Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Mean woman next door! Would you have helped?

57 replies

RinkyDinkyPinky · 14/08/2009 14:14

I thought I was on good terms with my neighbours but am shocked by the meanness of my neighbour this afternoon.

I popped round and asked her politely if she could help me out. My washing machine had broken down leaving me with a load of sodden, soapy, half-washed clothes. I asked if it would be possible to rinse/ spin them in her machine.

She looked at me as if I was strange and ummed and ahhed and I felt so bad that I apologised and said not to worry I'd wash them in the bath.

Just wondering...

Would you have helped a neighbour in this situation?

I'm positive I would. I'm absolutely gobsmacked at her resposne TBH.

OP posts:
YorkshireRose · 14/08/2009 14:55

Alibaba - do you really think the OP (or anyone really) really CARES about the state of your kitchen when they have dripping wet washing all over the place?

I guess I can understand you having a twinge of embarassment if you think the house is a mess, but SURELY you could get over that to help someone in an emergency?

Couldn't you?

You know, the truth is no-one notices the state of your house, they are too busy worrying what everyone thinks of them to notice.

Come round and see the state of my bear pit, that will cheer you up!

Paolosgirl · 14/08/2009 14:57

Go to a launderette? I don't think one exists within a 10 mile radius round here, seriously. Of course I would have helped - even if I didn't know the person that well. There is no way I'd have left them with a pile of soggy washing - poor you

NorbertDentressangle · 14/08/2009 14:57

Of course I would have helped in that situation.

In fact when our machine broke a couple of years ago my neighbour gave me her spare keys and let me come and go as I pleased whilst she was at work to do my washing for a couple of weeks. I would have done the same for her.

YanknCock · 14/08/2009 14:57

You'd be welcome at mine, even though my kitchen is a tip! (DH is in charge, tendonitis and carpal tunnel in pregnancy means I can't do a damn thing)

There must be some weird reason behind it, especially if you've been on good enough terms to have tea before.

Shall we speculate on what she might have been doing in her kitchen?

YorkshireRose · 14/08/2009 14:58

Actually, Alibaba, reading your post again, it sounds as if your house is perfectly tidy. Are you perhaps getting a bit carried away with the quest for House Beautiful?

Or are you taking the mick?

NorbertDentressangle · 14/08/2009 14:59

Even if there was something untowards going on in her kitchen surely she could have said "pop it round this evening" or "leave it with me and I'll put it in the machine later". How strange

supersalstrawberry · 14/08/2009 15:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 14/08/2009 15:06

YR - no I'm not taking the mick . I'm wrestling with PND and anxiety at the moment and my clean house is my haven.

YorkshireRose · 14/08/2009 15:13

OK, Ali, so it's the first option then.

Are you getting some help for the PND from GP? Getting that wound up about the state of the house is not good for you. I know how miserable it is, had it after birth of DD.

You know, having a neighbour round for coffee would probably make you feel better than cleaning.

thedollshouse · 14/08/2009 15:21

I would have helped, although it would have been inconveient as I am making the most of the weather and getting loads done myself. Perhaps she was doing the same?

OrmIrian · 14/08/2009 15:41

Yes I would. Unless of course she was snowed under with her own washing maybe... but even then I would have.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 14/08/2009 15:48

YR - I'm taking ADs. I do ok. I wouldn't want to give the impression I'm scrubbing from dawn 'til dusk - far from it. I just feel better when things are tidy and then we can do the fun stuff without worrying about it.

herbietea · 14/08/2009 15:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Tortington · 14/08/2009 15:51

yeah why the hell not?

Tortington · 14/08/2009 15:52

maybe her house was a mess

maybe she was in the middle of fucking the window cleaner and had a horses tail butt plug up her arse

4andnotout · 14/08/2009 15:52

I have done this many times for my neighbours, we always loan eachother wash powder and toilet rolls etc if in dire straights.

Woooozle100 · 14/08/2009 15:53

I'd help. As long as it wasn't the orrible neighbour I'm not even looking at anymore

YorkshireRose · 14/08/2009 16:03

Stick with it, Alibaba, it will get better.

Seriously, don't worry about the house. It is fine. And try to get out of it as much as you can. It will help you feel more human.

Good luck.

DandyLioness · 14/08/2009 16:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

nappyaddict · 14/08/2009 16:29

Why didn't you just ask a friend or relative to do it? I would do it for neighbours I was friendly with but probably not for someone I hardly spoke to.

Those that wouldn't do it cos they get anxious about people seeing their house - couldn't you just take it from them at the door and then hand it back over at the door when it was done?

supersalstrawberry · 14/08/2009 22:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

supersalstrawberry · 14/08/2009 22:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MaryBS · 14/08/2009 22:52

I would have helped, but I'd have been floored by the request, because I always struggle to figure out how to use the "spin only" cycle, and I'd be thinking ahead going "how do I do it", before I'd answered the question

(and no, I'm not your neighbour!)

CheeryCherry · 14/08/2009 22:56

(wondering whether to google...)

CheeryCherry · 14/08/2009 22:58

...omg i googled....

Swipe left for the next trending thread