Summer is coming and the neighbours are getting loud

I don't have loads of money and I hate wasteful spending, having to buy a load of earphones etc to see if there are any that work for me sounds like a lot of money, I don't have £500 to spend on ear phones which is what the best ones seem to cost. Is there anywhere they can hired from so as I an see what if anything suits? So many companies won't allow returns on things that are close to your body, would head or ear phones come into this catagory?

I think the only way to solve this problem is for me to move house, the road we live on has got much busier since covid, people sit in thier cars waiting for the level crossing gates to rise and we can hear all thier music and phone calls, even though we have good double glazing and have the telly on. 

It is sad that a lot of people don't think that their noise might be a problem for others. 

Now you mention smells of barbecues, I find the smell of the lighter fluid most unbearable, that's before the smoke and even worse if I have washing out.

I have thought about getting some really loud speakers and playing something like O Fortuna really loudly, the thing is I don't want to listen to anything other than the natural sounds of birds etc.

I suspect if there were quiet areas in towns and villages then noisy peolpe would turn up and be extra noisy, just like they do in "quiet" train carriages and get hostile and aggressive when reminded to keep the noise down.

For me the smell of BBQ's makes me feel sick, between that and the noise I spend half of summer shut inside with doors and windows closed.

I think the only real solution for me is to move to the back of beyond again, where apart from the RAF tearing the sky in two with their low flying jets, or Apache helicoptors coming over the horizon making me feel like I'm an extra in a remake of Apocalypse Now the only sounds are birds and sheep.

That does sound like hell….

I sympathize as we have neighbours who cannot do anything quietly outside. The cars are washed with a noisy jet wash, every tool is electric it seems, the dog yaps for ages, he runs his motorbike on the drive and has a petrol mower. That's the other thing, I can't stand the smell of petrol fumes and if it's not there others nearby have petrol operated things. When we first moved here it was mostly peaceful in the garden and relaxing, but in recent years it is hit and miss whether the day it is pleasant is relaxing outside.

I can relate to this issue, it’s a shame when you want to sit out, open doors and windows. You can get better noise cancelling headphones but these are expensive. Another option maybe loops they take the edge off noise rather than blocking it out. 

There are various designs of headphones & earphones, some of which might be more to your liking than others.  Of course, it is unreasonable in one sense that you should have to consider wearing anything like that at all.  It does seem that people are getting louder in general, or perhaps have less inhibitions than they once had. 

Perhaps you could consider something you were able to use in your own garden, where nobody was likely to come up behind and startle you? 

I really empathise - me and my partner are really noise sensitive too and noisy neighbours are really difficult to deal with. Sorry I can't think of any solutions for you.

I do wish there were "quiet zones" in towns and villages for people who like peace & quiet.