Neighbour finds our christmas lights "annoying"...

big5

My next-door neighbours put up their Christmas lights on Saturday - they are multi-coloured ones that flash quickly and would irritate the hell out of me if I lived opposite. I hope the people who do live over the road don't have epilepsy. Luckily, I can only see them from the house if I'm standing at the bathroom sink, so only have to put up with it for a few minutes a day.

Bumpmakesfour

Ok...I tried to get a pic of the other neighbours house and uploading it in a sec.Collared the moany neighbour whilst walking the dog earlier and she was with her eldest son.She immediately mentioned the lights to him before I could get a word in so it obviously still bothered her.She was absolutely unimpressed when her son said he thought they looked nice I explained the times we'd said,told her we'd keep them to the dimmest settings,not flashing etc.She brought up the two neighbours that turned theirs on and said she's counted 21 flashing lights on the one two doors up and they were very bright.
She seemed ok with me once I told her the times they'd go on and off and tbh was more bothered by the other two houses who literally have 20 times more lights than us so we'll see. x

gingin_2

This thread has made me chuckle - a huge variety of views from a large number of regular posters. I have fairy lights up outside 365 days a year, just white ones but we made sure we put them up out of the neighbour's view point - it was my first concern. I love looking at everyone elses but am perhaps a bit of a nimby when it comes to the really ott ones.

magenta22

Bumpmakesfour wrote: »

Wow you guys have been busy!!
Just something I want to say firstly..you know how my neighbour and lots of posters on here find christmas lights annoying?
Well..I find sweeping generalisations like the one below annoying!
I hate how because someone knows someone with a condition they assume all are affected in the same way!!I read this and literally laughed at the ignorance ...


For your information my DS actually finds opening presents very stressful.He hates the attention on him and will take one present,hold it a bit,put it back,pick it up again,then me or DH will go in to a different room with him whilst he opens it.His sisters will tear their gifts open but DS has presents left under the tree for most of december/into jan.So don't ASSUME my child is just like your family member just because they have the same "label" please..drives me bloody mad

I am sorry you found that offensive but I would like to also point out that my family member is currently under section because of it, and NO I am not saying your son will be the same. So that kind of puts your Christmas lights 'problem' into perspective. Sorry but your comment also annoyed me a tad.

I DID also say that I know they are all different if you read it properly. so NOT assuming anything nor putting a label on him.

Anyway getting back onto the topic, you seem to have already decided that your neighbour is an old battleaxe, I would have asked her why she found them annoying at the time and how to compromise.

GobbledyGook

Bumpmakesfour wrote: »

Ok...I tried to get a pic of the other neighbours house and uploading it in a sec.Collared the moany neighbour whilst walking the dog earlier and she was with her eldest son.She immediately mentioned the lights to him before I could get a word in so it obviously still bothered her.She was absolutely unimpressed when her son said he thought they looked nice I explained the times we'd said,told her we'd keep them to the dimmest settings,not flashing etc.She brought up the two neighbours that turned theirs on and said she's counted 21 flashing lights on the one two doors up and they were very bright.
She seemed ok with me once I told her the times they'd go on and off and tbh was more bothered by the other two houses who literally have 20 times more lights than us so we'll see. x

If 3 houses facing mine had annoying lights I'd probably be moany as well tbh. It sounds to me like you were the first of the neighbours with lights that she seen.

In combination 3 lots of lights could mean even with curtains closed it'd still shine right through. If another 2 of my neighbours had a similar set up to the one who has I'd be going nuts tbh.

whiteguineapig

Bunting wrote: »

I'm loving this thread, highly entertaining...

Almost on a par with last christmas's 'caravan' thread

what was the caravan thread about ??


(my input on christmas lights is

its only for about 6 weeks
i really like to see them even tho my children are adult
my oh won't have them!
even tho i don't do christmas i enjoy seeing other peoples efforts)

Bumpmakesfour

magenta22 wrote: »

I am sorry you found that offensive but I would like to also point out that my family member is currently under section because of it, and NO I am not saying your son will be the same. So that kind of puts your Christmas lights 'problem' into perspective. Sorry but your comment also annoyed me a tad.

I DID also say that I know they are all different if you read it properly. so NOT assuming anything nor putting a label on him.

Anyway getting back onto the topic, you seem to have already decided that your neighbour is an old battleaxe, I would have asked her why she found them annoying at the time and how to compromise.

You can be as annoyed as you like tbh.You said it didn't need to be done..assuming you mean the lights..says who?I don't need you to put my problems "into perspective" either,we are all facing our own battles and you know nothing of the daily struggles my son has.My child is different to your family member end of,let's leave that there shall we.
And of course I haven't decided she's a battleaxe.I didn't document the entire convo,I posted yesterday we moved the characters lower so they were under the line of our wall and tbh you can think what you like because I feel I'm being far more considerate than most people actually.

Bumpmakesfour

GobbledyGook wrote: »

If 3 houses facing mine had annoying lights I'd probably be moany as well tbh. It sounds to me like you were the first of the neighbours with lights that she seen.

In combination 3 lots of lights could mean even with curtains closed it'd still shine right through. If another 2 of my neighbours had a similar set up to the one who has I'd be going nuts tbh.

They're not facing her hun.We are opposite,the one next door to her which has shed loads up is actually opposite us so we get the pleasure of climbing santas and flashing "ho ho ho"s:p I'm thinking the only window that those ones would affect her via are her hall way and bathroom ones but she definately commented on them this morning so maybe the glare from the 8ft inflatables is annoying to her.The other house is two up on the same side so really "technically" ours is the only one that directly faces her x

Cat501

bump - went back to the OP just to check it again - so shutting her curtains solves the problem, but she's not "impressed" about having to do it. I wonder - can you remember what time she shut her curtains before you put the lights up, if at all?:) Sorry if I've missed a post where you've answered that question!

Bumpmakesfour

dizziblonde wrote: »

We once had neighbours with a 9 year old learning the trombone... do we win the prize? It's got to trump a week of bagpipes.

Oh I see the OP's getting increasingly indignant... and now we learn the truth, it wasn't a thread wanting opinions it was one wanting validation that "my kids and my family and my wants matter more than anyone else - tell me I'm right or I'll sulk"... can't stand threads like those.

WHAT?? :rotfl: We moved some lights to try to reduce any glare,I tried to reassure her they would be as dim as poss,told her the hours they'd be on,asked if that sounded ok.I had a chat with her about her plans for xmas,the baby,her garden etc.We parted on good terms and I told her to shout if moving the characters hadn't helped as she said she was out at a birthday the previous night and they were off by the time she got home.
I've taken both sides of the argument and accepted others views,only comments annoying me are those commenting on my sons condition not the christmas lights.But yes you're right..I'm obviously sulking