Progress is...

Cherryfudge

That's awful - definitely take photos in future - and perhaps one of their garden for reference in case they claim any future rubbish didn't come from them.

rtandon27

A bit of an update on using MS365 To-Do - my first week in & I highly recommend it! - instead of paper and pencil which was of course my default way of being, all the tasks are now in one place electronically! No more sticky notes everywhere or a scrap paper list beside my working set-up - the lists live on my tablet and I can empty my brain as the thoughts come and organize later.

What I have found is that pressing thoughts turn into Urgent tasks as they keep surfacing in my mind and interupting my flow even when already on the list! It's been a really good learning exercise and shown me the power of moving with the times. Much as I love paper, the pace of my life and the pace of paper just don't meld atm.

The ability to seperate work and home and then also by project or category is liberating, it means that I'm viewing life holistically and facing the reality of not enough hours in the day, what is most important and what can wait. There has been less time wasted on cleaning up my sticky notes once a day, as the clean up can happen on the train as I'm commuting and I can still have my latest binge watch playing in the background so I've been getting home about an hour earlier - nice optimization there!

teapot2

An extra hour at home always a welcome bonus 🎉

beanielou

That sounds like a win.

Watty1

That sounds great. I need to look into a better to do method…..

rtandon27

So the conversation with Mrs Plastic Grass went like this…

Me: (after putting the trash in the bins out front while she was sweeping her side of the steps) Hello xxxxx - could I speak to you about your rubbish that I found at the back of my shed on Sunday
Her: (slightly hostile) what rubbish?
Me: your metal frame - the one that used to be under your planting box and was wrapped around the corner of my shed
Her: (without missing a beat or even looking surprised) oh that - I did not realize it had fallen over…

It was here I struggled to keep my cool as there is absolutely no way that the frame could have fallen from anywhere and landed there - it is huge about 2.5ft by 3.5 ft with legs - there is a fence to the back of the narrow right of way and a narrow path perpendicular between my shed and theirs which has been built up to the property line! - and in their part of the right of way, a flat water barrel you have to almost climb over to get to the property line.

Her: well we'll move it (again no hesitation - but she was on the verge of fake crocodile tears - probably at being caught out)
Me: no need - OH has already put it to the back of your shed
Her: - let's talk about your climbing jasmine
Me: - that has been tied back and tamed (this jasmine is entirely on my property btw) - so no need for you to deliberately knock it off my summer house the next time you presume I'm not home (I saw her do this btw) - gardening is entirely dependant on my health
Her - well if it is health, we've already said we can cut back your plants (again all on my side of the property line and not their business)
Me - no - we do not want either you or your rubbish on our property at any time (I turned and went up the stairs)

Grrrrrrrr - I waited until both her partner and my husband were out so that a civil conversation about rubbish could be had and she deflects to something unrelated in response. [Insert swear words here]

…but at least I've had the conversation, and documented in my log so I am now free to contact the council and complain the next time her uncivilized husband tries it on.

Watty1

you have done what needed to be done. Great job. You have enough going on without "her sort"

rtandon27

Thank-you @Watty1 - It's more HIS sort than her sort, but I refuse to engage with him on any level which is why I did it 'home-owner' to 'home-owner' chat!!!

I did say to her the last time we spoke - that if it was just her I'd most probably not be having the conversation but as he does not pay one red cent towards my mortgage, he as zero right to infringe upon my property. When she tried to discuss with him later that day, we ended up having to listen to about 2 hours of him cussing and swearing and uttering threats! In fact he said - 'if it's war they want then it's war they get - who the h3!! do they think they are?' - we were sitting on our patio trying to have brunch so I replied audibly to OH - 'does he not realize I'm the person who owns this property?'

Jessy103

Ugh what horrible people, so sorry to hear you're having to deal with that! Do you have cameras at all? If not, would it be worth getting them? We have some Tapo ones just bought of amazon for £25. They're very good and you can have an app on your phone to view them x

KajiKita

Ugh … that is so frustrating to have happening in what should be your safe space. Well done for documenting it so clearly. And keeping your temper! 😉

KK