h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

On and off I've had problems with noisy neighbours here. First of all, it was my immediate next door neighbours (to the right as you look out of the front door) - an exuberant Jamaican family. I once reacted with Morris dance music - when they were loud, I was loud and it stopped. As I got to know them, it was easier to feedback afterwards and ask the parents to control the children, or to go round in my dressing gown at 12.30am and ask them to turn down the noise, which they did.

More recently, a West Indian family across the road has been having noisy parties. I know the lovely Nigerian family who are their immediate next door neighbours and I gather the mother there tried to ask them to be quiet and they got into a feud about it. The family's children did spiteful things and it all got pretty nasty for a while, although peaceful relations were eventually created.

Last night, there was a *lot* of noise from what sounded to be a party with lots of shouting (or if it wasn't shouting, it was *really* loud talking) and laughing and music. It wasn't the music that was the problem, it was the voices. I'm writing this at 4.30am - I was woken up by loud voices - not so many of them this time, but people talking at the tops of their voices and laughing *very* loudly. Do these people not realise that others are trying to sleep? Would they like it if someone did it to them?

I did consider calling our Council's noise team, but I realised that without getting out of the house, I couldn't definitely pinpoint where the noise was coming from. I will talk to them on Monday for advice though.

5am and the lights are out across the road.

Go and have a quiet word early evening, when they're not partying, and hopefully sober. Explain that you understand that they want to enjoy themselves and were having a party, but in future could they either a) turn the music down a bit after 0200, or b) invite you next time.

Sensible advice, Kerr! Trouble was I couldn't positively identify the house it was happening from and the 3.30am noise wasn't music - it was loud voices and raucous laughter (you're right - it may well have been alcohol-fuelled or other substance fuelled). I didn't want to have to get clothing on and go out on the street at that time of night. It may even have been coming from the row behind the houses opposite.

What I might do is ask the neighbours of the house opposite, who I know well as they will undoubtedly know (unless they have gone on their annual trip to Nigeria, of course). Yes, that's what I'll do. Maybe we could approach them together.

Careful with that. You don't want to make it look like you're ganging up on them. If they feel under attack they're less likely to be reasonable, and you won't achieve the result you're looking for.

Ah, point taken!

I've just been talking to my immediate next door neighbour. He was woken up too, although his wife slept through it. He considered calling 999. He thought the noise was in three distinct blocks - that sounds about right to me too. he thought someone was being attacked until he heard the laughter. I thought it just sounded like someone being too loud - it didn't sound threatening to me. Like me, he couldn't identify the source of the sound and he considered going out to see where it was from, but thought better of it.

Oh, Dear

I do feel for you. Our next door neighbours have developed the habit of having noisy parties on New Year's Eve, Bonfire Night and now as the children get older, birthdays etc. They have a karaoke thingy and it's going full blast till 2.30/3am. They don't seem to realise that some people have to get up early, and that hardly any sleep and a thumping headache is not a good start to a day. It seems even louder through the bed as you can feel it as well

It is difficult to say anything as they are a lovely family and we get on really well, but my husband isn't in the best of health, so sleep is even more important. The annoyance and frustration doesn't make us feel better either

We have had problems with other neighbours too from time to time, but fortunately for one reason or another they have moved on and things are fairly peaceful at the moment.

July and August is the season, and also the time when families like your neighbours feel it necessary to party all night for some reason. I think the has something to do with it

If things get really bad you should perhaps talk to your local councillors. They are beginning to crack down on nuisance neighbours in some areas.

In the meantime, some good earplugs wouldn't come amiss

. you are having such aggro. Hope you get a good tonight.



Websailor

I have to say, earplugs are a godsend. Having lived in a houseshare for the last four months, and for the three years before that in a flat that was the middle floor of a house and sound travelled like you wouldn't believe, I can't say how I'd live without them.

I got some brilliant ones in Paris that are made of silicone - much better than the foam ones you get here.

Though I recommended earplugs, I do wonder if you would hear the things you needed to hear? Like the smoke alarm etc. baby crying etc. Should have bought some when other half snored me to distraction, but never got round to it .

Now, apparently I snore as if



Whoops,

Websailor

Mmmm... I still hear my alarm go off, but as it's on my phone it vibrates too so maybe it's the combination that works.

The plugs don't totally shut out sound, not even the silicone ones, more filter it out to a level where it won't disturb overly.

Thanks for that. I must look for some before Bonfire Night, in fact well before then, if it is anything like last year

You sound just like my son Work, eat, clean flat and do other chores, sleep, and no energy left for anything else. Mind you he does dance - Ceroc - two or three nights a week, and some weekends.

Between you and me, both my sons do Ceroc, and I just can't believe it A few years ago they wouldn't have been seen dead dancing! Now they all over the place Still it is good exercise, good company of all ages and both sexes, so it can't be bad.

Websailor

Websailor and Six, thanks for the thoughts and suggestions.

I had a reasonable night last night, although there was some noise apparently from the same source around 11.30 pm - no-where as long-lasting as before and it wasn't repeated either.

Do you know, I didn't think of earplugs! I do have a set of earplugs, which little was given on the plane (he lost his British Airways toothbrush and it was a big deal for him so one stewardess got him a replacement and a steward got a fancy one from Club Class which had earplugs). Mind you, when you're woken at 3.30am it's hard to think objectively, isn't it!

The Council does have a Noise Team, which can come out and investigate noisy neighbours, but they close at 2am, and our incident was much later than that. I did contact them later on Saturday to let them know what to do and to ask for advice (should I have gone out in the street to locate the house, for instance - I thought it wouldn't be a good idea, myself). I was told to ring and leave a message. Possibly the fact that I've logged a call now would help if it happened again. At least one of my neighbours was similarly woken up.

Here's to a good night's sleep tonight.