Was I right to say what I did?

[asterix]

It is a shame if you can't raise such a point without WW3. And really the culprits should have the consideration for you not to have to mention it. You have my sympathy FWIW.

 

[andylaw79]

It is a shame if you can't raise such a point without WW3. And really the culprits should have the consideration for you not to have to mention it. You have my sympathy FWIW.

Thanks, it just wouldn't cross my mind to park obstructing someone's drive when visiting a friend or relative.

 

[smutchin]

We did fall out with the neighbour at the back but he's dead now.

Crumbs. I shall watch my step if I ever move in next to you.

d.

 

[byegad]

Many years ago i had a similar problem with a neighbour parking opposite our rear gates. It was a narrow back lane and we couldn't get our car out if he was there. After a lot of grief where we had to knock and wait 5 or more minutes while he moved his car to let us out then moved it back, (Grrr!) one day we came home in my wife's car and there he was opposite our gate. I sent my wife inside out of the way and parked her car 1cm off his back bumper. I quickly went through our house and moved my car around to the back lane and parked it 1 cm from his front bumper.

Then I waited. Sure enough an hour or so later he knocked on the door quite upset that he couldn't move his car. I told him I'd get my keys and move one for him. Then went inside and waited. 15minutes later the door went again and a now very angry neighbour demanded I move a car immediately. I looked at my watch and told him he had at least another 10 hours to wait.

'How do you make that out?' he demanded. 'Simple', I said. 'We've waited an average of 6 minutes for you to move away from our gates over a hundred times and I am going to make you give me back all of the time before I move. Angry threats were made and returned and I condescended to move a car if he promised never to park across our gates again. He was speechless so, having not had his promise, I went back into the house to wait. Sure enough a few minutes went by and his wife knocked and asked me very politely if I'd move to let him drive away. She told me he wouldn't park over the gates again and he did keep to this although he never spoke to me again.

Great fun, although at one point I did think he was going to burst a blood vessel.

 

[Butterfly]

It sounds like either your neighbour's wife is an over-emotional drama queen, or they exaggerated what had happened. I think it is perfectly reasonable to ask someone not to block your drive. If you are out, or it's occasionally for a moment, it's not a problem, but if it's a regular occurrence then that's taking the micky. It's different if there is nowhere else to park but if everyone else manages it then they are just being anti social pigs.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

oh ffs spare me from emotionally unstable neighbours..especially female ones! Yes of course you did the right thing....

 

[swee'pea99]

The post that strikes me on this thread is ian's:

"new neighbours moved in....one of them was always blocking our drive ... I pointed out that all we want is for no one to park across our drive. is it so hard to understand or do? She said they don't and there is enough room. I then pointed to her daughters car which was half way across our drive. It then suddenly seemed to dawn on her why I was complaining. From then on we had no trouble." (My italics.)

Inconsiderate, yes. Bloody-minded, quite possibly. But it's all too easy to underestimate the part played by, and the extent of, some people's sheer stupidity.

 

[jonny jeez]

Was just thinking the same thing.

Really, so why didnt you?

Why didn't you treat your neighbour to a "modicum of courtesy and consideration" and talk to them about it first ...allowed them an opportunity to solve the problem in their own way. Instead you decided to challenge one of their friends (when it clearly wasnt inconveniencing you at all) and have now created a greater problem where one didnt exist.

listen to all those who will tell you that you were right and had every right if you wish...or take my word for it and realise that this is precisely the type of tiny little issue that will build into a full on feud...if you don't take the initiative.

I'm sorry If I sound like I'm digging at you, I don't mean to, but you asked for my opinion and I am not going to tell you that your wife is wrong if I really don't believe she is.

Don't just wallow in the pity of others that'll tell you "you had every right" and "you cant be walked over" that is just crap to feed your ego...if your ego needs feeding then listen to them all

...if it doesnt...fix the problem

 

[Arch]

Inconsiderate, yes. Bloody-minded, quite possibly. But it's all too easy to underestimate the part played by, and the extent of, some people's sheer stupidity.

+1

NT dropped me off at Piccadilly today, and as we approached the back of the station a driver suddenly changed lanes at a junction, barged in front of us and then crawled along before finally turning into a car park. I looked at her as we passed, and she was gazing at the pay point machine as she crept past it. Utterly clueless and unaware of anything around her except her own needs.

I reckon you did right Andy. Get Asterix to deal with them like he dealt with his neighbour....

 

[jonny jeez]

although he never spoke to me again.

Great fun,

Excellent...what a wonderful result for you both....sigh

Andy do you see how this works...ego written all over it...swallow your pride and sort it out.

 

[Arch]

...if it doesnt...fix the problem

He did try to fix it by asking them politely not to block the drive. If the neighbour over reacted like that, she's the one having an ego problem, instead of just saying "oops, sorry!".

I suspect her visitor had a go at her, since he sounds like his ego is rather overinflated, and she's too afraid of him to say anything back.

 

[Archie_tect]

Andy won't know without speculating, until he talks to them and finds out what the underlying problem was.

 

[Melonfish]

Simple fix to this, buy the neighbour a bunch of flours, go round and politely beg their pardon for upsetting them about the visitors car.
upon handing the flours over add at the end. "oh, by the by, could you inform the driver that if he blocks the driveway again i'll do his windows and set his car on fire, thank you ever so much" and walk off.
be exceptionally polite about it.
if you're worried about how they'll react, dance round your garden regularly in your underwear, they'll soon leave you alone.
Pete

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Simple fix to this, buy the neighbour a bunch of flours, go round and politely beg their pardon for upsetting them about the visitors car.

Normal or self-raising?

 

[Melonfish]

Normal or self-raising?

self raising of course. lol