My gardening time ruined

[Marb67]

I have lived here for 16 years with decent enough neigbours but when a quiet middle aged couple moved in, who are very nice on face value i did not realise one of them is a smoker. This basicly means my garden which is directly adjacent and small gets the smoke coming over every few minutes the person comes outside and lights up. They never seem to go out at weekends so in summer the person sits out all day and smokes. The other partner isnt a smoker thankfully but this is bad enough to spoil my gardening quality. I just have to keep going indoors everytime it happens. Smoking is my number one hate so this is the worst thing. This also meams we cant have any meals outside ever! So sad as i have spent so much time getting the garden how i want it with a wildlife friendly ethos. I cant really say anything as they have a small back garden and have nowhere else to go. I dont want to resent them but it is hard not to. Obviously the person does not think of the effect the filthy toxic smell it had on neighbours. Gutted :-(

[Nicos]

Can you cope with lighting a citronella candle to mask the smell?

Not nice for you ...I sympathise.

[Marb67]

No, i dont want to mask it. I can still smell it. We can also smell dog mess in their garden on hot days. And then there are other neighbours dogs barking........ Dont get me started on dogs. People ! I just want to be as far away from them as possible and just have wildlife.

[Darwin.]

There's nothing I could think of short term to help you out I'm afraid and nothing at all that couldn't cost a fortune. A bigger wall or fence or plant a hedge is all I can think of but that would be long term, a little drastic expensive and may not suit if your garden is very small.

[Bigmallly]

This also meams we cant have any meals outside ever!

Comments like that really stick in my throat.......................Yes, I'm a smoker. I was banned from smoking in public places & rightly so. Now when smokers go outside, there are grumbles that because it's a nice sunny evening they can't sit outside because of the smokers. You can't have it both ways, I don't here of any complaints during cold wet weather. I don't like the smell of a lot of things but it's life. I bet you don't mind BBQ smoke. It'll be vehicle fumes next.........stop moaning & live with it.....................Yes, it's a rant.

[Nicos]

Nah- don't go down the way of being vindictive

[Bigmallly]

I cant really say anything as they have a small back garden and have nowhere else to go. I dont want to resent them but it is hard not to.

I bet he doesn't even know it's causing you a problem. He is doing the right thing by going outside, especially if he has kids.............it's a case of you can't do right for doing wrong.

[veggiechicken]

No, i dont want to mask it. I can still smell it. We can also smell dog mess in their garden on hot days. And then there are other neighbours dogs barking........ Dont get me started on dogs. People ! I just want to be as far away from them as possible and just have wildlife.

Even wildlife can be noisy, smelly and unneighbourly when they live in your garden.

[Bigmallly]

May I ask, is there anything that has pleased you over the last 6 months cos my mental state has not been at it's best...............Check your threads.

[Greenleaves]

I bet he doesn't even know it's causing you a problem. He is doing the right thing by going outside, especially if he has kids.............it's a case of you can't do right for doing wrong.

I smoked up until my heart attack but have no problems with others who do. We are all entitled to opinion and to use our gardens to relax as we feel fit, including smoking. I along with so many over people hate BBQs and bonfires but people still have them.

[veggiechicken]

Bigmally, I am pleased that you say you were rightly banned from smoking in public places but I would point out that "outside on a sunny evening" or "next door's garden" are indeed public places and would ask smokers to refrain from smoking while non-smokers are there.

Just Saying (or do I mean Just Pleading?).

Please, let's not turn this into a Ban Smoking thread - or it will Closed.
We all have things that we consider unneighbourly but you can't ban everything. One should be able to do whatever you wish in your own home and garden - as long as its not illegal or causing a public nuisance.

[Jeanied]

My problem is the smell of kippers wafting through my open kitchen door on weekend mornings - drives the dog and cat crazy and it fills my kitchen. I could keep the door shut but the animals need to go out.

[Greenleaves]

The Health Act 2006 had nothing to do with banning smoking in public places, it was designed to protect workers within them.

[veggiechicken]

I'm a self-confessed hypocrite but as an EX-SMOKER I absolutely hate second-hand cigarette smoke.


I would point out that "outside on a sunny evening" or "next door's garden" are indeed public places and would ask smokers to refrain from smoking while non-smokers are there.

I'm not asking for smoking to be banned.

I've never asked for it to be banned.

I just ask for consideration for non-smokers from smokers.

If that is not a thought the forum can consider then please delete my posts.

You've lost me here. Next door's garden is not a public place

[Nicos]

We all have irritating habits...personally I would prefer to smell cigarette smoke ( hate it) than have noisy neighbours with loud music/shouting/banging/parties all hours of the day and night.

Lesser of several evils- it's something we have to put up with when living in close proximity to others.

Yes- and consideration does come into it of course...but who has the priority??...family? neighbour? etc etc.
We can't all walk on eggshells all the time for fear of upsetting someone.