I'm being a miserable old git, aren't I?

[Countdown]

There are some fields and a wood at the rear of our house. Although the field is private the owner has no interest in maintaining it and it's overgrown and a veritable minefield of dog poo.

One of the families from the other side of the field effectively use it as their own private garden (which is nothing to do with me, it's between them and the owner). However one of their kids has spent the last hour racing up and down the field on a small off-road motorbike. To put it into context it sounds like a chainsaw being constantly revved and, quite frankly, it's annoying the pants off me.

Now looking at it reasonably, it's an off-road bike and he's off road. There are no other kids around. He's wearing a helmet (so it suggests his parents aren't complete muppets). He seems to be completely safe, and nobody else at risk. However it's a late summer evening and I'm trying to relax in the garden.

Every Guardian-reading bone of my body is telling me to stop being a miserable sod and put up with it. It's just a kid having a good time. However I just wanted to know if there are any other miserable grump men on here who can share my pent up irritation.

[pequod]

Time to set up your clay-pigeon trap and invite a few friends around?

[rallye101]

They need to buy a yappy dog and you need to switch threads....

[tangerine_sedge]

You need to go and ask him if you can have a go on the bike, alternatively encourage him to set up jumps and just wait for the ambulance

[Slowboathome]

Countdown said:

However it's a late summer evening and I'm trying to relax in the garden.

???

Is this a case study?

[Hondashark]

When does your late summer evening start?
He's already been doing it for an hour so started at 3pm. Nowhere near the evening if you ask me.
8pm, when the rest of the world class the time of day as late summer evening would probably be pretty annoying.

[pequod]

Slowboathome said:

Countdown said:

However it's a late summer evening and I'm trying to relax in the garden.

???

Is this a case study?

[BananaFama]

Throw a tin of Red Bull at the kid .
He needs to learn .

[av185]

Relax and console yourself with the inevitable.

He will soon hit a massive dog turd fall off and slide open mouthed into another. Should deter him from spoiling your valuable peace and quiet.

Alternatively buy him an electric bike.

[Scabutz]

It's hard. Kids should be allowed to play and have fun but sometimes it gets on your tits.

We were sat out a few weeks back when the weather was nice (seems like an age ago) and there were kids playing in a neighbours garden screaming at the top of their voices and no one telling them to keep the noise down. Don't mind them playing and a bit of noise but this was non stop screeching.

So probably like the OP I'm becoming a grumpy old man.

[Lincsls1]

Yes, I'm afraid you are.
That's not to say it wouldn't annoy me too after an hour or so.
I used to love playing on my mates off road motorbikes and quad when I was a kid too.

Edited by Lincsls1 on Sunday 16th July 16:54

[Countdown]

The thing is, it's NICE to see the field being used for entertainment. We used to play on it all the time when we were kids, and I know we annoyed the people who lived around here (we lived about a quarter of a mile away). They'd get annoyed with us shouting, swearing, kicking the ball into their garden and so on. So in one way I guess this is just karma

[Countdown]

Hondashark said:

When does your late summer evening start?
He's already been doing it for an hour so started at 3pm. Nowhere near the evening if you ask me.
8pm, when the rest of the world class the time of day as late summer evening would probably be pretty annoying.

I guess I meant late summer afternoon.

[pequod]

Countdown said:

I guess I meant late summer afternoon.

Erm, it's only July 16th on my calendar?

[Slowboathome]

Countdown said:

Hondashark said:

When does your late summer evening start?
He's already been doing it for an hour so started at 3pm. Nowhere near the evening if you ask me.
8pm, when the rest of the world class the time of day as late summer evening would probably be pretty annoying.

I guess I meant late summer afternoon.

You sure it's a bike not a bouncy castle?




eta: I'd feel just like you if I were in this situation.

[cliffords]

It would drive me nuts I absolutely know it would. I am hugely noise intolerant in my own home and garden.

[Countdown]

He's gone now - the venting made me feel better

[jfdi]

It would be perfect, I could get my chainsaw out and chop logs all evening and all the neighbors would blame the kids in the field.

[K87]

If it is annoying and affecting your right to peaceful enjoyment of your property you can involve the environmental team at the Council.

[Nethybridge]

A first-world problem of tiny proportions.

But what a dilemma, a Guardian reader wrestles the double edged sword
of agreeing with personal freedom and the pursuit of happiness versus
conceding the lower orders really should know their fking place.

Phew, rock n roll.