Is This What Becoming a Neighbour Has Come to These Days?

Ljman10 on 07/09/2023 - 16:46
Last edited 07/09/2023 - 17:52 by 1 other user

We recently moved into a new home and neighbourhood almost 2 weeks ago now. We have a dead tree in our back yard that had a large branch fall off in a recent storm, further the whole garden just needed some care with another tree being way to close to the house. I hired a company to come to the property for 4 hours and remove the dead tree (since it still had potential to fall and hurt someone) as well as trim back the other tree. Other works included removing any dead plants throughout the backyard garden. This all happened with no issues, so I thought. Just for the next day to receive the below message, in handwritten form. She knocked on the door, yelled you have a note and left.

The note;
"To: the would be Neighbour Killers -
On Wednesday morning 2 arrogant, ignorant, moorons stoood on the Boundary fence line - the day windy - & started not one, but two chainsaws- sending toxic fumes of smoke rolling straight over the fence and into my unit"

You can read the rest of it in this link;
https://ibb.co/fNcr63D
https://ibb.co/pZLL0PV

She basically goes on to say she's recently gotten out of hospital and can't breathe (fair enough), and the community is full of senior citizens with medical problems (again fair enough).

She's quite angry in the note.. and has accused me of trying to kill her and the rest of the neighbours. She's said a copy of the note will be given to police in the case of her death.

I'm thinking don't worry, they will already have a copy.

Again my only crime is trying to make my backyard safe by removing a dead tree so my young can play there.

  1. Is this normal? Wouldn't it make sense to knock on the door and ask nicely, or better yet close your window for a maximum of 4 hours.
  2. I'm I missing something here? surely I'm allowed to do maintenance in my own backyard. It's not like it's being done at midnight.
  3. Do petrol chainsaws have that much smoke?
  4. What would be the appropriate actions to take from here onwards?

Surely none of the above constitute trying to murder someone? Is this what becoming a neighbour has come to these days?

Home & Garden

Comments

  • altomic on 07/09/2023 - 16:48
    +185

    old man yells at cloud

  • djones145 on 07/09/2023 - 16:49
    +42

    news.com.au

    its a slow news day, they will love this material

    • tallkid123 on 07/09/2023 - 19:12
      +1

      its a slow news day, they will love this material

      So will Domain and Real Estate's Facebook pages.

  • casho on 07/09/2023 - 16:51
    +61

    You were doing safety maintenance ; neighbour could have closed the windows. End of story.

    • matt_will_fix_it on 08/09/2023 - 06:15
      +34

      Put the letter in an envelope. Write "Return to sender" and chick it in their letter box.

  • Almost Banned on 07/09/2023 - 16:53
    +56

    I snorted. That was a good chuckle.
    Neighbour killer. Note sent to the police in the event of her death… LOL.

    • donga100 on 07/09/2023 - 17:25
      +34

      She is already dead by now. In her letter it said she couldn't breathe so she wouldn't have lasted any more than 2-3 minutes after writing it.

    • PeachesK on 07/09/2023 - 19:51

      Big LOL

  • Downvoter on 07/09/2023 - 16:54
    +1

    Better get yourself a lawyer son

  • spackbace on 07/09/2023 - 16:55
    +65

    Get more workers in with chainsaws to do tasks. Maybe the lawn can be trimmed by chainsaw

    Problem will disappear by itself…

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 07/09/2023 - 17:48
      +12

      Petrol edgers and leaf blowers.

    • goraygo on 07/09/2023 - 19:46
      +18

      Should start daily backyard BBQ while smoking the salmon, bacon and whatever meats that can be smoked.

      They will eventually get used to it. :)

    • Mozzmanau on 07/09/2023 - 20:57

      This is exactly what i was thinking. 😅

    • brendanm on 07/09/2023 - 17:40
      +37

      Why on earth would op go around to every apartment, unit and house in the nearby vicinity to tell them a tree was getting chopped down?

        • brendanm on 07/09/2023 - 18:15
          +8

          Did you read the letter? I assume not with that response.

          • try2bhelpful on 07/09/2023 - 18:24
            -7

            @brendanm: I’m not saying I agree with the tone of the neighbour I’m saying that the OP would’ve been better giving the neighbours some warning.

            • brendanm on 07/09/2023 - 18:41
              +14

              @try2bhelpful: Again, read the letter. Sounds like there are apartment blocks, granny flats etc. Is op really meant to go around and notify all these people over a couple of hours of tree cutting? Shutting a window takes all of a few seconds.

              • boosten on 07/09/2023 - 20:22
                +15

                @brendanm: Unbelievable Op. You're cutting trees down once in a while and you didn't walk around asking every man and his dog for permission to do so?!
                I bet you're one of those inconsiderate neighbours that also doesn't ask if you can start your car to go to work every morning? I bet all the a*sehole cars driving past do the same…? No one got a permit from associate VicRoads authority Karen? Tsk tsk..
                Some people need a serious reality check. Try popping your head around the corner and giving your neighbour a hand so they'll return the favour too. Or asking if you need to move a car etc, to enable the works to get done quicker and easier. Offer to share the bill if the tree is on the boundary line. Common sense, being a good neighbour and looking after one another isn't very common anymore. These are your neighbours that can also be some of the first to assist in an emergency. When the world stops spinning around Karen, maybe she'll think about that.
                As @brendanm mentioned, she could've just shut the window for the day and opened it the next. Would've taken less time then writing the letter that described exactly what kind of neighbour and person she was.

                  • Chandler on 08/09/2023 - 10:21
                    +20

                    @ForkSnorter: Lets assume OP did that:

                    1. neighbour wasn't there when OP popped around? Same result
                    2. neighbour says no, you can't? Now what?
                    3. neighbour tries to dictate terms - day/date, start time, duration, allowed tools, etc. Do you really think OP has that much control over the tradies? Sure you can ask for some specific things, but then it may need to shift days or contractor may flat out refuse, so OP needs to then find one that is more suitable for their neighbour? At their own cost?
                    4. how much detail does OP need to give the neighbour? You've listed clothes and children - what about pets? Plants? Car? Should OP also ask neighbour if they'd like them to go into their house and close their windows for them? Maybe get their washing off the line and take it inside too?

                    Look - I get being a good neighbour, but it's a two-way street. OP having perfectly normal maintenance performed on their property during normal hours. If that's an issue for any of OP's neighbours, that's on the neighbour, not OP. As others have said - neighbour could have closed their windows, kept the dog inside, etc. Neighbour also didn't need to go full Karen on them…

                    • ForkSnorter on 08/09/2023 - 10:55
                      -6

                      @Chandler:

                      neighbour wasn't there when OP popped around? Same result

                      I'd suggest the basic thing is to pop around with a note. If not in, leave the note.

                      neighbour says no, you can't? Now what?

                      They can't say no.

                      neighbour tries to dictate terms - day/date, start time, duration, allowed tools, etc.

                      They can't.

                      Do you really think OP has that much control over the tradies? Sure you can ask for some specific things, but then it may need to shift days or contractor may flat out refuse, so OP needs to then find one that is more suitable for their neighbour? At their own cost? how much detail does OP need to give the neighbour? You've listed clothes and children - what about pets? Plants? Car? Should OP also ask neighbour if they'd like them to go into their house and close their windows for them? Maybe get their washing off the line and take it inside too?

                      It's not about asking for permission. It's just a heads up. "Please note, there may be an impact on your backyard on Tuesday."

                      Look - I get being a good neighbour, but it's a two-way street. OP having perfectly normal maintenance performed on their property during normal hours. If that's an issue for any of OP's neighbours, that's on the neighbour, not OP. As others have said - neighbour could have closed their windows, kept the dog inside, etc. Neighbour also didn't need to go full Karen on them…

                      Yeah, I'm not talking about that lunatic note. She is clearly loopy. I'm just surprised that I got severely negged on this forum for suggesting the nice thing to do is to inform your neighbours when significant work is going to happen that may impact on their backyard. I don’t know if this says something about a portion of the people on this forum.

                      • B Didds on 08/09/2023 - 13:23
                        +3

                        @ForkSnorter: At the very least OP could hand over the note and yell "YOU HAVE A NOTE"

                      • Franc-T on 08/09/2023 - 17:22
                        +2

                        @ForkSnorter:

                        I'm just surprised that I got severely negged on this forum for suggesting the nice thing to do is to inform your neighbours when significant work is going to happen that may impact on their backyard. I don’t know if this says something about a portion of the people on this forum.

                        If OP doesnt know the neighbour, its happening in daytime and is a reasonable thing to do with neglible impact why should they?

                        I wouldnt expect my neighbours to notify me about stuff like this as well as wouldnt want to be bothered by it.

                    • Ultimate Gattai on 10/09/2023 - 23:04
                      +1

                      @Chandler: Sounds more reasonable than my neighbors, and I don't even send them angry notes either, lol (mine start up their tractor at 6am and the other side has kids screaming at about the same time, I hate working late shifts). I also think OP was was being reasonable, since it wasn't done during odd hours and they were perfectly reasonable actions the neighbor could have taken to reduce the impact of his actions, sounds like he just has a bad neighbor (regrettably, good neighbors are hard to come across now).

            • cookie2 on 07/09/2023 - 23:15

              @try2bhelpful: I feel like you're trying to blame one persons bad actions, on someone elses actions. The person needs to xtfd and sort her s$-t out coz no stranger lives to sort it for her.

            • ForkSnorter on 08/09/2023 - 07:21
              -3

              @try2bhelpful: Don't bother being reasonable. Even mentioning something like "be considerate to your neighbours" will get you negged on this forum.

            • Belts on 10/09/2023 - 14:12
              -1

              @try2bhelpful: Don’t know why you’re getting negged. Here. Have some upvotes.

        • CheapskateQueen on 07/09/2023 - 21:38
          +5

          council comes around at 7am chopping our trees. aint no warning given

    • donga100 on 07/09/2023 - 18:17
      +5

      Frankly I would be conciliatory and tell her you will give the heads up if you are getting more work done. Dialing down the issue is better than ramping it up.

      In reality this is what I would do. However, it would be really tempting to tell her that you are going to be an example for others in this neighbourhood and refuse to live in such squalid and dangerous conditions. From now on trees and yards will be properly maintained and cared for and she should expect regular use of garden tools in future. People need to learn to take some pride in their properties! Furthermore, reports will be made to council should anyone let their lawns grow too long.

      • try2bhelpful on 07/09/2023 - 18:22
        -5

        I’m not saying I agree with her tone but I think that if you are going to make a lot of noise then giving your neighbours the heads up is a good thing to do. It gives the neighbour the chance to be somewhere else for the day if they can’t handle the racket. Who knows the neighbour might’ve had her own work she wanted done and it could be combined.

        It is much better to play nice with your neighbours than get them offside. It might help in the future if the OP wants to do extensions etc.

        It isn’t going to help the “welcome to the neighbourhood” if he only just moved in and he is, already, getting the neighbours offside.

        • jman10 on 07/09/2023 - 18:29

          This!! I certainly intend to do more reno work, it's an old house. best to have them on my side i think.

          • cookie2 on 07/09/2023 - 23:17
            +8

            @jman10: They don't sound stable enough to be on anyone's side besides their own.

          • Assburg on 08/09/2023 - 00:19
            +3

            @jman10: Yeah as cookie2 has said… These aren't the people you want to be friends with, or even speak to.

            You are not remotely close to what is considered as a nuisance under the tort of private nuisance, and it's actually a pretty low bar…which speaks to insanity of this woman.

          • rumblytangara on 08/09/2023 - 10:47
            +1

            @jman10: Try getting to know your other neighbours then, instead of the batshit crazy one.

            You mentioned this started at 9:30 in the middle of the week. That's totally reasonable- anyone not doing shift work will have been awake for hours.

    • rumblytangara on 07/09/2023 - 18:58
      +19

      Did you tell the neighbour you intended to get people in to work on removing the trees? If you had she might’ve spent the day elsewhere.

      This is a terrible idea.

      For someone who writes an insane note like that, they are likely to believe that they have the right to dictate terms like when it happens or whether it happens at all.

      There is no point giving any advance notice and letting them kick up a fuss prior.

      • loropy9 on 07/09/2023 - 20:24

        This is true.

    • JIMB0 on 07/09/2023 - 20:38

      Maybe he put it in the classified section of the local paper. Not his fault she didn't see it.

    • smartazz104 on 08/09/2023 - 08:07

      If you had she might’ve spent the day elsewhere.

      What, in another room away from windows? Doesn't sound like she had anywhere else she could be. Maybe she should have some sort of mask for that condition she claims to have.

    • GG57 on 08/09/2023 - 09:41
      -1

      I agree with you, and seriously don't understand all the neg votes.
      To quote OP:

      Is This What Becoming a Neighbour Has Come to These Days?

      A very quick note dropped to the direct neighbours' letter boxes before the work started would have been a considerate thing to do and would have likely avoided all the angst.

    • b0rnwithabeard on 08/09/2023 - 14:39
      +2

      found the neighbour

    • boretentsu on 09/09/2023 - 00:06
      +1

      I'm with you @try2bhelpful. I think the amount of negs you're getting is unfair and quite frankly concerning. Yeah the neighbour is clearly off their rockers and probably has sh1t health and a sh1t life and she shouldn't go around making it everyone else's problem. Even so, spending 15-30 minutes to notify neighbours of a once-off activity is probably time well invested to minimise chances of this happening, no matter how unreasonable your neighbour is. Sometimes people just want to have a heads up. Good intentions don't substitute for good communication.

      If the tree was literally at urgent risk of causing serious harm then sure, consultation would not be practical.

      • try2bhelpful on 09/09/2023 - 00:27
        -3

        Thanks for the support. The young turks here seem more concerned about their own egos than what will be good for the OP in the long run. The guy has been in the place for 2 weeks and has already got some of the neighbours offside. It doesn’t bode well for getting people onside if he ever wants to do modifications. However, I don’t take this personally. I know exactly what triggers this mob and the OP will learn over time. I find it amusing he has spent a long screed detailing his grievances rather than stepping back and looking at this long term. Me, I would take the long term view and talk to the neighbours. I would apologise to the lady and tell her I will notify her if there will be noise in the future. This approach costs nothing and might garner support amongst the neighbours in the future. Best of luck him trying to fit in now.

        The joke is the real bad neighbour is the OP.

        • try2bhelpful on 09/09/2023 - 08:56

          You guys can keep downvoting but it doesn’t negate the fact I’m telling the truth. The OP is going to find this out when he wants some slack from the neighbours one day.

        • boretentsu on 10/09/2023 - 13:18
          +1

          That's my view generally. One day you will need your neighbours onside and telling them to go f**k themselves because you're in your right is probably going to come back to bite you. I just hope none of my neighbours think like the Karen or the people negging in the thread.

        • rumblytangara on 10/09/2023 - 18:57

          Most the other (rational) neighbours probably simply don't care because OP wasn't being some kind of irresponsible dick about anything.

          Funny that you assume everyone just disagrees with you because they're "young turks". I'm probably older than you are.

        • Juice-Wa on 11/09/2023 - 07:29

          Hitting those grumpy old man stereotypes again are we?

          I present to you, your favorite quote:

          Unfortunately your hubris is blinding you.

  • MS Paint on 07/09/2023 - 16:55
    +36

    Did you move to Karenville?

  • rumblytangara on 07/09/2023 - 16:57
    +22

    Fire up a BBQ.

    • apple2016 on 07/09/2023 - 17:22
      +4

      and set up a campfire

      • yokel on 08/09/2023 - 07:37
        +3

        Low and slow on the smoker would also work.

  • sumyungguy on 07/09/2023 - 16:58
    +9

    As a gesture of goodwill, gift her some flowers and a CO monitor

    • bbinc on 08/09/2023 - 09:02

      Oleanders com to mind …

  • Minhhr on 07/09/2023 - 17:01
    +7

    I'd setup a speaker and blast chainsaw noises all day.

    • JayM on 09/09/2023 - 13:46
      +1

      Chuck in a smoke generator for that full chainsaw experience too

    • stuffandthat on 11/09/2023 - 14:33

      The PTSD will kill her!

  • pharkurnell on 07/09/2023 - 17:04
    +17

    TL.DR version required.

    take her some mushroom soup.

    • boosten on 07/09/2023 - 20:24
      +1

      Perhaps offer some quick set concrete with it too.

    • ItchyBallsack on 07/09/2023 - 23:34
      -5

      Make sure that soup is made from death cap mushroom 🍄

      • Guybrush57 on 08/09/2023 - 08:32
        +12

        That was the joke

    • boretentsu on 09/09/2023 - 00:09

      Any deals on a dehydrator?

  • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2023 - 17:05
    +3

    I don't care that you tried to kill your hooman neighbours but you really need to reflect upon what kind of person are you for organising yard maintenance that made a doggo ill ?

    • Juggernauto on 08/09/2023 - 10:54

      found the neighbour

      • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2023 - 10:55
        +4

        lol - I need to work on my sarcasm ….. it doesn't translate well here.

        • digitalbath on 08/09/2023 - 11:07
          +3

          Your sarcasm is fine. Just that people in here don’t have enough brain cells to realise it.

        • Tiller76 on 08/09/2023 - 11:09

          No, I think it does fine.

        • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2023 - 20:29

          Need to know your audience and use boomer humour; sarcasm usually flies over their heads since the dementia is starting to set in.

          • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2023 - 20:56

            @[Deactivated]: My parents are boomers and they're a tough crowd at the best of times

        • Keplaffintech on 09/09/2023 - 07:46
          +1

          Sarcasm doesn't work well on the internet because there's always someone out there who would say the same thing sincerely

          • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2023 - 11:14

            @Keplaffintech: But we're not in America

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 07/09/2023 - 17:07
    +8

    Lmaoooo - not what I was expecting when I clicked in.

  • Godric on 07/09/2023 - 17:08
    +4

    Scrunch it, Bin it, Forget about it

    • brendanm on 07/09/2023 - 17:42
      +12

      It's in ops yard. It has nothing to do with their neighbours. The safety of the tree cutting is up to the people doing the cutting, not op.

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