Elderly neighbours

[RazedInBlack]

Wait for them to croak man!

[nakedpeanut]

Be nice.

Bake the oldies a space cake.

Make them feel good about themselves again.

fixed

[Lupus]

We are currently living in a quite nice residential housing unit in an area of town which happens to be largely populated by old-age homes and elderly people. As a consequence a lot of our direct neighbours are measuring their lives in coffee spoons and wearing the bottoms of their trousers rolled. Which is fine except that their aged crotchetiness is starting to become slightly intrusive. E.g:

• MrsCerebus can't go out with the boys between 10-2 without getting complaints about noise. I can tell you they are not particularly noisy children by toddler standards.
• Yesterday we got a complaint from the director via some anonymous individual about our laundry, which was being dried in the one sunny day of the entire winter, inside the porch doorway, and consisted of some nappies and towels.
• If the boys go outside in inclement weather we'll be guaranteed to be remonstrated by our most active resident, who believes that no amount of layering will be sufficient to protect them from pneumonia.
• The one time in 5 years of residence we had some guests over from the church and we sang for an hour or so, we didn't hear the end of it for weeks.

And so forth. We're generally exemplary neighbours, quiet and friendly and helpful where we can be. How should we take care of them while still upholding our basic terms of residence, which we actually never violate? In particular nr2 had my wife frothing the whole day yesterday.

I'd also complain about that last one, you've got a big building dedicated to that, go use it to sing, perhaps they aren't christians and don't want to listen to that. Be considerate here, not everyone is of the same religion.

[Nick333]

Old people are a pain in ass.

Vaguely related story:

I always know when it's Wednesday because my elderly neighbours always put there rubbish out on Tuesday night. I always know when its Thursday because that's when the rubbish men come and everyone else puts there rubbish out then.

[Picard]

The dog of choice of all old people.

[biena]

Are there rules about this? Unlikely. There is nothing you can do here apart from ignore them and carry on with your lives as usual. If they want to be in an old-aged home with these rules, then they should be there. The only issue here is they will make up the body corporate majority so rules could easily come into the picture at the next AGM...

Not so easy, to have rules valid it has to be registered at the deeds office.
http://www.insurancechat.co.za/tag/c...-deeds-office/

[cerebus]

I'd also complain about that last one, you've got a big building dedicated to that, go use it to sing, perhaps they aren't christians and don't want to listen to that. Be considerate here, not everyone is of the same religion.

You know, we sang a few songs, enjoyed ourselves, they all left... if it was a party with dance music playing what difference would it have made? Or a braai with everyone drinking? It was 1 hour out of 5 years of being here. Religion has absolutely nothing to do with it.

[ISP cash cow]

Just put a gravestone in your yard with some dirt in front of it.

On the gravestone it should read "Here lies the last complainant".

I am sure your complaints will drop

[DJ...]

I'd also complain about that last one, you've got a big building dedicated to that, go use it to sing, perhaps they aren't christians and don't want to listen to that. Be considerate here, not everyone is of the same religion.

Mo I disagree. You can't dictate to people what they can and can't sing. Whether it Justin Bieber's latest abuse of the eardrums or a christian song and dance...

[Nick333]

Mo I disagree. You can't dictate to people what they can and can't sing. Whether it Justin Bieber's latest abuse of the eardrums or a christian song and dance...

I must say I agree. It would be annoying to me but as long its at a decent hour you have to tolerate a bit of noise from your neighbours if you're going to go in for communal living.

[eehellfire]

It's a bit of a power thing. Many old people have zero power left, and they cling to these little things like you cannot believe, as 'rule' enforcement in your complex is as much power as they currently wield. Whether or not the rules are actually broken ends up being irrelevant. The best policy is smile-and-nod, and keep doing whatever you want.

[xrapidx]

Mo I disagree. You can't dictate to people what they can and can't sing. Whether it Justin Bieber's latest abuse of the eardrums or a christian song and dance...

No you can't - but one type of music is more than likely to piss someone off more than another..and hence, more likely to be reported.

[DJ...]

No you can't - but one type of music is more than likely to piss someone off more than another..and hence, more likely to be reported.

You've got to be one helluva kant to go about doing that. As a staunch atheist, even I can accept some Switchfoot, POD and All American Rejects on the odd occasion...

[xrapidx]

You've got to be one helluva kant to go about doing that. As a staunch atheist, even I can accept some Switchfoot, POD and All American Rejects on the odd occasion...

What I'm getting at is that there are certain triggers for people. I can't stand barking dogs, its usually a sign of a neglected animal - but power-tools going all day doesn't really bother me, unless of course, its a jack hammer.

[reactor_sa]

I'd also complain about that last one, you've got a big building dedicated to that, go use it to sing, perhaps they aren't christians and don't want to listen to that. Be considerate here, not everyone is of the same religion.

Hahaha, well seeing as you seem to want to have a go at the religious angle, please refrain from singing with your Bieber music as I classify that as a new age religion.

Why some people always have to have a go at religion, I dunno.

Back on topic: I stayed in a complex for a year and a half and not only did people complaining about just about everything, but a lot of people were also just really inconsiderate. It seldom works well, we weren't meant to live on top of each other.