Should I ask my neighbours if we can have designated times to sit in the garden?

[Guarddogdaschunds]

I will preface by saying that it is possible this heatwave has affected my rational thinking. So I will bite- I am so sick of listening to my neighbours having their dinner in the garden and having to listen to their booming voices for hours on end. It has reached the stage where we feel relegated indoors, especially in the evenings.

We live in a new build in close proximity to our neighbours so can hear everything as you can imagine. They are a couple in their early 30's (I think), no kids. The man with the booming voice works from home and has taken to working from his garden throughout the day, often vaping. My kids are off school, trying to make the best of the time off and I really don't think they should have to hear the details of his teams meetings. Surely he should work inside and allow people peaceful enjoyment of their gardens? I have never worked from home, but wouldn't it be considered a GDPR breach if others can hear?

They have had friends over for BBQs the previous 2 nights and have been sitting outside chatting until around 9pm. The BBQ smell lingered for so long and of course they were all vaping and drinking alcohol. One of their friends was regaling them with tales of her dating escapades-hardly an appropriate topic for my 9 year old to have in earshot. I also don't want my kids damaging their lungs inhaling all of those disgusting vape particles. The women have also been prancing around in very skimpy bikinis. I know women are entitled to wear what they want, but come on-all the neighbours can see if they look outside their upstairs windows! I'm also concerned as yesterday, the visiting friends were there for several hours and appeared to drive themselves home- were they over the limit?

On both occasions, I have brought my kids inside, as I don't want them to hear the sordid details of their conversations. I also feel awkward that they are only a few metres away from me, so I don't want to have my dinner outside in case they listen to our conversation. Would I be unreasonable to pop over or post a note through their door requesting that we have an outdoor mealtime rota so we can all enjoy our gardens in peace-as we are entitled to?

You need to unclench OP.

OMG No, I would not prefer to hear your children. Such arrogance. So what if you think it's a "family area" - it's not. It's where your neighbours live. And so what if you've lied there longer than them. Entitled, much?

The reality is that this is a family road and my husband and I (and other normal families on the road)

Oh is "a family road" a Council zoning category now?

I'm just glad OP doesn't share a communal garden. She'd expect everyone to vacate it for her sole use!

So because they don't have children they shouldn't have bought a house in this road? Is this what you are saying OP?

For all you know they could have bought this home expecting to have children but are having fertility issues

Perhaps you should pay for them to move away from such a horrible judgemental neighbour

Are your children allowed to be children and play op, or are they made to sit indoors and not utter a single word, seen and not heard?

My DGM had neighbours who were noisy until late. What truly vexed her was when they climbed over the fence and took her garden chairs for their guests. She took delivery of some bags of manure for her garden which sat by the fence for months.

I did not realise there were roads, or houses, that could only be purchased by "normal families" with children (and without trampolines it seems). I certainly did not know of this. I would love to know what the definition of a "normal family" is and if as a foster carer looking after teenagers with complex behavioural issues I would qualify? I suspect I wouldn't as one of my teenagers is currently sitting quietly in the garden in his football shirt!!