I’m SUCH a nosy neighbor – I want barbecues banned because they ruin my laundry

Sitting in a deck chair in my garden enjoying a cool drink, I am as relaxed as can be.

It’s been a tough day with the grandkids and I’m craving some much needed me time after doing laundry.

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Suddenly, smoke billows over the fence, turning my white sheets dusty black.

“Kevin, come here!” I shout to my 63-year-old husband of 22 years as I frantically bring in the laundry.

People who barbecue without thinking about what they want neighbors what I do is number one on my “most hated” list when it comes to summer blunders.

What’s the harm in knocking on your neighbor’s door and saying, “I’m having a barbecue, in case you want to bring in your laundry”?

I know how far smoke travels, so I would never barbecue. Instead, I put the food in the oven before we eat on the patio.

I’m not the only one who feels this way. A Mumsnet user recently revealed that she had posted a message in her local Facebook group before putting her washing out, asking people not to barbecue.

“I was completely overwhelmed,” she wrote. “I just asked them to be considerate of their surroundings and give honest warning first.”

She was laughed at, but I think she sounds rational. It’s a policy I might implement in my neighborhood WhatsApp group.

I regularly send a chat message about the collection times of the bulky waste and speak to people if they have done something wrong, such as letting their hedge get overgrown.

Some say I’m nosy — I say I’m caring. Summer is one of the worst times of year for bad behavior and I see it every day when I walk around Cardiff, where I live.

When I heard that the neighbours of English footballer Phil Foden, who lives in Cheshire, had reportedly called the police after a children’s party lasted until midnight, I can’t say I was surprised.

The slightest bit of warmth and the first smell of sunscreen seem to drive even the sanest of people crazy.

But it’s not just barbecues and late night parties that get me down, I also hate summer garden accessories.

Summer is one of the worst times of the year for bad behavior

People are flocking to the shops and spending thousands of euros on outdoor gear that they can only use for three days a year.

The sight of barbecues, parasols, bouncy castles, neon signs and hot tubs in the garden gives me the shivers.

The first time you realize that someone in your neighborhood has purchased a hot tub that constantly hums is when you hear an argument during installation.

Then the splashing and screaming begins, often accompanied by Bluetooth speakers playing migraine-inducing music. It’s antisocial and just plain awful.

Who wants to see a pale, limp man climb out of a bathtub to get another beer?

‘I’m done with it’

I have walked past houses in the neighborhood before, heard these antics and politely stuck my head over the fence to ask them to “shut up,” only to be told to “shut up.”

Someone said, “We’re living our best lives.” Really? Surely your “best life” is getting drunk on hot water with God knows how many bacteria in it?

Another hellish summer problem is balls kicked over the fence.

It happens all the time and I’m sick of it. Now when I see a ball in my yard I just leave it there. It can be annoying to kids but it’s a good lesson in playing carefully.

Growing up, we didn’t have an endless supply of balls, and if we accidentally threw one over the neighbor’s fence, we had to politely knock and ask for it. It wasn’t a given that we would get it back, so we were careful.

And that’s not all. Random kids dump their bikes in my front yard like it’s their own.

Others wave garden hoses like weapons, and I’ve been caught in the crossfire more than once.

Their parents laugh and say, “Kids, huh?”, but if I turned the tables and sprayed them, all hell would break loose. And don’t get me started on trampolines.

The repeated bouncing, bouncing, bouncing and screeching disturb the peace.

I don’t think children should be allowed outside before 9:30 or after 19:00. I will tell anyone who plays outside too late, “Shouldn’t you be with your parents?”

People need to learn that there will be repercussions if they don’t behave

I would never be in the garden after 9.30pm and consider it the height of rudeness to be outside chatting with friends until the early hours. People have their windows open and no one needs to hear gossip about so-and-so while they are trying to sleep.

If people continue to make too much noise after midnight, I will call the police.

I run the local neighbourhood watch and I know what’s going on. If the noise is too loud or the kids are misbehaving, I stop taking parcels for those involved. People know I mean business.

I think I speak for the silent majority, and people need to learn that there will be consequences if they don’t behave.