Crazy neighbors

[altivo]

Chainsaws again all weekend. This morning we woke up to the sound of heavy equipment, as in bulldozers and such. Sure enough, they were over there pushing down trees and shrubs. Knowing that they were very close to the property line, we ran out with a compass, surveyor's tape, and a copy of our survey. The line is 41 feet due west of the southwest corner of our arena, which is quite a bit farther than anyone is likely to expect, and well on the far side of the creek at that point. Gary had me hold the end of the tape while he crawled through the undergrowth with it. The foreman (we assume) of the construction crew came over to ask who he was and what he was doing. I couldn't see, but could overhear the whole thing. The guy was actually quite polite.

Gary explained, and the response was "Oh good. You're the neighbor then. Glad you came to check."

They did have the line figured to within a foot of where Gary put it. The guy explained that the Brits were putting up a pole barn. OK, this is their right, provided they get a building permit and stay within their property lines. They had indeed clear cut everything right up to the edge of our land. Code here requires a ten foot setback for any permanent building, and the foreman said they were staying back fifteen feet to be sure, and the roof will have a one foot overhang beyond the base of the building. So that's fine. Maybe their horses will stay home when they have a barn of their own, instead of wandering into our barn looking for hay.

Now I'd have thought it was good manners (even if not required by law) to advise neighbors of a major construction project like that, and explain where it would approach lot lines or affect drainage or overhanging branches, but of course nothing of the sort was done. Construction begins today. At least the crew leader was polite and (I hope) honest, which is more than I can say for the neighbor himself. Unfortunately for us, I don't think this is going to reduce the noise levels from over there at all, either during construction or after, but I guess I can stop worrying about my own oak trees for a while. Provided, of course, that Brit neighbor himself isn't operating the equipment. He has a propensity for crashing through fences and over lines, as demonstrated in the past.

Comments

[schnee.livejournal.com]

He has a propensity for crashing through fences and over lines, as demonstrated in the past.

I wonder if the jury would be sympathetic if you got a shotgun, waited for him to do that again and then blasted him into space... c.c

(Yeah, not really feasible in practice – unless maybe you live in Texas –, but sometimes, it'd be nice, wouldn't it? In any case — jokes aside, I'm glad I don't have your neighbours. *hugs* Hang in there, and don't let them get to you...)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you don't want any of my neighbors. It was so nice when we bought the place, but people move away and are replaced by inconsiderate jerks.

[equusmaximus.livejournal.com]

It looks like Schnee and I had similar ideas. It's great that the foreman seemed nice enough, but the neighbour sounds like the type that just makes you want to sit out on the porch in a rocking-chair, with a shotgun across your lap... %)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, no firearms for me, period. No way, nohow. I do have a good slingshot, though, and should do some more target practice with it. Not that the idiot neighbor himself is likely to come within my sights, he knows better I'm sure. But his dogs, cats, chickens, and assorted other pestiferous critters are over here every day. If I could afford it, I'd put up a solid fence on that side for the full 1300 feet, even right through the middle of the creek. I'm really saddened by the loss of the trees. We lose windbreak and flood protection, but of course he has no conception of such values. His own horses are exposed to much more weather and wind because of his wanton destruction.

The oaks are second growth, after 19th century settlers removed virtually all the old growth. As such, they are particularly valuable and form a tongue of oak savanna that runs through both our properties is worthy of preservation as a prairie remnant. When he gets through, there will be nothing to preserve on his side of the line. Mine needs understory cleared out, but is essentially intact and runs back through additional properties to the east for a good half mile or more.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Poor horsey, it's always annoying to have inconsiderate neighbours, but they may move away in time.

At least you get to see their horsies :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I can see their horses any time. They are usually up against the fence staring at Tess when I go out. They once said they were moving, but they put their house and land up for sale at double what it's worth on the market, and got no offers. After they invest this much, they'll be far too deep in debt to move, I'm afraid.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

Americans:

Brits aren't all like this.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

No, certainly they aren't. I've pointed this out from time to time but I suppose it bears repeating. This family, however, even described themselves as "the neighbors from hell" on one occasion, and so they are.

We are now being deafened by multiple pieces of very loud heavy equipment running over there from dawn to dusk. I hope they finish this project soon for the sake of my sanity. It used to be so beautifully quiet here until they moved in...

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

What's really funny is that they're behaving in a way that many British folks would ascribe to Americans - loud, out of keeping with surroundings, inconsiderate, intent on changing things.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Heh. You should see and hear the teenage son racing around and around their property in his "go-cart" thing. Talk about obnoxious. And he does it late into the night, as late as 11:00 pm in summer. I dread to think what he will be doing with cars once he gets a license to wreck them.

The daughter was all about horses until recently. Now she seems to have a boyfriend, the kind who pulls his pickup truck into the lane and sits there honking the horn for her to come out rather than getting out and knocking on the door. ;p

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh, and perhaps I should be referring to them as the "Scots" instead. They have red hair and a Scottish surname, though they lived in Essex before coming here I think.

[hellmutt.livejournal.com]

I prefer "twits". :D