Neighbour annoyed at me for asking her not to collect our washing in.

[Firefliesdancing]

I arrived home today to find the washing had disappeared off the line that I’d put out this morning before work. It had rained heavy but I wasn’t too worried as I knew the weather was going to be scorching hot so they would be dry regardless. No note had been left, so looked on our cctv to find the neighbour over the back garden had got her husband to climb over on some ladders and take them in after peering in our back patio doors after realising we wern’t in.

We’ve only spoke to these neighbours a handful of times. It has made us feel slightly uncomfortable as I hate the thought of someone else handling my underwear/clothes/bedding. We went round with a small box of chocolates to say thanks and retrieve them. We asked them not to do it again politely and just leave them out as we have a drier if they can’t get dry naturally, thanked them again and left.

Unfortunately they are smokers (we are not) so our clothes had a whiff of stale smoke on them so rinsed them back through and put them back on the line as it was still boiling hot outside all dried within the hour. Knock on the door 20 minutes later after I’d taken them in. I assumed something was left so wasn’t expecting her to start having a go on the doorstep saying we’re not dirty you know, we did you a favour, not everyone is as nice as us we like to do things for people.

I was a bit taken aback so just said I’m sorry we’re trying to put the kids to bed, again thank you for your kindness and closed the door.

Does anyone else find this behaviour bizarre…maybe it’s the heat, I’m tired and I’ve missed something…is it the norm for people you don’t really know to collect your washing in when it rains?

I wouldn't want fag smokey stuff sitting around my house.

some people would rewash after washing had been rained on.

Don't know why she took it so personally.

You should have told her it stunk of smoke!

Yes I remember there used to be people on here who would re-wash if the washing had got ‘darked on’ overnight 😂😂😂

She sounds completely nuts. Both of them do honestly.

Firstly, who hangs undies outside?! That's just strange 😂

washing that gets wet in the rain smells weird so needs washed again not just left until it re-dries. My neighbours and I always get each others washing if it rains, for this reason. Neither of us smoke though, I would have thought in this day and age that smokers are well aware it stinks.

The taking in of the washing I wouldn't mind at all but I wouldn't appreciate the smell of smoke so I would have asked them not to for that reason.

😂 why is it strange to hang out undies? Never thought about it just thought perfect weather everything is going outside! We’ve got underwear drying on the line now and throughly loving it as don’t have to put anything in the drier so much money saved over the last few days.

I never hang them outside 😂 pants and socks are strictly inside dry only! We don't have a dryer so they go on the clothes horse, never the washing line!

But the fresh air and sunshine kill germs. Drying on a rack encourages bacteria to breed.

why on earth???

My Granny would haunt me if I put knickers on the washing line 😂

Your granny didn't have a 'socktopus'. My knickers are hidden by socks.

yes but socks????

Socks are a waste of a peg tbh

I would prefer not to have that too

She had a pulley but I know what you mean, I have never heard that term before but it's brilliant!!

How bizarre!

Is it because people (who you know well enough to invite into your home/garden) might find out you wear knickers?!

They're a Pair of Psychos. I'm guessing that it was a put up job by the GUY; to get a chance to get his hands on your Laundry as he might have a fetish. I should not worry further about this as they sound like the kind of neighbours ' To Be Avoided' just get on with your life and put it out of your mind as you might have nightmares otherwise. And I agree: It's very strange for neighbours to climb over......In a few months time, when the dust has settled : I should get some new fences with flimsy TRELLIS round the top to make them NON - NEGOTIABLE to prolific climbers.

Everything goes on the line! I don’t care if my neighbours find out I wear knickers…….

Is it better to hang the pants out and confirm to neighbours that you wear them or not hang them out and have the neighbours wondering if you do wear them ? 🤔

No 😂 christ, I used to work in a lap dancing bar, I am far from coy about people seeing my pants! I just remember my gran being very firm that under garments were most definitely not for the washing line. I guess that her generation would consider it indecent or unbecoming? So I never have.
I always ensure my washing is correct - tops by the bottoms, bottoms by the tops. Socks though are just a pain and use up too many pegs, I cannot be arsed hanging those up!

Always leave them wondering 😂

Yes ..I was going back further, when people just walked into each others houses without knocking or prior invitation..well, it was an open invitation, if unspoken. But while there were unspoken agreements back then, I do agree , nowadays, it’s not the done thing .
My neighbours and I take each others bins back in..whoever goes out first and it was never spoken of. She started it, soon after I moved here, so I returned the favour as she works shifts..he’s disabled ..I’ve never seen him, but he has a van with message on the back to keep clear for wheelchair..so their bin can be out all day in the road and it’s a wind tunnel..so might not be there later. But that’s totally different to taking in a washing to your own house

Why are people ashamed of their socks and undies? Sounds very Victorian ..Or something

Update: Went to neighbours BBQ and was enjoying it until it became slightly awkward. We hadn’t said anything to our BBQ neighbours about the line stuff, back garden neighbours came and said hi to everyone…the husband said hello but his wife gave us and the extension neighbours side eye and walked off to another group. We were sat with a few other neighbours chatting away who are looking for recommendations for kitchen and bathrooms. Back garden neighbour keeps getting closer to where we are sat.

We start talking about kitchens as we’ve just had ours done, we didn’t go with one of the big companies as one of our friends has their own kitchen and bathroom business and gave us a huge discount (never be able to afford those prices otherwise) and we’ve introduced other neighbours before and after ours on the same Close as we are very happy with the quality and it’s a good friend.

Back garden neighbour then brings up a random snarky remark about the quality of kitchens these days. We just said it’s really good quality as they’re German made and very happy with ours. Carried on talking to other neighbour who are thinking of having their bathroom done and said we’ll send them the details at which Back garden neighbour said so you do give your number out (we only have bathroom neighbours number and vice versa because of the what’s app neighbourhood watch for our houses). I then changed the subject to a new shop that’s opened up recently that sells home made candles/wardrobe scents/gifts etc and I was given some lovely samples if anyone wanted any as the person lives quite close who owns it. We like to promote local businesses as we know how hard it can be when starting out. Back garden neighbour then interrupts and says gosh you’re like a Del Boy wheeling and dealing. At that point I said no not really…she then said oh I see you’ve took your clothes in early…I said yeah because of the BBQ I didn’t want the clothes smelling of smoke. Then everyone started saying yeah hate the BBQ Smoke smell on clothes and in hair. This then started a conversation about certain types of coal and wood chipping which made me and a few others laugh as didn’t know there was so many smokeless types with flavours etc. She stood there with nothing else to say. Our kids and a few other kids came up who had been splashing with others in the paddling pool and asked for their towels to dry their feet and if they could have their ice creams said with please and thank you’s. Back garden neighbour then singles out my kids and says what lovely manners they have. There was something off about the way she said it and the other neighbours looked abit uncomfortable. So we just said thanks and then went back to the conversation about the candles. She then says isn’t it their bedtime so we said oh no because it’s the weekend and the football we’ve agreed to let them have an extra hour like the other parents have.

I went inside to grab a drink from the fridge and back neighbour followed me in luckily other neighbour realised what was going on and came in. Cut her off before she could say anything and said don’t forget about the ingredients for the fruit salad dish on Monday (which I had forgotten about) back garden neighbour just looked awkward and went to go and speak to someone else.

We decided to leave just before the football and come and chill at home in the lounge instead of on the back. Other neighbour came over and said we know what she can be like be careful and referred to the extension neighbours. So at the minute we’re just not that bothered she’s a busy body and don’t feel bad as she was acting like a child with the snarky remarks.

Will see if any other bizarre things happen with this woman and post here. Thanks for the replies all.

Jeeze, it’s all too tedious!