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I just cleaned by bike on my fourth floor balcony. There's a drainage hole and a spout, meaning the water went well clear of other people's balconies and onto a muddy patch of ground below underneath a tree, where there presumably used to be grass.
It was biodegradeable oil on the chain and biodegradeable cleaner.
I just had several people from flats below shouting up at me in German, presumably annoyed with me for some reason. Not sure why...
I suspect you've broken several laws. Seriously.
windspray blowing dirty water against their windows?
If you're in Germany, then if I recall from friends, things like washing cars, mowning lawns etc aren't the done thing on weekends. Perhaps you've just embarrassed them into having to do theirs now!
Yes - You didnt manage to get the spray to write "**** off germany" on to their balcony. Rookie error, but not bad for a first attempt. (This is a joke and is meant to be funny - hopefully not offensive to anyone)
i'd be annoyed too, couldn't you clean it on " a muddy patch of ground below underneath a tree" instead of 3 floors up above other peoples homes?
Bit of a daft thing to do really, what if someone was walking below?
As above wind blowing oily water over other peoples property, etc.
It doesn't really need that much thought to see why it would piss people off.
Expect a knock on the door from the Gestapo any minute! Run while you can! As above, if in Germany it is frowned upon to do anything on weekends(we used to wind the locals up by playing cricket) 😈
Just remind them quite forceably,
WE WON THE LAST WAR AND THE ONE BEFORE.
Cleaning a bike on a 4th floor balcony ? WTF.
Was this the plan you came up with for how to spend your Sunday??
Thank god you forgot to invite me!
Remember the German's might sound quite aggressive against the mild mannered British. It sounds like they were just welcoming you and heaping praise on both your bike and you desire to maintain it in good condition.
I would keep cleaning it on the balcony and respond to their healthy encouragemnet with a cheery 'hello', don't reply in German as I believe they can get quite upset at poor pronunciation.
Keep up the good work.
It's pretty windy today!
Utilise a Gallic Shrug, they'll understand and fully appreciate
It's not windy here, not a breath. The water went well clear of all the other balconies and landed a good 10-12 ft away from the building.
Cleaning a bike on a 4th floor balcony ? WTF
Why wtf? What would you do? The presence of a drain and spout to send it clear of the building seemed to make it an idea place to me.
Bit of a daft thing to do really, what if someone was walking below?
Not checking to see if anyone was below, or letting the water fall onto a walkway would have been daft.
It doesn't really need that much thought to see why it would piss people off.
Really? I must be stupid as hell then and thoughtless to boot. I did think it through and I thought it would be okay which is why I did it. Honestly it would not bother me at all if water came past my window. Actually I bend over backwards to think of everybody all the time, and be as considerate as I can. I'm sorry that's not good enough for you. And thanks for upsetting me even more, I appreciate it.
Just to clarify this was my road bike which had some grime and grit on it, not loads of mud from an MTB.
You're behaving like a barbarian.
Civilised people wash their bike in the bath, not outside.
🙂
In Germany a motorist washes their car over 9 times per year on average. There is a strong relationship between number of car washes and age as well as number of washes and distance traveled.
In Germany an automatic wash at service stations has been used by over 7 in 10 respondents at least once. It is the one of the few markets where hand car washing isn't used more than any other type of wash. [b]This of course reflects the facts that drive way car washing is illegal in most parts of Germany.[/b]
If it's illegal to wash a car on your drive then washing a bicycle on a balcony must be very serious indeed...
Hmm. So one wonders where one can wash one's bike at all...?
Actually I bend over backwards to think of everybody all the time, and be as considerate as I can.
Its a pity your neighbours don't see it that way.
Molgrips.
In Germany, you really must not be doing much on a Sunday, especially things like mowing the lawn, wasing the car, bike, etc.
In some cases the police have had to attend, they take it quite seriously.
I've worked in Germany, on and off, for over 10 years. They really are touchy about Sundays.
Leave cleaning the bike for another day, is my suggestion.
When in Rome and all that 😉
What is this bike cleaning you speak of.?
[i]Not checking to see if anyone was below, or letting the water fall onto a walkway would have been daft.[/i]
So the whole time you were washing your bike you were checking to see if anyone was below? Surely it would have been much easier to just do it outside.
[i]I'm sorry that's not good enough for you. And thanks for upsetting me even more, I appreciate it[/i]
Your post asked 'was I doing something wrong', you're given a possible explanation and you take the hump. Did you want everyone to say what a nice chap you are and those neighbours were being very nasty to you? Dry your eyes mate.
Your post asked 'was I doing something wrong', you're given a possible explanation and you take the hump
I got the hump at you insinuating that I'm thoughtless and/or stupid. There's discussing something reasonably, and there's being insulting. If you could sort out the difference then we might all be happier.
So the whole time you were washing your bike you were checking to see if anyone was below?
A couple of times I did. I didn't think anyone would be very likely to be walking 10 yards over the mud to stand at the foot of a building under a stream of water.
How the **** did they ever get control over most of Europe if they can't do anything on Sundays?
[i]Bit of a daft thing to do really, what if someone was walking below? As above wind blowing oily water over other peoples property, etc.
It doesn't really need that much thought to see why it would piss people off[/i]
Do I think it was a daft thing to do - yes. Do I think it doesn't need much thought to see why it would piss people off - yes.
I fail to see why you're getting so uppity. Apart from the fact than you clearly think you are in the right and some injustice has been done.
We'll agree to disagree and leave it at that. I have far more important things to worry about that some guy washing his bike in what I consider to be a stupid place.
Carry on.
Invading, pillaging and conquering as a full time occupation requires a day off dear chap!
How the **** did they ever get control over most of Europe if they can't do anything on Sundays?
Invade on Monday of course - gives you six days to stroll through France!
I fail to see why you're getting so uppity
Uppity? No. Upset? Yes. You think I'm stupid and thoughtless, that's upsetting.
Do I think it was a daft thing to do - yes.
Why? I want to know why the people downstairs were upset. I started the thread hoping for more than a one-word answer and some insults.
I reckon you were doing wrong. Was there nowhere on a ground level you could have done it?
EDIT:
I started the thread hoping for more than a one-word answer and some insults.
LOLz. Seriously mol, what did you expect?
I'd be more than a bit hacked off the someone from the flat above decided to wash their bike and let the dirty water fall onto my balcony or dirty my window. If the balcony is the only outside space I have I'll try to maintain it. Equally I'd be affronted if you decide to hang your washing out and obscure the light entering my home.
Living in flats is a little different from living in houses.
I started the thread hoping for more than a one-word answer and some insults
fool
Sunday in Germany. Innit. Can't do owt.
I'd be more than a bit hacked off the someone from the flat above decided to wash their bike and let the dirty water fall onto my balcony or dirty my window
Yeah me too. But it didn't. It fell well away from the building and there's no wind.
You're 100% sure on that.
ask them
Yep. I watched it go. And like I say there's no wind today, no gusts nothing. The ground floor flat isn't even on ground level so no mud splatter.
you couldn't have cleaned it properly if you were constantly monitoring that there was no one walking underneath or leaning out of their own window wondering where all the water was coming from on a dry day, amazing powers if you were
and to get upset because people say you are wrong goes a long way to explaining why you'd do something so insensitive to others in the first place I guess
After reading this thread I feel like shouting at the OP in German.
Clearly you only want to hear folks who will agree with you, so here's some advice.
You're in a different country with a different way of doing things, you're going to suffer a huge amount if you think that you can teach the whole German population to learn to live to your rules, norms and ideas. If you think you can do it, good luck. Just as a test, drive on the left tomorrow and tell them they're all wrong. 😆
Rocketdog + 1
Yeah me too. But it didn't. It fell well away from the building and there's no wind.
But that's not the point (and there's no way to be sure of that anyway) If you can't see why washing a bike on a balcony is not either good manners or considerate, then you really do need to have a word with yourself. If you did it above me, I'd be shouting too, it's taking the piss big time IMO.
That said, this 'not doing anything on Sunday in Germany' would be a red rag to a bull to me.... 🙂
wrong
The sensible, adult thing to do would be to call round to those flats underneath and apologise, and explain that you are new and English....
Your lucky it was a Sunday, any other day and you would have probably got a kicking 😉
Glad you're not a neighbour of mine.
and to get upset because people say you are wrong goes a long way to explaining why you'd do something so insensitive to others in the first place I guess
Jesus Christ.
I wanted to know WHY people thought exactly I was doing something wrong, because I presumably missed something since I thought it'd be ok. Why is that being insensitive? If I was absolutely sure I was being unreasonable I'd have posted a rant, not a question, wouldn't I?
You're in a different country with a different way of doing things, you're going to suffer a huge amount if you think that you can teach the whole German population to learn to live to your rules, norms and ideas
Hello? What? You're imagining things. They scolded me, I stopped. How am I trying to teach them anything? And thanks for patronising about being in a foreign country.
If you can't see why washing a bike on a balcony is not either good manners or considerate, then you really do need to have a word with yourself. If you did it above me, I'd be shouting too, it's taking the piss big time IMO
WHY?!
I'm a very good neighbour. If I wasn't, I'd have carried on. I made a mistake and altered my behaviour. I want to know why it was a bad thing! If I was a bad neighbour I'd have carried on and not cared about it, no?
The sensible, adult thing to do would be to call round to those flats underneath and apologise, and explain that you are new and English
Yeah I would but my German's not so good.
And thanks for patronising about being in a foreign country.
De nada.
But you are showing signs of ignorance here and I thought you might need it spelling out.
I'm a very good neighbour.
Evidently not.....hence the shouting.
But you are showing signs of ignorance here and I thought you might need it spelling out.
Hmm. Specific rules about waste water perhaps I could have used, but generic stuff about 'you're not at home now sonny' is not very useful.
Evidently not.....hence the shouting.
One mis-understanding does not make a bad person does it?
I'd imagine the balcony drain is for rainwater runoff, not an outlet for all and sundry to start pouring discarded waste water down 🙂
One mis-understanding does not make a bad person does it?
So I wasn't being patronising then? 😉
If it's a German custom specifically not to let water pass someone else's window, then I didn't know about it.
I'd hope there are some punitive measures that your neighbours can take advantage of to prevent such anti-social behaviour in the future.
[i]Yeah I would but my German's not so good.[/i]
Don't play the dumbo foreigner card, get round there, phrase book in hand and do your best; it will prove that you are a good neighbour and will earn you many brownie points with the other folk.
WHY?!
BECAUSE YOU'RE SHOWERING EVERYONE IN CRAPPY WATER YOU BLEEDIN EEJIT!!!!
I'm a very good neighbour.
Maybe you are, but it seems you're rather socially inept!
No offence intended, just the truth. YOU asked the question and expected everyone to back you up, then copped a strop when we don't! 🙂
stroppolopogus..
when you live in a block of flats there are a million and one noises that you get used to over time.. any noise that is not regular or is out of place is picked up instantly..
such as (perhaps) the sound of water cascading from the fourth floor water spout without natural cause..
especially if it's grubby water.. from the daft english fellows bicycle..
'why does he wash it up there!!? It [i]could[/i] splash.. or a gust [b]could[/b] catch it..
has he no decency!? Why does he not wash it down at ground level!? where there is not so much likelihood of offending people!!? has he no manners!?
he has obviously not lived in a tower block before if he has logically reasoned that it is ok to pour ones effluents onto the ground below..
and he's doing it on a flippin' sunday..
arse'
I find exposing myself works wonders. The Germans just assume I'm one of them heading down to the beach.
I'd hope there are some punitive measures that your neighbours can take advantage of to prevent such anti-social behaviour in the future.
Annex poland?
Don't play the dumbo foreigner card, get round there, phrase book in hand and do your best; it will prove that you are a good neighbour and will earn you many brownie points with the other folk.
Could just use Google translate, print of a short note and pop it under their doors. Sorted.
Maybe attach a mint as well....have to be something thin though. After 8 probably.
BECAUSE YOU'RE SHOWERING EVERYONE IN CRAPPY WATER YOU BLEEDIN EEJIT!!!!
But no water went on anyone or anyone's property. Really, it was well clear of everything.
but it seems you're rather socially inept!
That's not under debate 🙂
YOU asked the question and expected everyone to back you up
Certainly not! I was wondering if anyone thought that water piercing their airspace was intrinsically a bad thing. Water going on your or your things, yes. Passing your window, no.
[i]Was I doing something wrong?[/i]
To answer your question, or rather point you in the direction of getting a satisfactory answer, can I suggest you [b]try asking your neighbours[/b]. I'm sure they will speak perfect English.
Es tut mir leid.
Ich wusch mein Fahrrad und verursachte ein Problem. Ich bin neu und ich war nicht meine Absicht jemand zu beleidigen.
Wieder einmal.
Es tut mir leid.
I am sorry.
I washed my bike and caused a problem. I am new and I did not mean to offend anyone.
Once again.
I am sorry.
That's my best google translate effort....
[i]That's not under debate[/i]
Only because it's bleedin' obvious. You've cocked up, go make it better.
Actually reads, "Did you enjoy my urine waterfall cascading down from my balcony ?"
Lordy! It's the possibilty that has got them upset... they're trying to make you conform to the accepted standards of the apartment block.
Sod 'em. Do your own thing, but don't blame any of us if you become a pariah.
try parcelling your turds up and lobbing them out of your window into a dogmuck bin out in the street following your same logic..
Turds is not the same as ever so slightly dirty water. At least mine aren't. Stop being silly.
I've realised that I am actually far more stressed about two things that have really upset me here in Germany.
1) They recently overturned the law (effectively) with regards cyclepaths which means they are not necessarily mandatory, however many drivers don't seem to know this. I've been beeped at shouted at a few times for doing nothing more than riding along a straight country road. So now I can't cycle without either having to bimble along cycle paths with all their associated problems or worry about who I'm p*ssing off.
2) All the grass areas nearby are covered in dog poo so we can't let our 2yo daughter run about and play properly cos she'll end up standing in it.
2) All the grass areas nearby are covered in dog poo so we can't let our 2yo daughter run about and play properly cos she'll end up standing in it.
Just hose her down on the balcony?
Slaps forehead at the irony of that ^^^^ post 🙄
Heh. The balcony is now a bit dirty and I am scared to clean it off in case more water spills out of the drain.
Oh wait - brainwave! I can tie a bucket to the railing and lower it down to collect water from the spout..
Old tale - Young Jockanese army wife is in a shop in Germany, her kid's having a tantrum and won't shut up. So she does as you did in those days, and wallops him one around the head!
German Frau in the queue looks on horrified, and shouts out, "You must not do that! In Germany we do not beat our children".
Wee wifey replies, "Aye, that may be right but at least in Scotland we don't gas our Fu**king Jews!, So I guess thats us quits..."
😆
I repeat "ask them". the people you are supposedly pissing off will have more information and a better point of view than STW. Go argue with them!
got to say it but above other things DONT MENTION THE WAR. 🙂
I repeat "ask them". the people you are supposedly pissing off will have more information and a better point of view than STW. Go argue with them!
+1 and don't forget, don't mention the war!
An argument won't go well. Best to let it go I think.