In an ideal world we would all get on with our next-door neighbours and nothing they did would ever annoy us – but that's not the kind of world we live in. It's inevitable that someone who lives so close to you will get on your nerves somehow.
That's exactly how one woman feels. Her neighbour is a constant annoyance to her because of his daily garden habit which is "driving her mad" – and she's worried he'll never change.
Between 5.30am and 5.45am every morning her next-door neighbour can be heard filling up his watering can, which she says is "surprisingly loud" – as well as a number of other annoying daily chores.
In a recent rant on parenting forum Mumsnet, the anonymous woman explained: "I live in a small cul de sac, I'm at the end so the houses on either side of us are forward which means our bedroom window is level with the driveway and garden of one of our neighbours.
"They are an older couple and although we don't know them well they are very nice and we've helped each other out with small things in the past. HOWEVER! He is driving me mad.
"He is up every morning between 0530-0545 filling up his watering can (surprisingly loud when water hits a plastic echo chamber), unlocking his car (loud beep), slamming his car door, talking to his dog, taking bins out etc."
One of the woman's gripes is that the elderly man, who is in his eighties, doesn't need to get up for work so he shouldn't need to do these things so early. She added: "I know this is the price you pay for neighbours but it's just so early and I'm so fed up!"
Many fellow forum users were sympathetic to the woman, as one person said they wouldn't be "getting any sleep at all", if it was them.
Others explained that older people tend to wake up early, and that he might not have considered other that he can be heard.
However, most people agreed she should have a conversation with him about it.
One person suggested: "Old people wake up very early. It's his own desire to potter on with his day. You could kindly mention if he would mind delaying it slightly or at least on a weekend?"
Another added: "Doing all of this at the above time is inconsiderate. I think most of us wouldn't consider making all that noise before 6am. I'd have a polite word with him."
Unfortunately, the woman added that she didn't think talking to him would "change anything" as he's "nice but loves making passive aggressive little comments".
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comment section below.
