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AIBU

AIBU to think this is unbelievably selfish

(83 Posts)
fruitloop Wed 04-Jul-18 10:20:00

Sorry it is another neighbour one. We live in a terrace and have small gardens. On one side our neighbours have three young children. They also have a trampoline which is not in itself an issue but they let the children play on it whenever they want. At the moment this is from 6am every day of the week. The squeak squeak squeak of the springs is a bit annoying at any time as it is relentless and loud but obviously I wouldn't think of complaining about this as it is what it is. The sound of children having fun is a good sound most of the time but shrieking children and squeaky springs at 6am when we are asleep or want to be asleep because there is no chance with it going on is driving us slowly mad. The neighbours are fairly new and we have not yet built a relationship with them so can't just have a friendly word over the fence. What to do?

Kim19 Thu 05-Jul-18 10:10:47

I'm absolutely with OldMeg scenario 1. 2 is hilarious but would be unbecoming of us seniors, of course. I'm asssuming (always dangerous!) that you may be retired so catnapping whenever desirable might be an option. 0600 is early, I agree but I'm already out there myself so I'm with the children. I've given up on screaming though. Try a little live and let live if you possibly can because weather opportunity like this is rare and wonderful. It is also a blessing that the children seem cared for. Good luck. I seriously wish you well with future happy neighbourly relationships. I value mine but they have not been without past hiccups.

Sennelier1 Thu 05-Jul-18 10:14:43

I would prepare carefully : make sure to have a comic book, a colouring book or that kind of stuff ready, then walk over to the neighbours in your jammies and on your slippers, hair askew, unwashed and before coffee, and ask them with your sweetest voice if they could see fit to occupy their children inside untill 8ish with your small gifts ? Thank you só much, oh I knéw you never really gave it a thought........no bad feelings ?

Gilly1952 Thu 05-Jul-18 10:17:34

Ha! This reminded me of an incident which happened many years ago. The small child who lived next door to my parents used to enjoy riding her very squeaky tricycle up and down the garden path. One night, the kiddie had left the trike outside in the front garden, so my dad grabbed the bike and oiled it. The child never rode it again! It was obviously no fun now it didn’t make a noise! Do you remember when lads used to put things in their bike spokes to make a noise? Showing my age now.

razzmatazz Thu 05-Jul-18 10:24:16

Another thought. How about starting a conversation with how much you love to hear children playing . Then say " But gosh, your trampoline is very squeaky, isn't it. I have some WD40 indoors if you would like to see if that stops it. It must drive you mad " Then follow this up with "It's lovely having new neighbours. I wonder if would you like to come round for a coffee sometime when you are free? I'd love to meet yo and your children "

maddyone Thu 05-Jul-18 10:27:10

Oldmeg. gringringrin

Nanny27 Thu 05-Jul-18 10:27:21

Ha Gilly my boys had those. They were called Spokie Dokies.

Nanabilly Thu 05-Jul-18 10:31:34

Bake them a lovely lemon drizzle cake or similar and take it round with some wd40 and a huge friendly smile.

inishowen Thu 05-Jul-18 10:33:20

It could be worse. My cousin bought a house next door to teenagers who rode scrambler bikes round and round their garden, all day and into the evening. If I was in your situation I think I'd stay quiet. The trampolining will stop when they get bored.

emjaebe Thu 05-Jul-18 10:41:29

I am new to this page, forgive my hopelessness, but what do the DDG, DD abbreviations mean? I've worked out what SIL, DIL, mean but would appreciate a list from someone in the know!!

DotMH1901 Thu 05-Jul-18 10:44:37

6am is early but as another poster said, perhaps they are all up and about at that time and it doesn't seem that early to them. It is unusual to have such a long run of fine weather so hopefully it would sort itself out in the next few weeks (if you can bear it that long), otherwise could you invite your neighbours in for a cup of tea/cake and just mention that the springs seem a bit squeaky and have they tried WD40 then offer to lend them a can as 'it seems to fix most things' Done in the right way I doubt they would be offended.

annep Thu 05-Jul-18 10:46:41

Agree* purplepoppies*

maddyone Thu 05-Jul-18 10:47:23

Six o clock in the morning is very early, but you could close the windows and buy a fan grin.
I think I wouldn’t say anything (to the neighbours anyway) as you have to live with the neighbours all year, not just for a few weeks in the summer. We used to have neighbours living across the road from us who had a young boy who used a heavy, full size football to bounce, and bounce, and bounce.......... It seemed to never stop, all Spring, Summer, Autumn, and any good weather days in Winter. All school holidays, all day and every day. All day long at weekends. Every morning before school, every afternoon after school. Unfortunately the family only went out occasionally, but it was bliss when they went on holiday. We endured it by ignoring, and closing windows. One day I came home from work with a terrible migraine, the bouncing of the ball was horrendous, making the migraine much worse. The child was regularly asked to stop by Mr M, but didn’t. We had to endure it I’m afraid, including enduring the migraine. Eventually the family moved, and the boy from up the road who used to play with the bouncing ball boy, grew up and moved out. So now peace reigns in our little Close again.
However, a little footnote, just one time Mr M tried to have a little word with the parent, about said ball bouncing, he was rewarded with a torrent of verbal abuse, plus almost unbelievably, the comment that had Mr M said something to the parent on my migraine day, the child would have been told to stop! On that day at least!

Sheilasue Thu 05-Jul-18 10:55:25

Very selfish people, but I find there are a lot of parents like this. I wouldn’t dream of letting my children out to play at that time of the day.
My BIL and SIL have had to move from their bungalow after 20 years. They had problems with their neighbours children. They are in their late 70 s and we were a bit concerned about the move but all was ok. They have moved into another bungalow in Colchester.

ajanela Thu 05-Jul-18 10:59:05

My GS is an avid trampoline user he is on his 3 rd trampoline but in a large garden and not early. The springs don't squeak but there is the rhythmic sound of the jumping.

I suspect the parents might be still in bed and just let the kids out for peace and quiet but maybe not.

I think you should say something nicely. The neighbours are not aware they are disturbing you so how can they put anything right. The squeaking must be awful any time of day so offering the wd40 is a helpful idea but you will still have the other noises so you could mention that in the conversation,

sarahellenwhitney Thu 05-Jul-18 11:17:51

Grampie What would you recommend for shrieking kids ?

Katekeeprunning Thu 05-Jul-18 11:29:45

6am is absolutely ridiculous. I think a friendly word with the parents would be in order.

If that doesn't help just go to their front door every morning when it starts and persistently ring their doorbell

It will soon stop

Hm999 Thu 05-Jul-18 11:35:43

New neighbour? Take round a cake and a bottle of wine, and see if you can slide into conversation that your husband sleeps really badly and....

Offer to babysit?

Brismum Thu 05-Jul-18 11:44:45

It is too early! Maybe they just don’t think. I like the WD40 suggestion. If you can talk over the fence do it then, if not go round. Otherwise it could go on for a long time. It’s only the beginning of July and children will want to be out sun or not. Good luck.

LiltingLyrics Thu 05-Jul-18 11:50:53

It's worth checking out guidance about noise nuisance on www.gov.uk

The morning cut off with regard to "night" noise is 7.00am.

For the noise to count as a statutory nuisance it must either be injurous to health or unreasonably and substantially interfere with the use or enjoyment of a home or other premises.

It's doubtful noise from children playing on a squeaky trampoline would be reason for a complaint. It may interrupt sleep, get on nerves and feel unreasonable but it's unlikely to substantially interfere with enjoyment as the noise is likely to be irregular and transient. Compare say someone who lets a barking dog out into the garden at 6.00am every morning come rain or shine.

I agree with those who suggest a friendly word with the neighbours. Ask them to curtail the outdoor play until 7.00am earliest.

Whether trampoline noise

Sulis Thu 05-Jul-18 11:55:19

I too had Kids with trampoline issues. For them it was jumpimg high enough to see over the fence into my dining room! Fortunately they got fed up with the trampoline one day and stopped. Trampoline has now gone. Morale of story? Kids grow up eventually and go on to other things! Although in my case I am still trying!

Nannan2 Thu 05-Jul-18 12:05:35

Tough one.my neighbours on one side had a cockeral(as well as 2 or 3 hens)which crowed every morning when we first moved in- (6yrs ago)as soon as it was light(early- it was august! This went on for 6 weeks till i could stand it no longerangry i went& banged on her door to let her know& she got rid of cockeral! Of course your neighbours cant do that with kids so yeah you might have to cement relations with them first- but offering them WD40 might seem a bit patronising as theyl see this as maybe ' they cant solve their own problems' etc?& get their back up-is there any chance you could change bedrooms to opposite side of where they play out?(front maybe,if they play in the back?)you may hear it less till you can discuss it with them.my new neighbours who moved in recently on other side have young kids& a trampoline& i hear them- which seems earlyish on a weekend,but its not 6am so i let it go as im sure my 15yr old makes noise theyre not keen on when hes playing video games(his rooms connected to their wall) so making a compromise in my case-do your grandkids stay over at all?maybe you could do that& when theyre playing ball or whatever(early) pop your head over fence& say "oh im sorry if theyre disturbing you at this time ive tried warn them to be mindful of people still in bed etc"- THAT might give them the hint!wink

Nannan2 Thu 05-Jul-18 12:11:23

Besides- if you spray springs with WD40 it still makes a squeaking noise as its the bouncing and the stretch of the springs which will still make a noise as its how its designed,to have 'give' in the springs.hmm

Nanny27 Thu 05-Jul-18 12:24:16

I think 6am is unreasonably early. My children and grandchildren would never be allowed to play in the garden before 9am. It's just not fair on the neighbours. Even then I ask them to keep the noise level down a bit on a Sunday morning.

Nannan2 Thu 05-Jul-18 12:24:32

I think initials are Darling Daughter,Darling GrandDaughter,Darling Son,Darling Hubby etc- but im a fairly new user so i may be wrong?BUT im afraid i dont know or see why theyre used when it seems daft & could just say " my daughter" or my son ,my hubby etc im sure theyre not all ' darlings' all of the time,i know mine arent!grin i dont know DDG sorry.

Craicon Thu 05-Jul-18 12:30:29

I think you should talk to them directly. Do the parents sleep at the front of the house, maybe they don’t hear the noise themselves?
There’s no way I’d allow my DS 9 yrs out to play at that time in the morning as it would annoy me too (although he’s normally asleep until about 8.30 as it’s the school holidays here).