Neighbour finds our christmas lights "annoying"...

Brighton_belle

aliasojo wrote: »

*tentatively raises hand*

I do. My couch runs alongside the window and I sit there watching the birds on the bird table and the world pass by.

Until it gets dark mind, then I close my curtains.

Me too:D I am currently sitting in my window in my favourite armchair looking out.
If I am honest, I don't like coloured character lights but do think white lights are pretty.
I think it is great that you don't switch them on til 6pm. The best bit of a winter evening is the beautiful dusk between 4 - 5ish. I leave my curtains open to enjoy that. But by 6, ethically I feel my curtains should be drawn to preserve the heat indoor. So 6 - 10 sounds a good compromise already to me.

I would only mention something to a neighbour if the lights were too bright directly to a bedroom. Otherwise , I would just see it as one of theose things you put up with for harmonious relations.
And you sound like jolly neighbours to have to me OP so I wouldn't have said anything to you if I was your neighbour:D

Now care radio noise at all hours would have seriously done m head in!

Tropez

I don't really have a problem with Xmas lights but I do have a problem with a couple of people around here who are leaving theirs running 24/7.

Even if it hasn't gone dark yet, in low daytime light, I'm seeing irritating lights reflected all over my PC in my office and my television in my lounge, which means I have to do work or watch TV in other rooms that aren't as comfortable for doing that - unless of course I want to sit around with the curtains closed all day but that's just ridiculous.

I can't really understand running them 24/7, especially as the people doing it aren't even in for the vast majority of the day.

miss_independent

I don't see a problem with the OP's house but I do think some people should be more considerate of their neighbours and, in some cases on busy streets, drivers.

I was visiting a friend who has just had an operation last night, around 5pm and I got really dizzy whilst stuck in traffic next to a particular house. Their downstairs windows (ie the glass part) were covered in hundreds of tiny blue lights which were flashing extremely fast almost like a strobe effect - I honestly don't know how they could live with them and realised I couldn't have taken another of my friends to visit the lady who had just had the operation as she has epilepsy and flashing lights cause her to fit. The street in question is in a very busy residential area, around the corner from a park and several primary schools, there is a heavy footfall and there must be others with similar conditions who have to pass by - these particular lights are downright dangerous and in this one case I do think the owners are being selfish. I feel like I'm on LSD when I'm passing their house!

lostinrates

aliasojo wrote: »

*tentatively raises hand*

I do. My couch runs alongside the window and I sit there watching the birds on the bird table and the world pass by.

Until it gets dark mind, then I close my curtains.

Me too, when it gets darker I watch the bats. THEN I close mine


I don't have and personally wouldn't have extensive out door lights, (though would like to put some through a tree outside). But I do like seeing other peoples. Flashig WOULD bother me, and the other thing that would would be the inreased traffic from people comeing to see the amazing displays. BUT, tough on me if I found myself in such a situation IMO.

sashadesade

I'm not a fan of lights on houses (America has alot to answer for!) and I have a neighbour opposite who does it. It isn't a big deal though, it's only once a year and I hardly ever open my curtains in winter since it's dark when I leave and dark when I come home.
Maybe your neighbour is unhappy because she thinks it's too early to have all the lights up and isn't happy about having a whole month (or more) of it? I don't know, it does sound like she's moaning for the sake of moaning to be honest. Maybe putting them off at 9 instead of 10 would be a good enough compromise for her? Or perhaps she can come up with another reasonable compromise. Otherwise I'd be inclined to tell her to just deal with it.

Bumpmakesfour

duchy wrote: »

Quite honestly the "son with Aspergers" bit confused me-Most AS kids find Christmas difficult as it disrupts their precious routines and adds stress (I have a son with AS and have worked with young people with the disorder and know first hand however much they want to enjoy Christmas the expectations of others makes it tougher for them)

I don't have any problem with people decorating their own homes-but be honest about the reasons why you and the Jones both do it:rotfl::rotfl:

Which bit confuses you and I'll gladly explain.I think I posted that DS has been on countdown to 1st december where we had pre prepared him that christmas bits would start appearing in the house.My dad came round last week and put the outside lights up and each night once hubby got home we have let DS plug the lights in,stand and look then turned them off so he gets used to the idea.
I wanted a beautiful plum tree from next but DS was SO upset and wanted our old one up so we compromised and ordered some plum baubles.I made the stupid mistake of telling DS the delivery was coming yesterday so he spent the entire day at the window asking how many hours/minutes/seconds it was till they arrived.Unfortunately our promised 9-1 delivery turned into a 5.25pm one and by then DS was pacing up and down pteradcatyl screeching to himself:o
DS has to have routine so by us agreeing with him that the lights go ON at 6pm then OFF at 10pm that IS giving him set times and he feels happier.
Ummm what else did I say about the aspergers..oh yes..we wanted to put them up whilst both myself and hubby were here to reassure him.It'd be awful if I went into labour,disappeared,came back with a new baby,plonked some decorations up and then expected him not to spend the next three days under his bed!
And trust me there is NO way we could "keep up with the Jones" on this occasion even if we wanted to.
I am sat here watching my neighbour lug various santas and snowmen up onto his garage roof.He has a string of chasing rope lights round both top windows,a flashing santa climbing up a ladder by his front door,a snow blowy snowglobey thing next to his bay window plus two lit trees either side of his door.....and they're still coming.Let's see what the moany neighbour makes of that!:rotfl:

Bumpmakesfour

duchy wrote: »

The person who asked why the OP's lights are on til 10pm when presumably the kids are asleep long before that has a point.

Just to pick up on this point..I've posted at least twice on here that my son has a sleep disorder too,so is not asleep at 10pm x

Bumpmakesfour

liney wrote: »

I didn't read everything, but if they are 'for the kids' then surely they don't need to be switched on until 10pm every night. Why don't you turn them on when the kids are home form school and turn then off when they go to bed.

I just noticed you said your son wasn't asleep by 10pm because he has a sleep disorder, but nevertheless i'd still be saying at 7pm or 8pm, "The lights are going to bed now and so are you." .

So you've lived with a child with a sleep disorder then?I'm here for opinions on the christmas lights not my sons bedtime routine thankyou

pimento

aliasojo wrote: »

*tentatively raises hand*

I do. My couch runs alongside the window and I sit there watching the birds on the bird table and the world pass by.

Until it gets dark mind, then I close my curtains.

Well quite. By 6pm it's dark at this time of the year.

In my mind, it's a bit like the man who complains that he can see his neighbour naked and when advised that he can't see the neighbour's window from his house says "Oh I can with a stepladder and a pair of binoculars".

CraftySaver2689

Op for my 2 pence worth, i looked at your picture and have followed this thread from last night, on a personal level i'm not to sure about lights on house at all however if it makes your kids happy and in turn yourself then no one else should have any issues! plus espeically with a new baby on the way which i would imagine (please correct me if i'm wrong) will be hard for your son to deal with the change in the family when anything that helps is a good thing. Christmas is meant to be a fun time.

Only thing and i probably wouldnt do this myself but my oh would is explain to the nosey neighbour why you have them on and how it helps your son, if she has any manors or feelings she will feel really bad for making comments about them in the 1st place

hope you and your family have a lovely xmas