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AIBU

Lawn mowing

(129 Posts)
annsixty Sat 24-Aug-19 20:19:22

Posted and lost.
AIBU to be miffed at my next door neighbour starting mowing his back lawn at 7 :40 on Sat evening on a beautiful day with a noisy petrol lawn mower.
I have come outside with my second glass of wine after my meal.
He is retired and his teacher wife is on 6 weeks holiday, they had thei6f holiday to Greece earlier
Is it thoughtless or arrogance?

NotANana Sun 25-Aug-19 12:40:39

I don’t like but don’t object to powered garden tools, but what I really do not like is other people’s music...and the houses on both sides of me are currently vacant!

Mcrc Sun 25-Aug-19 13:08:44

You are being a bit unreasonable I think. At first I thought you were going to say 7:40 am. Does he need permission? Just because he is retired doesn't mean he has to do it during the week. Maybe in the USA where I live it is different but honestly we would think that is a little bit touchy. Like the others I understand that it can be annoying. But also, he is keeping it neat ( I hope!)

Annaram1 Sun 25-Aug-19 13:14:06

I live on the outskirts of Sidmouth and I can guarantee that not a day goes by without somebody nearby having work done on their house, driveway, lawn or hedge with serious noisy electric or oil driven power tools. This can go on at any time of the day or evening. Not looking forward to the autumn when most of them have large smoky bonfires too.
Neighbours - the bane of our lives!

grandtanteJE65 Sun 25-Aug-19 13:14:25

Anytime before 9 p.m. and after 8 a.m. is all right by me, after all work has to be done, both using a lawn mower and other electric and noisy tools.

oodles Sun 25-Aug-19 13:34:14

Hope you enjoy your evening tonight. At least it was a weekend day the next morning, better that than during the week. Before 8 pm is not really too bad. I did get mightily oissed off when with small children waking me up at night NDN went out at an unearthly hour on a Sunday morning, basically my one chance each week not to need to set an alarm. To do some very noisy DIY with power tools outside the back door. Used to have v loud bbqs too with music not to my taste. I'm afraid I used to out on music not to his taste to drown it out. Might have not done that had I been invited to pop round for a quick hot dog but never was

Merryweather Sun 25-Aug-19 13:34:59

I completely agree with you. I get sick of my neighbours and the noise of their children, strimmer, lawnmowers, BBQs, swearing, loutish behaviour.
I have young children who are in bed usually between 7 and 8. Generally, the noise gets louder and louder as the day goes on. The swearing is awful. Parties is a nightmare and I rarely entertain here because of it. I also have to bring the children indoors because of the language.
I've taken to wearing earplugs when I want to sit in my garden to read, really I feel I shouldn't have to.
No you are not being unreasonable.
Some people have no consideration. ?

Hemelbelle Sun 25-Aug-19 13:42:42

It has to be cut sometime and whatever time it's cut may not be convenient for one of the neighbours.

eazybee Sun 25-Aug-19 13:43:35

I love the sound of a lawn mower in the evening; it reminds me of being a child in bed, but not asleep.
I have reluctantly come inside, driven in by my neighbour's tuneless singing as she wanders round the garden crunching the gravel. Wherever I move in the garden, she appears.
It is a scorching hot day, whatever she is doing could wait until it is cooler. She has driven her husband out by talking very loudly at him as he tried to follow some cricket on the television.. Why are people like this?

Fiachna56 Sun 25-Aug-19 13:46:47

It wouldnt bother me.

jenpax Sun 25-Aug-19 13:59:16

I don’t mind BBQ, reasonable music levels, lawn mowing or indeed small children (which I actually quite like hearing!) I am more than capable of enjoying my garden or home with these sounds and I have a live and let live attitude to my neighbours

Alexa Sun 25-Aug-19 14:21:10

Polnan, Really interesting about alternative lawns. I left my grass uncut all summer for the sake of the bees, frogs, birds, and hedgehogs. I had only the slab stepping stone paths cut for safety of walking.

Now it's had its first cut and I plan to leave it growing long into the autumn to make a good thatch to preserve the soil during the wet season.

I agree nasty seared animals flesh barbecues worse than noisy machinery.

Scottiebear Sun 25-Aug-19 14:53:13

I actually think that we have to learn to live with some intrusion from neighbours into our peace and quiet. The price we pay for living in close proximity to others. And if that is your neighbours worst offence, then I think you are quite lucky.

chezza1 Sun 25-Aug-19 15:18:42

My garden backs onto the side garden of a neighbour and about 50 yards from his house. He positioned his bbq against the fence 6' from my conservatory door and 2' from the garden bench we were sitting on at the time. Got nasty when we complained that we had to shut all the doors and windows as the smoke was filling up the house. He moved it afterwards but put the kiddies trampoline there instead. It worried me how I was going to hoss over the fence to help them if they ever came a cropper as the parents were too far away to hear.

sharon103 Sun 25-Aug-19 15:32:09

While it's hot weather it's more sensible to do garden jobs in the evening when it's cooled down a bit.
I'll swap your man next door for the chicken and cockerel owner two doors down from me. smile

Nanny41 Sun 25-Aug-19 16:01:53

At frist I thought it was 7:40 in the morning that would have been worse, however I dont understand people who have all day to mow a lawn, why they start when others are about to have a meal, we had a neighbour like that,its quite annoying isnt it

jura2 Sun 25-Aug-19 16:08:37

because it gets cooler then?

jura2 Sun 25-Aug-19 16:09:21

Main question for me remains - why on earth do people/neighbours don't just talk to each other ...

TATT Sun 25-Aug-19 16:20:36

I’ve always said that, in my fantasy world, that non-emergency power tools and so on could only be used between 10am to 2pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
I have a neighbour who has recently started to work his shed from very early morning until dusk every day. I have no idea what he does, but it’s getting to the point where I think I’m going to have to approach him!

Grandad1943 Sun 25-Aug-19 16:32:31

ansixty, you could have spoken to your neighbour and told him you were hoping to have a nice quite glass of wine in your garden on such a lovely evening.

You could have then made an offer that should he be very considerate and stop you would come around at about 11:00 am tomorrow and mow his lawn for him.

Now, that would to me be a very acceptable deal to me. ?

Pat1949 Sun 25-Aug-19 16:39:00

Why does the word thoughtless or arrogant even come into it? He’s cutting his lawn. How’s he to know you want to sit in your garden drinking wine. My husband usually cuts the grass after 6 pm if it’s hot mainly because he has an illness which makes him over heat and he then goes dizzy, but we have no neighbours. This is the first post which has really annoyed me, I usually try to be kind. I’m sure there’s things which you do which annoy your neighbours. Yes, I do think you’re being unreasonable. Perhaps you need to move to the country.

justwokeup Sun 25-Aug-19 16:47:27

I would think he was was working and I was enjoying wine so, no worries, enjoy the sound of him mowing. I guess he hasn't got a cricket pitch so he hopefully doesn't take too long. I have to say though that I do get miffed with our neighbour too. Our garden is small but not overlooked so, occasionally, if we have a BBQ, or family around, our neighbour comes out to 'mend his shed roof' - complete with banging, drilling and sawing - as it's the only place he can see what's going on! hmm

Tedber Sun 25-Aug-19 16:59:54

I know I am probably strange but I actually LOVE the sound of lawns being cut. I love the smell. Reminds me ...it is SUMMER! We are such a funny lot really aren't we? I bet if his garden was a jungle of weeds and he never paid any attention to it, that would be a problem too? Obviously you can't help feeling 'miffed' but people simply don't work to individuals time tables.

I also do not understand the relevance of them being in Greece? I am assuming it was quiet when they were away?

annemac101 Sun 25-Aug-19 17:06:30

My next door neighbour has been playing music really loud all afternoon. Listening to someone else's choice in music is bad enough but when it's played so loud it's unbearable. I have just came inside for a break from the heat and they've switched it off. Typical!

MissAdventure Sun 25-Aug-19 17:10:37

It's perfectly reasonable to be miffed.
It's not as if you've stormed round there with your shirt sleeves rolled up threatening him.

I think its a bit thoughtless.

annsixty Sun 25-Aug-19 17:18:11

Grandad 1943
That is a lovely idea and suggestion but at the age of 82 I can’t mow my own lawn never mind anyone else’s.
Pat1949 I am sorry my post annoyed you, I don’t know how long you have been on GN but you are in for a shock as there are far worse posters than me around.
I may take you up on your suggestion and move to the country, I may certainly move from GN after 7 years if the replies I have had on this thread are what I must come to expect.