The advice thread for random problems #3

[Lalla]

I think this is one of those unsolveable problems (other than moving house!) but I just want to vent.

My neighbours are awful (they're born again Christian be kind types) and their kids (aged about 9 to 14) re the most entitled little people I've ever come across.

We have had issues for years with them kicking balls into my garden. They let themselves into my garden to get the balls back either by climbing the fence (which I've had to replace once) or lifting the panel or climbing my gate. They also relentlessly kick the ball against my fence which is falling apart. If I'm in the garden they shout for the ball back (no please or thank you). We had about 20 of my sons friends over for BBQ a couple of months ago and at 10pm when we were in the garden the kids were shouting 'shut up'

Today in the space of under 10 mins they kicked 2 balls over, climbed over, kicked over 2 more, climbed over. on the 3rd time I caught them and told them to get off my fence. They then spent the next 20 mins peering over like bleeping Chads.

The parents are idiots so there is no point talking to them but I'm just sick of feeling I can't ever go out in my garden, or that I have no privacy.

I've got some plastic spike things I can put on the fence but I expect they'll just do something else if I stop that (I changed the gate and the panels are now screwed in so cant be lifted from their side, hence them now climbing the fence)

Without going all Mumsnet I think a lot of it is rooted in jealousy as my house and garden are twice the size of theirs but that doesn't make it easier to deal with! My plan for years has been to move to another (nicer and cheaper) part of the country to live with my partner but we split up last year so that put an end to that.

 

[Okgolightly]

I think this is one of those unsolveable problems (other than moving house!) but I just want to vent.

My neighbours are awful (they're born again Christian be kind types) and their kids (aged about 9 to 14) re the most entitled little people I've ever come across.

We have had issues for years with them kicking balls into my garden. They let themselves into my garden to get the balls back either by climbing the fence (which I've had to replace once) or lifting the panel or climbing my gate. They also relentlessly kick the ball against my fence which is falling apart. If I'm in the garden they shout for the ball back (no please or thank you). We had about 20 of my sons friends over for BBQ a couple of months ago and at 10pm when we were in the garden the kids were shouting 'shut up'

Today in the space of under 10 mins they kicked 2 balls over, climbed over, kicked over 2 more, climbed over. on the 3rd time I caught them and told them to get off my fence. They then spent the next 20 mins peering over like bleeping Chads.

The parents are idiots so there is no point talking to them but I'm just sick of feeling I can't ever go out in my garden, or that I have no privacy.

I've got some plastic spike things I can put on the fence but I expect they'll just do something else if I stop that (I changed the gate and the panels are now screwed in so cant be lifted from their side, hence them now climbing the fence)

Without going all Mumsnet I think a lot of it is rooted in jealousy as my house and garden are twice the size of theirs but that doesn't make it easier to deal with! My plan for years has been to move to another (nicer and cheaper) part of the country to live with my partner but we split up last year so that put an end to that.

Urgh I feel for you this sounds so frustrating. Can you get one of those things to put in your garden that emits a high pitch noise only people of a certain age/animals can hear? I can’t remember the name of them but might be worth a go?

 

[Snippysnips]

I think this is one of those unsolveable problems (other than moving house!) but I just want to vent.

My neighbours are awful (they're born again Christian be kind types) and their kids (aged about 9 to 14) re the most entitled little people I've ever come across.

We have had issues for years with them kicking balls into my garden. They let themselves into my garden to get the balls back either by climbing the fence (which I've had to replace once) or lifting the panel or climbing my gate. They also relentlessly kick the ball against my fence which is falling apart. If I'm in the garden they shout for the ball back (no please or thank you). We had about 20 of my sons friends over for BBQ a couple of months ago and at 10pm when we were in the garden the kids were shouting 'shut up'

Today in the space of under 10 mins they kicked 2 balls over, climbed over, kicked over 2 more, climbed over. on the 3rd time I caught them and told them to get off my fence. They then spent the next 20 mins peering over like bleeping Chads.

The parents are idiots so there is no point talking to them but I'm just sick of feeling I can't ever go out in my garden, or that I have no privacy.

I've got some plastic spike things I can put on the fence but I expect they'll just do something else if I stop that (I changed the gate and the panels are now screwed in so cant be lifted from their side, hence them now climbing the fence)

Without going all Mumsnet I think a lot of it is rooted in jealousy as my house and garden are twice the size of theirs but that doesn't make it easier to deal with! My plan for years has been to move to another (nicer and cheaper) part of the country to live with my partner but we split up last year so that put an end to that.

I'd honestly take the ball an get a knife to it, technically they are trespassing an you could get orders taking out on them that they aren't allowed onto your property like ASBO's on them

 

[WeHadFunRight]

I think this is one of those unsolveable problems (other than moving house!) but I just want to vent.

My neighbours are awful (they're born again Christian be kind types) and their kids (aged about 9 to 14) re the most entitled little people I've ever come across.

We have had issues for years with them kicking balls into my garden. They let themselves into my garden to get the balls back either by climbing the fence (which I've had to replace once) or lifting the panel or climbing my gate. They also relentlessly kick the ball against my fence which is falling apart. If I'm in the garden they shout for the ball back (no please or thank you). We had about 20 of my sons friends over for BBQ a couple of months ago and at 10pm when we were in the garden the kids were shouting 'shut up'

Today in the space of under 10 mins they kicked 2 balls over, climbed over, kicked over 2 more, climbed over. on the 3rd time I caught them and told them to get off my fence. They then spent the next 20 mins peering over like bleeping Chads.

The parents are idiots so there is no point talking to them but I'm just sick of feeling I can't ever go out in my garden, or that I have no privacy.

I've got some plastic spike things I can put on the fence but I expect they'll just do something else if I stop that (I changed the gate and the panels are now screwed in so cant be lifted from their side, hence them now climbing the fence)

Without going all Mumsnet I think a lot of it is rooted in jealousy as my house and garden are twice the size of theirs but that doesn't make it easier to deal with! My plan for years has been to move to another (nicer and cheaper) part of the country to live with my partner but we split up last year so that put an end to that.

Get a big dog that likes to rip footballs apart, tell them you can’t do anything about him and they should take more care with their property coming into its garden.

Or, every time a ball comes in, throw it over your other neighbour’s fence, or boot it into oblivion (on to the roof?) then claim utter ignorance about where the ball could be. Do this continuously until their parents bankrupt themselves due to all funds going on replacement balls .

 

[stardust1]

Get a big dog that likes to rip footballs apart, tell them you can’t do anything about him and they should take more care with their property coming into its garden.

Or, every time a ball comes in, throw it over your other neighbour’s fence, or boot it into oblivion (on to the roof?) then claim utter ignorance about where the ball could be. Do this continuously until their parents bankrupt themselves due to all funds going on replacement balls .

one of my old neighbours kids used to kick balls over multiple times a day and would constantly be asking for the ball back, one day I stopped answering and gave the balls to my toddler. His football collection grew and the balls stopped coming over

 

[Rxt156]

I think this is one of those unsolveable problems (other than moving house!) but I just want to vent.

My neighbours are awful (they're born again Christian be kind types) and their kids (aged about 9 to 14) re the most entitled little people I've ever come across.

We have had issues for years with them kicking balls into my garden. They let themselves into my garden to get the balls back either by climbing the fence (which I've had to replace once) or lifting the panel or climbing my gate. They also relentlessly kick the ball against my fence which is falling apart. If I'm in the garden they shout for the ball back (no please or thank you). We had about 20 of my sons friends over for BBQ a couple of months ago and at 10pm when we were in the garden the kids were shouting 'shut up'

Today in the space of under 10 mins they kicked 2 balls over, climbed over, kicked over 2 more, climbed over. on the 3rd time I caught them and told them to get off my fence. They then spent the next 20 mins peering over like bleeping Chads.

The parents are idiots so there is no point talking to them but I'm just sick of feeling I can't ever go out in my garden, or that I have no privacy.

I've got some plastic spike things I can put on the fence but I expect they'll just do something else if I stop that (I changed the gate and the panels are now screwed in so cant be lifted from their side, hence them now climbing the fence)

Without going all Mumsnet I think a lot of it is rooted in jealousy as my house and garden are twice the size of theirs but that doesn't make it easier to deal with! My plan for years has been to move to another (nicer and cheaper) part of the country to live with my partner but we split up last year so that put an end to that.

Oooooo i hate this type of tit. They need one last warning. No more climbing over or the balls get a knife in them. Done. Once shouted at a 5yo & 8yo for throwing stones over my fence as one hit my dog. A VERY firm word and it didn’t happen again 🫨 oohh just found a new emoji lol

 

[Lalla]

Thank you all

Someone did suggest the noise thingy to me before, it's called a Mosquito, but they're like £500 plus installation. I would pay it, but knowing my luck it wouldn't work on the little sods.

I dogsit for my friend once a week but her dog is useless , he doesn't bark and won't play with balls My son's girlfriend also has a dog, he does bark but will only play with tennis balls so not much use either!

Initially I always threw the balls back when they knocked, then they stopped knocking and just started helping themselves. When my eldest son is here he's booted quite a few from the back of our garden, there's about 4 different gardens that back onto ours so no idea where those balls went. We also collected up a load last summer (about 10 in a fortnight) and gave them to a local kids club. And still it continues! I have periodically been throwing some back over but I'm done with doing that now.

One of the kids plays for the youth team of a Premier league club (you'd think his aim with a football would be better in the circs!) and they basically treat him like the Second Coming. I don't know if they get the balls free from the club but any any time they must have 10+ footballs in their garden (or in mine).

 

[CallMeHollywood]

Thank you all

Someone did suggest the noise thingy to me before, it's called a Mosquito, but they're like £500 plus installation. I would pay it, but knowing my luck it wouldn't work on the little sods.

I dogsit for my friend once a week but her dog is useless , he doesn't bark and won't play with balls My son's girlfriend also has a dog, he does bark but will only play with tennis balls so not much use either!

Initially I always threw the balls back when they knocked, then they stopped knocking and just started helping themselves. When my eldest son is here he's booted quite a few from the back of our garden, there's about 4 different gardens that back onto ours so no idea where those balls went. We also collected up a load last summer (about 10 in a fortnight) and gave them to a local kids club. And still it continues! I have periodically been throwing some back over but I'm done with doing that now.

One of the kids plays for the youth team of a Premier league club (you'd think his aim with a football would be better in the circs!) and they basically treat him like the Second Coming. I don't know if they get the balls free from the club but any any time they must have 10+ footballs in their garden (or in mine).

You need to tell them that they’re breaking your fence and if they climb over again, you will be sending them the bill for new panels.

 

[littlepup]

You need to tell them that they’re breaking your fence and if they climb over again, you will be sending them the bill for new panels.

Yes. And tell them you don’t appreciate their bad manners. If the balls come over again you won’t give them back and you won’t allow them to climb over, it’s trespass and if potentially vandalism, you have a camera in the window (you can get a blink camera for about &20 on Amazon prime days that are super easy to use). If he has some kind of scholarship type agreement with the football team, I can’t imagine they’ll want to risk an ASBO type offence.

Remind them…
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
Exodus 20:8–10 - no bleeping about on a Sunday!
To the parents “Thou shalt not covet.” Exodus 20:17 - stop being jealous guys.
And this one is good too…
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones.”
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 - Discipline your crappy kids or they deserve what’s coming to them in the form of flat footballs!

Suggest the get those back angled fence tops to create a net on the top of their fence.

 

[Kizzie]

Does anyone here go on coach trips for short breaks?

Best and cheapest way to do this, please? My friend asked me to go away to Devon with her by coach, I said why when I like driving. but my counsellor has said it would be good for me to step outside my comfort zone and let someone else do the driving and for me to just enjoy the break from start to finish.

My friend isn't online so want to see if I can find it cheaper than offline, obviously, it will be after the schools go back.

 

[stardust1]

Does anyone here go on coach trips for short breaks?

Best and cheapest way to do this, please? My friend asked me to go away to Devon with her by coach, I said why when I like driving. but my counsellor has said it would be good for me to step outside my comfort zone and let someone else do the driving and for me to just enjoy the break from start to finish.

My friend isn't online so want to see if I can find it cheaper than offline, obviously, it will be after the schools go back.

my family member uses caledonian a lot

 

[Kizzie]

my family member uses caledonian a lot

Thank you Looked promising but they don't cover the south where I am.

 

[Snippysnips]

Does anyone here go on coach trips for short breaks?

Best and cheapest way to do this, please? My friend asked me to go away to Devon with her by coach, I said why when I like driving. but my counsellor has said it would be good for me to step outside my comfort zone and let someone else do the driving and for me to just enjoy the break from start to finish.

My friend isn't online so want to see if I can find it cheaper than offline, obviously, it will be after the schools go back.

My parents use Caledonian an Breaks to go an I think they also done a David Urquhart at one point, the coach tips are ok but it's limited places they go too an I think they prefer you stay with the bus so I'd check to see if they are going to one specific area or numerous, my folks done a Mon to Fri an each day was a different town

If you are only wanting to go to one place for a few days it may work out a bit cheaper just getting normal buses or a train, the full week coach trips can be a bit costly as they are obviously including all your excursions, meals, hotel stays if they are moving towns, an if there's a entertainment pass you need then they cover that an if you aren't going to be using most of that then it might work out a bit expensive

 

[Rxt156]

Tips for a caravan holiday please. Travelling with the following
18 month old
2 dogs
7 adults

Top of my list: Prosecco

Last time I went away with 2 dogs, in laws and husband it was fairly stressful and not that enjoyable

 

[stargirl23]

Tips for a caravan holiday please. Travelling with the following
18 month old
2 dogs
7 adults

Top of my list: Prosecco

Last time I went away with 2 dogs, in laws and husband it was fairly stressful and not that enjoyable

Board games or cards to play in the evening for adults, child friendly toys/games/activities for in the day or to distract with while getting ready, balls/outdoor toys, bucket/spade if going beach, we took our sons scooter too and it was a life saver

 

[littlepup]

Tips for a caravan holiday please. Travelling with the following
18 month old
2 dogs
7 adults

Top of my list: Prosecco

Last time I went away with 2 dogs, in laws and husband it was fairly stressful and not that enjoyable

Lots of toys, own blanket, black out blind or something to cover the window and pegs, even if your child doesn’t meet it really dark as some are just very thin curtains so basically daylight when the sun comes up. Children’s cups and cutlery. More towels than you think you need and a bath mat for the floor.

 

[AllTheBest2022]

Tips for a caravan holiday please. Travelling with the following
18 month old
2 dogs
7 adults

Top of my list: Prosecco

Last time I went away with 2 dogs, in laws and husband it was fairly stressful and not that enjoyable

Baby monitor? I still take mine on holidays/trips away and he's 3 years old

 

[Pesky Tarian]

Tips for a caravan holiday please. Travelling with the following
18 month old
2 dogs
7 adults

Top of my list: Prosecco

Last time I went away with 2 dogs, in laws and husband it was fairly stressful and not that enjoyable

Anti bac wipes, paper plates, those foil baking tins for things like a big pasta bake. The last thing you want is to be chained to the kitchen.

I always take a few cheap ikea fleece blankets for the sofa if the kids/dogs have been at the beach.

More prosecco have fun x

 

[shadowcat5]

Weird one: anyone here ever used neurogena t-gel and can recommend an alternative? It was good in my hair but it’s so expensive for a tiny bottle

 

[littlepup]

Weird one: anyone here ever used neurogena t-gel and can recommend an alternative? It was good in my hair but it’s so expensive for a tiny bottle

T-gel sometimes goes reduced on Amazon in the £2.50 bottle. Capascal also contains coal tar and is slightly cheaper but smells horrendous. It’s the one doctors do on prescription for seborrhoeic dermatitis.
This might be worth a try, definitiey pitched as a cheap t-gel. It makes (my long, fine) hair a bit tangly while washing, doesn’t foam much or feel nourishing but didn’t cause any irritation for me and I liked the smell. It’s cheap enough to try.