’ and want privacy then your neighbour needs to book somewhere for her parties.
I’d be doing some mowing and emptying bins etc. on those days .
If I was younger and the weather nice, maybe some topless sunbathing ?

Well she has just given you the dates to get your lawn mower out. A bit of strimming accompanied by loud music. Bins moving everywhere. A kids party would also be a good idea, lots of balloons to pop. Adults as well, bbq is a must. Underwear on full display on the washing line, the brighter the better. She sounds completely bonkers. After the first date you could offer her the rental of your garden for £££. I feel sorry for her husband and if any children. I wonder what the other neighbour thinks??

Lol! Well the first one is 3rd May! I reckon my garden will fit 20 (uncomfortably) 😆

How very dare she? I'd take great joy at acting with increased levels of madness with each party.

Country house tastes on a terrace budget.

Hire a hot tub for the first one. Make her think you’ve bought it.

I wouldn't be dictated to in my own home or garden. If she'd asked someone not to burn rubbish during her party, that would be reasonable. But she's mad if she expects her neighbours not to use their gardens at all on five nice days/evenings of the summer. I'd either agree and then 'forget' and do exactly as I wished or repeat that I can't make any promises about whether or not I'll be in my garden on any given day, but of course I won't be calling out over the fence or otherwise interacting with her precious guests. 🙄

This!

I would invite a pile of kids round and give them all vuvuzelas and a wheelbarrow full of sugar.

This is the best advice EVER, 🤣

I would be getting myself down to the garden centre and buying several bags of manure. I would then leave it stacked up in the garden during this gloriously warm weather and THEN, on the day of the entitled neighbours first garden party I would be opening one of the bags of ripe and steaming manure to spread it on MY GARDEN in MY TIME at MY CONVENIENCE!

I’m an introvert but she sounds like comedy gold and I would get so much satisfaction from winding her up!

Have you got a spare mattress that can go in the front garden for a bit? 😁

Cloth nappies on the washing line, I think, and all your mankiest tea towels. Stock Aitken and Waterman tracks on repeat as you peg it all out. Shout the length of the garden for DH to "bring us a pasty back from Greggs, and Could he take the kids to Maccies while he's out?"

Shamelessly following for party disruption updates pls 😅😅😅

I'd invite my family and friends round on the same day and have my own bbq/ party. With loads of music.

Play Kevin Bloody Wilson on the boombox on repeat.

It's going to have to be a medley of Agadoo push pineapple, the birdie dance, and that album that Russ Abbott made way back including "I love a party with a happy atmosphere".

Can you get an inflatable hot tub. You don't even need to be in the garden as i'm sure she'll wind herself up something chronic at the thought of you all piling in and at what time.