Working from home without killing the neighbours

[RosieH]

My neighbours are having building work done. That's fair enough, but it's really, really noisy and I want to kill them.

To avoid going to prison, I thought I might try putting music on at a level that, while not drowning out the noise of concrete mixing lorries and skips being filled and spades scraping scraping scraping, at least puts it in the context of something more soothing.

But what? I can't find it. Something uplifting but not distracting: not muzak, because that would make me kill myself; no clever lyrics because then I forget what I'm writing; not classical that's all gently swelling then spectacular crash of the cymbals quite throwing me off course; not Jeremy Kyle because then I'll be sucked into a vortex of sleeping with my mother's boyfriend and spending all my ill-gotten on scratchcards and scrunchies.

Homeworkers of East Dulwich, help me. What do you do?

[legalbeagle]

I leave the building, go to Green & Blue, drink latte, plug in my laptop, and write. I'm doing it now. Background chat and music but nothing too loud or distracting, gets me out of the house, free WiFi, and I don't have to pay for the coffee cos I own the bar! (Well I own a very very little bit of it. The completely fabulous Kate owns most of it. But I still have free coffee to that'll do me.)

Perfect!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Deep Purple normally works for me when I want to drown out other noises.

[woofmarkthedog]

I prefer.....

A brick in a cement mixer with a shovel full of watery ballast

"Wirr...clunk clunk shhhhhhh wirrr clunk..."

* closes eyes , rolls head a little *

W**F

[Brendan]

You should work from the pub (or the local wine bar of course)

In fact working from the pub should become compulsory to help alleviate congestion on public transport, lower carbon emission and stimulate the local economy.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Richard Hawley

Lambchop

Shelby Lynn

[Mick Mac]

What about AC DC

A Whole Lotta Rosie ?

Would that do it?

[louisiana]

RosieH Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> My neighbours are having building work done.

> That's fair enough, but it's really, really noisy

> and I want to kill them.

>

> To avoid going to prison, I thought I might try

> putting music on at a level that, while not

> drowning out the noise of concrete mixing lorries

> and skips being filled and spades scraping

> scraping scraping, at least puts it in the context

> of something more soothing.

>

> But what? I can't find it. Something uplifting

> but not distracting: not muzak, because that would

> make me kill myself; no clever lyrics because then

> I forget what I'm writing; not classical that's

> all gently swelling then spectacular crash of the

> cymbals quite throwing me off course; not Jeremy

> Kyle because then I'll be sucked into a vortex of

> sleeping with my mother's boyfriend and spending

> all my ill-gotten on scratchcards and scrunchies.

>

> Homeworkers of East Dulwich, help me. What do you

> do?

RosieH

Don't dismiss classical. Why not try the Goldberg Variations on the *harpsichord*. As played by Trevor Pinnock or Pierre Hantai. No crashing cymbals, all very orderly. In other words, the Baroque is your friend - no Romantic nonsense there.

Otherwise, I'd plump for electronica. No lyrics to distract, choose a speed to suit circumstance (from chill through to house and then German minimal or Chicago techno and ultimately (!) gabba - though personally I'd avoid the latter)

I can recommend a golden oldie: Global Communication's 76:14.

[giggirl]

Sympathy RosieH. What about you get yourself some noise cancelling headphones and just wear them round the house?

Otherwise Leonard Cohen or the Cure.

Px

[Axeman]

Why not put some cotton wool in your ears.

[katie1997]

Def leave the building and go and find a relaxing bar or cafe to work in if you have a deadline to finish your writing today.

If not, perhaps you could work in the evening instead when the builders are gone?

Or ... forget killing your neighbours and go directly for the builders ?

[brum]

Nothing from Rosie for a few hours now. Has she flipped and done what she first wanted to... that is, bump 'em all off? Is she now locked up in some sweaty police cell?

[giggirl]

RosieH in handcuffs - there's one for the family album.

Px

[RosieH]

Hmm, I don't think that's a family album you're thinking of...

No, boringly it's just all kicked off, and I been working. Yes, I admit it, I have actually been working from home. I am going to try all of the above, except Mick's idea - too loud, too dancey - I'll try Cracklin' Rosie instead, altogether more sedate.

[karter]

Don't kill any of them RosieH, it simply isn't worth it. Ask one of the builders to help with your scuff marks as compensation.

[daizie]

CONVINCE neighbours you run Neighbourhood Watch by peering in their windows