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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be a bit cross with neighbour

18 replies

Tidey · 11/09/2009 15:06

I daresay I'll be told I am being unreasonable but here goes.

Today is the first day in ages we've had nice enough weather for me to be able to dry washing outside. The weather in the summer hoildays was crap, and we finally get some sunshine and my neighbour has lit a fire in a metal bin in his back yard, which is connected to mine by a path that leads around the back of the houses. The wind is blowing the smoke straight into my garden and I had bedclothes drying out there. The sheets now smell like a branch of Burger King and will all have to be rewashed.

I'm not suggesting that he shouldn't be allowed to burn kippers or whatever the feck it is that's stinking out the street, but a knock on the door to give me enough time to bring my washing inside would have been appreciated. AIBU?

OP posts:

TrillianAstra · 11/09/2009 15:14

YANBU to be 'a bit annoyed' but there's not really anything you can do about it.

fifitot · 11/09/2009 15:14

If I wanted to do this (i.e light a fire) I would probably have let next door know I would be about to do this. (Though wtf is he burning btw? And why?)

Not unreasonable imo. Mind - I hate people lighting barbeques when the washing is out too so maybe it's just me!

Original poster

Tidey · 11/09/2009 15:17

I know there's nothing I can do about it. It's just nice to have a little impotent rant every now and again. We've always got on fine with him and I'm not going to shout at him or anything, but I would have thought that after eight years of living next to someone, they might have a bit of consideration for others.

Ta for responses

OP posts:

TrillianAstra · 11/09/2009 15:20

Maybe he is building his own smoker, adn there reeally will be kippers at the end of it...

echt · 11/09/2009 21:58

Most local authorities have by-laws about burning stuff in daylight hours.

Original poster

Tidey · 12/09/2009 11:59

I looked on the borough council website and apparently there aren't any by-laws here, but that you can report people if they are burning plastic or anything else toxic and if they are having a lot of fires and causing a problem. Since it's a one off I won't be repoting him, it was just really irritating to have stinky washing and not be able to sit outside without choking.

OP posts:

edd021208 · 12/09/2009 12:04

yab a little u - maybe he didn't notice the sheets or know his fire would affect them...maybe you should have a nice friendly word and say that if he is going to light a fire in the back it would be great if he could let you know first because you remember someone else in a different context (could be you in your last house) drying sheets beside a smelly fire and how hilariously smelly they were.....

hatesponge · 12/09/2009 12:07

Personally I would never hang washing out at this time of year as it tends to come back in covered in spiders.....however, you are clearly braver than me, and as such YANBU!

LIZS · 12/09/2009 12:12

There are no bylaws here but it shodul casue inconvenience to others. One of our more distant neighbours in road behind (adjacent were all out) objected when we lit a bonfore on the bank holiday as she had a load of washing out. It took almost as long to put out as it would to burn ! Funnily I also had washing out but it didn't smell.

LIZS · 12/09/2009 12:12

sorry shouldn't

PrettyCandles · 12/09/2009 12:14

What about the neighbour three houses down and one road over who lights a BBQ? Perhaps you ought to have let them know you'll be hanging out laundry so please don't make any smells? What about the hayfever sufferer who has paved over her garden - should her neighbour not cut the lawn?

Sorry, I think YABU.

But, yes, having been on the receiving end of many sets of smokey laundry, I agree that it is very annoying.

Oxymoronic · 12/09/2009 12:21

YANBU that's just really rude, he should leave it until the evening definately.

Original poster

Tidey · 13/09/2009 14:53

I don't think people should be banned from ever having bonfires or barbecues, PrettyCandles, and it's not just the washing ending up stinky that annoyed me. It's more that on the first day in ages that we had some nice weather, when people could have their washing out or be sitting in their garden, he chose to burn some very unplesant smelling stuff right in the middle of the day. The smoke was very thick and made my eyes water. As Oxymoronic said, if he'd done it in the evening, or had given us any warning, it would have been more considerate, that's all.

However, I asked for opinions, and if some would say I'm being unreasonable, then fair enough.

OP posts:

diddl · 13/09/2009 15:06

Would the neighbour have been able to see your washing?

If so, YANBU.

If not, it´s annoying but unfortunate, I guess.

Jajas · 13/09/2009 15:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

diddl · 13/09/2009 15:09

I´m in Germany, and as far as I know, we are not allowed to have garden fires at all where we are.

In some places ther are two days a year when it´s allowed, and in other places you can fill out a form to request permission!

SomeGuy · 13/09/2009 21:30

he was probably smoking, which would take four to eight hours, in time for dinner.

lucykate · 13/09/2009 21:35

we have a neighbour like this. he has fires in his garden about 3 times a week, and i can guarantee one will be lit just as i've hung out the washing.

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