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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to LOL at this letter from our neighbour.....

93 replies

StarlightMcEggzie · 09/04/2009 11:26

We went him a short note asking if we could prune the branches overhanging our garden. They are almost covering a third of our garden and prevent us from getting any sunlight after about 2pm. We wanted to speak to him face to face but he never answers the door.

So the typwritten letter goes:

Dear Mr and Mrs Starlight,

Thank you for your note, & you are of course very welcome to do whatever you wish as regards the overhanging branches into your garden. :-At least, you've had the good manners to ask :-your predecessor used to just 'butcher' the trees &bushes without so much as a 'by your leave'! That's the 'Building Trade', though, for you, isn't it? They don't care about Wildlife or Plants :-They're only happy if they've managed to cover the entire planet in Bricks & Mortar!

Do be careful though, as I believe there's a pair of Magpies nesting in that tree, and we don't want to upset them, do we?

The Lilac bushes should flower in a few weeks time, and you are very welcome to pick as many flowers as you wish:- Th Bushes only flower for about a fortnight once a year, but they do look nice around the house whilst they last. If you want any cuttings of anything, you're very welcome also:- It's not your fault that you've inherited a garden that looks like something out of a 'Garden Centre'. Once it starts to grow a bit, you should get some of the Wildlife and Wild Flowers that I get in mine. Also, as your youngster grows up, I'm sure he would appreciate some lawn also:- My lawn used to make a fabulous Football Pitch/Tennis Courts etc when I was your son's age (many moons ago!) although it may be a bit difficult to see it now that it's covered in 'Forget-Me-Nots', 'Bluebells' & 'Ground Ivy', but such is life!

I've got some Grass Seed & a book that explains how to lay a lawn, if you're interested:- Our Neighbours on the other side owe their lawn to my late father providing the seed and showing them what to do, so I'll try to carry on the 'Family Tradition' should you so wish! (Not that I'm particularly interested in gardening, in case you hadn't noticed!!)

Anyway, that's enough ramblingfrom me:- Good luck with the 'Pruning' & take care!

Kind regards & Best wishes,

XXX

OP posts:
Original poster
StarlightMcEggzie · 09/04/2009 11:42

Thanks clumsymum I'm a bit worried about that tbh, because we have sheduled a visit from DH's dad who lives 250 miles away, to come for Easter to do it, because my DH is too clumsy and terrible with DIY.

Also it is definately a 2 person job, and DH working full time with 2 children under 2.4, this weekend is the first time in the 2 years that his garden has been bothering me, that there has actually been any hope of getting it done.

OP posts:
surrofab · 09/04/2009 11:43

Awww,what a lovely old guy!
xx

LIZS · 09/04/2009 11:43

aww I'd feel better about that than the snotty note from our neighbours telling us to replace our fence (for benefit of their chickens) or would we like to sell them that part of our land if we can't be bothered to do anything with it ! He can come and grass seed ours if he likes !

Original poster
StarlightMcEggzie · 09/04/2009 11:43

And btw, when you see 'ground ivy', read 'blackberry bushes'

OP posts:
mychildrenarebarmy · 09/04/2009 11:44

Aw he sounds lovely. How lucky are you?

Alibabaandthe40bunnies · 09/04/2009 11:45

Oh bless him, that is so lovely

Sidge · 09/04/2009 11:46

I think that's lovely!

I would send a return note, thanking him for his advice and mentioning that you have knocked but it seemed he hadn't heard the door and maybe he'd like a cup of tea one day?

If he lives alone he may be fearful of opening the door; is he elderly? Many elderly people are so nervous of opening the door to scammers and bogus officials they just don't bother.

PeachyWithTheBirthdayBas · 09/04/2009 11:47
clumsymum · 09/04/2009 11:48

Perhaps if you explain the problem of needing 2 people to do the job, your neighbour would come to help (or is he too doddery?).

I have a dh who is 'DIY challenged' (or maybe even DIY disabled) too, and TBH if the branches are big and look heavy, I'd invest in some professional help, so save injury to family members or tree.

FAQinglovely · 09/04/2009 11:48

awww he sounds really sweet

chocolatewolfnipplechips · 09/04/2009 11:48

He sounds so lovely. I would love if somebody would let me pick their lilac. Reminds me of my Grandad and i know what he means about garden centre gardens. He sounds like he would be very interesting to get to know.

QuintessentialShadow · 09/04/2009 11:48

A lovely note!

I agree with the point about the lilacs though. Please dont cut back until after they have flowered.

Lilacs are funny, in that if you DO cut them back (after flowering) they will make more flowers next year. If you dont, and the seeds drop down on your side, you will have lots of little lilac baby trees on your side too, which eventually will grow big and beautiful.

I would take him up on the lawn.

I would write a nice note back and tell him that you appreciate the advice, and would love the lawn seeds, as it would indeed be nice for the children to have a bit of green soft lawn to play on.

PinkTulips · 09/04/2009 11:50

awww, he sounds fabulous.

i'll swap with you for our neighbours who's son drowned a mouse in front of my 2 & 4 year old yesterday and who actively encourage their kids to go into our garden and to cause trouble with my kids. they've only been there a month and already it's depressing me... summer is going to be a nightmare

your old man sounds really nice, and a bit lonely tbh.... you should make an effort to be friendly, good neighbours are invaluable.

Comewhinewithme · 09/04/2009 11:50

He sounds lovely . Remided me of Adrian Mole though .

Original poster
StarlightMcEggzie · 09/04/2009 11:55

Ah, suggestion of inviting for tea sounds like a good one.

WRT lilac, I really don't want any growing in our garden. He might mention tennis courts and football pitches, but that is also quite funny as our garden is only about 6 paces long and 4 paces across. Lilac is too big and too tall and his seedlings cause me grief.

OP posts:
Original poster
StarlightMcEggzie · 09/04/2009 11:56

PT Poor you. That sounds truly horrible.

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadow · 09/04/2009 11:58

If you dont want lilac seedlings, then you should just cut off the overhanging ones as soon as they have flourished, to avoid this problem.

redsky · 09/04/2009 12:02

That letter is just brilliant - he is asking you very very kindly and gently not to cut back the lilac until it has finished flowering.And his offer about the grass seed is wonderful too - he comes across as a genuinely nice, considerate neighbour and the fact that his letter rambles makes it even more appealing. Could you write a letter in reply? Then see if you can progress to some other means of communication - or will he just have to lob the grass seed over the fence!

fattiemumma · 09/04/2009 12:04

Awww he sounds lovely. i would glady swap any of my neighbuors for him.

Original poster
StarlightMcEggzie · 09/04/2009 12:04

LOL redsky

Planning to invite him for tea over Easter now. Maybe he can explain what we CAN do with two people for the moment.

OP posts:
twoluvlykids · 09/04/2009 12:07

He sounds lovely. I'd bake him a cake and leave it on the doorstep with a reply note.

Our very elderly neighbour has offered to help DH fell a very large tree in our garden, which is hideous.

He must be in his 80s, and every summer he offers to lend us ropes and himself to get it down!

mustrunmore · 09/04/2009 12:11

Ah, bless, what a sweetheart

Original poster
StarlightMcEggzie · 09/04/2009 12:12

Is it blocking his sunlight twoluvly?

OP posts:
theyoungvisiter · 09/04/2009 12:15

he sounds lovely! I agree with other posters - I expect he's shy and/or doesn't answer the door to strangers.

Such a nice idea to ask him round for tea - but don't be offended if he says no, he may be housebound or worried about venturing out.

kittywise · 09/04/2009 12:15

Nice man, you are lucky