Smoking and neighbours

[TheMoistWorldOfSeptimusQuench]

It doesn't really matter now because we're moving next weekend, but anyway, I'd be grateful if the MN jury could give me their verdict on this one...

I am horrible filthy smoker, not a heavy one, but I do smoke two or three cigarettes every evening. Now obviously I'm not going to smoke in the house, so instead, I smoke in the garden. We live in a house which only has a small front garden, so that's where I sit.

The house adjoins a low block of flats, and on the top (second) floor live a family - middle aged mum & dad, and their daughter, who looks about 18.

They like to have their windows open all year round, so inevitably, this leads to problems with my smoking. Although I'm sone distance away, it seems that they can smell it. Which I agree must be horrible, but they do have the option of closing their windows. Or coming down and having mature conversation about it.

But when I light up, their chosen method of dealing with the problem is to talk very loudly about me. For example, "That disgusting old slag's at it again", and "Ugh! Fag ash lil's out..." etc etc.

When they saw the "to let" sign go up outside my house, they all leaned out of the window, singing "Celebrate good times!" as they saw me walk up the street.

I saw them today in the street and they ignored me, so I made a point of grinning broadly and saying "Hello!" in the most cheerful voice I could manage. The mother muttered "morning...", the daughter smirked and the dad suddenly became very interested in the view of the pavement.

One other mitigating factor: When the parents are out, the daughter very often has lots of friends round (who are exceptionally noisy in the way that only teenagers can be), and also has extremely loud sex with the windows open. When this happens, I close my windows (if they're open), or go inside or whatever. It's annoying, but I'm certainly not going to ask a teenager not to have sex, so live and let live.

I completely agree that the smell of smoke is vile, but in other ways, I'm a fairly good neighbour I think... we're not noisy, look in on the elderly people who live in the flats, clean up the rubbish when the bin bags have split in the street (even though it's often not ours).

So, AIBU? Are they? Or are we both?

I thank you

YANBU! Neighbours! Who'd have em?

they are.

Tis your property, you have every right to smoke in your own garden.

I dare say there'll be plenty of folk come on here and tell you YABU but you are not

It is not illegal to smoke.
It is not illegal to smoke outside.
It is not illegal to smoke on your own property.

And thank god you're moving. Perhaps you could tell them you're leaving because you're fed up with their daughter's noisy sex sessions!

My neighbours used to do this. I had a polite word now they smoke at the front of their property so it doesn't go in my house. I would never shout comments at them through the window like this.
I'd slip a note under their door when you move telling them of their daughter's parties!

YANBU.

Ignorant gits. Least they could do is come over and mention it to you, even then, it is your garden and quite frankly, none of their business.

The anti smoking thing has gone beyond any sense. Fingers crossed that a cigar smoker moves into your house.

Maybe you can tell them that you know the new people are cigar smokers to wind them up?

Ooooh, I would be sorely tempted, just before leaving forever, to go up and say 'I do apologise for the smoking, but it disturbs people a lot less than the sound of your daughter swinging from the rafters whenever you're out.'

But that would just be very mean and childish. So don't really.

And I agree with squonk. You're not allowed to smoke in lots of places nowadays, but your own garden is no-one's business but yours.

I'm not a smoker and i detest the smell of smoke, but i dont think yabu, they sound like nobs

what squonk said.

So I'm NBU?

Phew! Thanks gang

A tough one. I live on the first flor of a converted house and the people who lived above me until about a year ago were the heaviest smokers you could imagine. I could smell them light up their first of the day through my ceiling, and smell when they walked past my front door Yes, they were doing it in their own home, but to such an extent that it really was disgusting.The people who moved in afterwards had to rip everything out as it smelled so badly. Even the bath had burns on it .
But in this instance I don't think YABU. If it bothered them that much they could just shut their windows for the few minutes you were smoking

Nope. What a bunch of areholes! You must be so pleased you are moving.

at cigar smokers

you should have a "house-cooling" party when you leave.

Have a barbecue and light loads of joss sticks around the garden and make sure everyone smokes.

Lots.

What ridiculously childish behaviour on their part. Just thank God you won't have to be their neighbour for much longer.

Yes, and if there's any possible way to do it, sew prawns into the hems of their curtains.

Again, not really.

[wafts hand] Septimus, do you mind? Do you have to exhale in here you disgusting old slag?

There's a communal area for hanging washing on the other side of my house. I've just noticed they've left their washing hanging up overnight (dirty sluts ).

Shall I go and blow smoke on their pants?

ref. your 22.32 post btw

haha, definitely!

songbird