Can I ask a very dog-UNRELATED question? please?

RenaBella

Okay this is completely and totally unrelated to dogs, but I thought everyone here is so nice, intelligent and mature, and thought you guys can offer me some smart neighbour advice.

I work at a bar, so some nights I don't get to bed till about 3-4am, some days, 5am. Well my next door neighbour runs her own day care thing and she has the kids out ALL day starting 8am, just running around in the small front yard (that we share, destroying our garden) and SCREAM. My bedroom is right at the front and I can't sleep! Window open or closed, I can hear them and it wakes me up every single morning at 8!

I want to keep the peace with our neighbours, but this is getting ridiculous. School ended last week and so far, this has happened every single day.
All she needs to do, is take them into the back yard or ask them to stop screaming at the top of their lungs.

Ugh, should I talk to her? how do I say this nicely? I don't usually talk to her. They aren't as personable as out other next door neighbours.

kamfam · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 8:53 am Post subject:

Uck - neighbor issues are touchy. It's not like she's someone that lives a block away - she's right next door and could easily make you life hell, but.....she could be the complete opposite.

Me, personally, I would try other things first: sleep on the couch? earplugs? white noise? Then talk to her as a last resort. It's a very tough situation. We've been very lucky with neighbors - although we're probably the ones everyone else complains about (kids, dogs, husband's harley at 630am) Laughing

!!!!!!!

Good luck!

waitingonmyweim · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:01 am Post subject:

That sucks.

I live right next door to a huge daycare (I think they take in maybe 50 kids), but it's across the street and their outside park area is not really close to our house (thank goodness) but I definitely know the noise that little kids can make.

I think you might have to sit down with her in a polite and professional way and see if you can work out an agreement.

Explain your situation and see if you could come to a mutual agreement. (ie. she keeps them in the backyard in the mornings). I don't know if that will work, but since you obviously live so close together (share a yard) you don't want to be starting any disagreements with your neighbours.

RenaBella · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:02 am Post subject:

I don't want to have to resort to sleeping on the couch everyday of the week!

There is a lot of moms who run a daycare at their house and none of them keep the kids out all day like she does. I mean, they are running around the electrical box on our lawn and by the road, for god's sake! Not that that's any of my business but everytime I go to reverse my car out of the driveway, I'm so worried I'm going to hit a kid!

But that's beside the point, I just don't know how to ask her nicely without insulting her. 8am is normal for a lot of people but not for me, I have a totally different clock going on cause of my job and unless I quit my job which I don't plan on doing, I'm screwed!

I don't want come off sounding rude, but I just don't know what to say.

Why can't they just stop screaming?!?

kamfam · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:14 am Post subject:

RenaBella · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 9:25 am Post subject:

You're right, I guess they won't stop screaming - but just put them in the backyard!

AHH!

I don't know what to do. I've tried ear plugs before but for some reason they make me nauseous.

Seespotrun · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:15 am Post subject:

I can certainly relate with noise issues.
Try this web site : http://www.borzotta.com/nfh/
It is called *Neighbors from Hell*, nice group, good ideas and suggestions, just ask. I found them one day after listening to FOUR, yes 4, straight hours of a gas leaf blower. I called my husband at work which I NEVER do and stuck my cell phone out the window for him to get the full effect of my misery and screamed like a banshee how I was this ><close to beating the forking neighbor with his blower if he DID. NOT. STOP. and it was going to be totally worth the jail time. Laughing

I mindlessly typed in, I hate my neighbor and neighbor from hell and up popped the site. Read some of their stuff, it will make it seem like you have it good. Sorry no real help from me, but I hope you find a solution and fast.

RenaBella · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:22 am Post subject:

Django · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:25 am Post subject:

Dog poop + front yard.

Problem solved. Wink

RenaBella · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:30 am Post subject:

marniekat · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:42 am Post subject:

If they are nice people, they will understand. I certainly hope they are nice people if they're taking care of children.

Just ask to talk to her and tell her that you really hate to ask but if it's possible, could she have the children play in the backyard and simply say that you work nights and since your bedroom is at the front, you are finding it difficult to sleep.

wildlifecr13 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:46 am Post subject:

by way of directing traffic... the greyghost saloon is just the place for non-dog stuff... but since this has gone the way of dog poop... i guess it fits! Very Happy

generally there are noise ordinances, etc tied to the schedules of the vast majority of people... usually 7am or something like that, so i dont know that you have a way to force her hand if it came to that.
when i worked nights i slept in the basement. quiet, cool, dark... i could sleep 12 hours without even realizing it. if you dont have a basement, it may be worth the effort to dig one by hand... weims are good diggers!

peppernaei · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

Neighbour issues are so hard. We have a great neighbour on one side and the other does nothing to keep up their yard. At least they're quiet. They put their garbage out whenever they please and when animals get into it they don't pick up. I have had to pick up disgusting garbage including used tampons and condoms (sorry for the grossness) that end up on our yard. Right now it's the weeds. Their lawn has totally died and the weeds have taken over. The weeds in the back yard are so big and thick it looks like a jungle. I'm only 5'4" but they are taller than me.

Their neighbour on the other side came over to talk to us on Monday. She decided that yesterday she was going to go over and tell them they must cut down the weeds or she will call the town. There is a by-law here. She really doesn't want to call the town but the weeds are starting to come through their chain-link fence. I guess I should be happy that ours is wood cause it seems to be keeping them out of our yard.

I'm curious to what happened yesterday. I haven't wanted to cause problems so I've just grin and bear it.

It might help to mention to your neighbour that you work nights and the front yard boarders your bedroom. Is is possible that they don't realize? I hate to go this route but if you need to you should check your local by-laws. Is she abiding by them? This however will most definitely cause animosity.

Seespotrun · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 11:14 am Post subject:

I do want to mention my neighbors are really nice people as well. I like them both a lot. Our house was built in an Oak grove where there has not been new housing in 20 years. Where you did not have to consider your neighbor as there were not any. We have since all found our niche in the new community. We all play nice, and no one has had to take their ball home. It pays to be nice to me though, I have a huge herb garden, and they like my basil. Very Happy

ange165 · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:16 pm Post subject:

Do you have someone close by like family that have a spare room that you are able to crash at?
We have heaps of building and road works going on at the moment, when I'm on night shifts I tend to go and sleep at my brothers house (if it's not the weekend).
I feel your pain..