Rant about neighbours, sorry....

starbuck

I'm here venting again. We have had a bonfire piling up in our garden since last year due to building works going on - every time a kitchen cabinet or suchlike is delivered the packaging ends up on the pile. The bottom of the bonfire is an old tree which had to be dug up for our disabled bathroom extension.

I've put off lighting the fire for so long as I was scared of upsetting the neighbours, but last evening seemed perfect. There was no wind, it was dry and cloudy and I checked all neighbours had taken washing in before I lit it.

It went up like crazy because it was mostly cardboard. It was all contained in a brick enclosure that the last owners of the house built for some purpose or other. I was expecting to hear a neighbour or two shout about bloody bonfires, but all the houses around us regularly burn rubbish so didn't think it would be too much of a problem.

The man who lives backing onto our garden, who I've never seen or met before as he has a massive fence round his property, poked his head over the fence and started bellowing at me to put the effing fire out as it was burning the paintwork on his car. I said I was sorry and I didn't realise it was going to take off quite so well but he just kept shouting and swearing.

After about 5 minutes the fire died right down and there was very little smoke, but the next thing I knew he'd walked all the way round the block with a bucket of water, marched into our garden and threw it on the bonfire, shouting and swearing at me.

I was so shocked I just kept screaming at him to get off our property. He kept shouting at me that I'd been here 5 minutes and to effing shut up.

The neighbour who came round then started rabble rousing the household next door to him so they were all climbing on their fence shouting and screaming at us that I'd ruined their washing (which they'd already taken in) and they and the original neighbour kept filming us in the garden.

Our next door neighbour came round to see if I was ok as she'd seen me chasing this man out of the garden and she said I can have her ring footage if the police need it. She was lovely and gave me a big hug and calmed me down, telling me not to retaliate or speak to the screaming neighbours.

I called the police and reported it and they said they'll send someone out to have a word with him. I'm so shaken and so is my husband. He's partially sighted so cannot see if anyone comes into our garden and he's now frightened to go out there even though it's a lovely morning.

My children carried on burning the rest of the boxes we had then I hosed the fire down so I'm still left with a charred tree in the middle of the garden. I wish I'd never lit the thing now. I'm scared to even hang the washing out in case they come out and shout at me again and my husband is already talking about moving which is a bit extreme but I know how he feels. We felt so safe and welcome when we moved here and these people who we've never even met have turned everything upside down.

Rosie_Scope

That sounds really scary @starbuck! You've done the right thing by reporting it and hopefully it won't get to that stage again. It's lovely that your other neighbour was there to support you and keep you calm and it's good to have a friendly face around if you're not feeling too safe at the moment. I'm really sorry that it's had so much of an impact on you and your husband, that sounds really difficult to cope with.

Were the neighbours ever a problem before this happened? Hope you're managing okay.

starbuck

We'd spoken to the lady who was screaming about her washing and she seemed fine before, the man who came in the garden we've never seen since we moved in a year and a half ago.

Rachel_Scope

I'm sorry that happened to you @starbuck. I'm glad your neighbour was supportive, it must have been frightening. Hopefully you'll never see the man again and that the police having a word makes him realise how much he overreacted. Maybe after a few days you and your husband will feel better about it all and you can both enjoy your home and garden again.

Do your children live nearby?

starbuck

Yes three of them still live with us. They keep telling me not to worry. I guess I'll calm down in time but my husband is really paranoid. Let's hope it all settles down.

Thankyou!