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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To reject this invite from a new neighbour?

233 replies

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 13/03/2009 01:24

Maybe I'm being a grump but I find it a bit confrontational. I'm confused as to what they mean too. They posted it through my door today, I haven't even seen them yet (they have moved in four doors up).

Hiya Neighbour

On 24th of March our building work will be over and we will be good to go. If you could drop round with housewarmers between 3pm and 7pm we would be happy to offer a glass of wine.

Kind Regards
X and X

OP posts:
mm22bys · 13/03/2009 09:08

Lawks, don't know whether to be offended or not (as an Aussie myself!)

Maybe they are Australian. "Good to go" is an Aussie expressions, I have googled "housewarmers" on the Australian portal, and nothing really came up.

Maybe they are just being friendly.

I've changed my tune...

If they are Australian, they are genuinely being friendly, even if the invite is oddly worded...

mm22bys · 13/03/2009 09:11

That sounds really racist, doesn't it, what I mean is, they do just want to "apologise" for any inconvenience and do just want to have a drink with you...

Go on, go!

Lemontart · 13/03/2009 09:11

Glad you are going

Agree that the wording is not brilliant but glad you are willing to see it in a positive light and do the neighbourly thing. If it all falls flat and is a nightmare, at least you will have a good tale to tell
muffins and a bottle sounds spot on!

Lizzylou · 13/03/2009 09:11

I think it is a confusing invite, I'd have thought that they were expecting gifts tbh.

Like Shaun, if someone os offering me wine, I'd be there

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 13/03/2009 09:14

I think it is nice in sentiment and when you meet them you may find they are from a different culture where the phrase about housewarmers is widely used.

I would go - they sound nice.

GetOrfMoiLand · 13/03/2009 09:25

Bless them for trying, but I would think this strange. I never get to know my neighbours wherever I live.

My SIL lives in a cul-de-sac where the neighbours have Christmas partied and halloween barbecues and the like. Not for me.

LadyBee · 13/03/2009 09:28

maybe a 'housewarmer' is like a 'sundowner' - you know, the drink you drink while the sun goes down in southern African countries? You might find they're South African or Zimbabwean - equally friendly, but if Afrikaans is their first language that might explain the slight strange phrasing.

Glad you're going, I wish we'd done this when we moved into our neighbourhood - especially when it came to Christmas and we were surprised to have cards pushed through our doors from the neighbours addressed to 'all at no.37'

Take a bottle and some nice muffins or cake or something, covers all bases and ensures you'll have something nice to drink.

Good lord...look at the icons!

Original poster
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 13/03/2009 09:30

I just noticed those, they look a wee bit scary! The grin is positively demonic!

OP posts:
FAQinglovely · 13/03/2009 09:31

my first impression is "they're not British" and English isn't their first language (although they could speak it very well - rather like my DH whose "mother tongue" is Shona - but speaks English as well as the rest of us - but does sometimes come out with some odd things ).

Glad to see you're going.

I hate not knowing my neighbours, have spoken to them in passing a few times, but haven't spoken to anyone else.........

edam · 13/03/2009 09:33

It is strangely worded but agree with everyone else, they are just trying to be friendly and apologise for the noise of the building works.

You do realise you HAVE to go now and report back? I want to know whether they are complete nutters who throw a strop when they don't get any pressies/hospitable Aussies/anything else!

edam · 13/03/2009 09:35

Btw, I lived in various parts of inner London for 17 years - mostly didn't know my neighbours from Adam but in one place on an estate there was a real community and people were invited round (every time Mr Next Door got some real Jamaican rum sent over) or stood on the front doorstep gossiping.

EdwardBear · 13/03/2009 09:36

I used to be wary of my neighbours i London, through shyness mainly I think.
Its lovely here though. One of my neighbours is babysitting for me tomorrow night while I'm at my other neighbours wedding reception!

Original poster
TheDevilWearsPrimark · 13/03/2009 09:37

We did have some New Zealand (what is the term for that?) neighbours in our old house. They thought I was from there too (I have been told I have a strange accent) and were very friendly, then blanked me after I told them I was English. Odd.

OP posts:
Morloth · 13/03/2009 09:38

I agree with the Australian assessment.

I read it as, come over for a drink. The reference to "Housewarmers" is a joke, cause you are going to their house to "warm" it - geddit?

Good to go is also something I say a lot. As in right, everything is ready and now we are good to go.

I think we tend to be a bit more relaxed than the British about having people over randomly as well. There is a bit more of a "wall" between people here in the UK than in Oz, not commenting negatively - its just different is all.

Buda · 13/03/2009 09:39

I think the idea of inviting neighbours over is lovely but agree the wording is odd and it could seem like asking for gifts. But I assume they would be horrified that if would come across like that. I agree a nice basket of muffins and a bottle of wine would be fine.

smugaboo · 13/03/2009 09:39

Nah, not Australian. We never say 'hiya'. I reckon they're American - I think 'good to go' is American.
I thought 'housewarmers' were gifts too. I think they want a plant - or a chimney muff.

FatFree · 13/03/2009 09:40

Glad to see you are going . I didnt read anything other than "apologies for the building work, drop round between 3 and 7 with your family and friends and have some wine with us"

Although after a few glasses of wine, 7pm is gonna feel very early! I'd at least expect an all nighter!

Morloth · 13/03/2009 09:40

I am Australian and I say "Hiya" as do pretty much all of my friends.

FAQinglovely · 13/03/2009 09:40

We did have some New Zealand (what is the term for that?)

I would call them Kiwi's - but I'm sure that's probably horrendously politically incorrect.

FAQinglovely · 13/03/2009 09:41

maybe it's an American married to an Australian

Morloth · 13/03/2009 09:41

Kiwi's is OK isn't it?

FAQinglovely · 13/03/2009 09:43

Morloth - I don't know - thought I'd just cover my back just incase lol

smugaboo · 13/03/2009 09:43

But are you in UK Morloth? I used the local lingo when I was there too - never now (in Oz).

smugaboo · 13/03/2009 09:44

Wait - don't answer that. These people are in the UK too (duh!)

Morloth · 13/03/2009 09:45

I am ATM but we use it at home as well, always have.