They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but since we moved to this bungalow, my next door neighbours have taken it to new heights. I don’t encourage them to come in here any more. We tried to be good neighbours, but not anti more, I’ve had enough! We got rid of the breakfast bar in the kitchen and bought a small table and two chairs - so did they. She saw my drop leaf dining table, so they got grid of their big table and bought a similar one. We had the bath taken out and replaced with a shower and had the wash basin moved from under the window - so did they. We got a new carpet, plain and beige to replace the dark busy one the previous owners left behind - so did they. They even rearranged their living room furniture, lamps etc so that it is arranged just like ours. We had the front lawn taken up, the shrubs removed and replaced with mypex and gravel - sure enough they have done the same. Three years ago they changed their car, got the same make model and colour as ours! We changed our car last year, and dammit they got a new car on Tuesday - same colour as ours. When she realised I have a radar key, she went on the internet and bought one! No she does not have a disability or illness or condition which would mean she cannot get in and out of the ladies loo. She has even on occasions hit footed it to Marks and Spencer when she has seen me wearing something she likes the look of to buy the same! Am I being over sensitive?
Hey Flowerpot
We can relate to your posts very well. Our neighbours have taken the same path with changing furniture, their car, the wallpaper, you name it and they have done it. If we have bought/ decorated something then so have they!
The final straw has been where they have even got a dog now, same breed as ours and yes you guessed it almost calling it the same name!!! Ours is Milly, theirs is Miley.
Unbelievable, it really is.
Take it as flattery as they have no imagination
I think if I had neighbours intent on copying me (…which I find downright creepy, nevermind flattering), I’d ‘disappear’ while a friend or family member spread the word that I’d deliberately done myself a serious mischief, hence not being around for the moment …and let’s see 'em copy THAT !!
Dom
(…in a less than charitable mood!)
Funny thing is that one day, without a hint of irony, she told me how upset she was when the woman over the road bought a radiator cover just like hers after seeing hers!
Tell them you are going to adopt twins from china,sit back and wait and see what they do next.
But honestly its no fun having dopplgangers who copy everything you do im afraid theres not much you can do theres no way to stop them appart from being outragious get some fancy dress gear ie hippy outfits cowboy ect wear them for a few days and see if they waste there money doing the same,thers not much else i can think off.
Barbara.xx
I’d go and hire some outrageous furniture or the top of the range car and let them copy that after letting on they were new purchases. But unfortunately there are loads of copycats out there, the best thing is ignore it (if you can) and shut them out of your home. All the best Paul
It’ll all be coming from underlying insecurities - grit your teeth and try to feel sorry for them - difficult, I know, but it’s what I’d do to deal with it.
Sorry to hear youre having to put up with all this. When this happened to me, I felt like my identity was being stripped. That I couldnt be my own person. Its hard to feel flattered, when this is taken to such ridiculous levels.
Dont let them know what you’re doing. Give them false information. Keep them out of your house by pretending youre too busy or something. But the best thing is to turn the table on them. I would definately trick them into buying or changing something, that makes them look like the idiots, not you. Try and make a joke of it somehow…
Im sure you’ll have great fun thinking of ideas.
Almond xx
It could be a lot worse - I thought you were going to say there was constant noise or abuse, or they were spitting or chucking rubbish over your garden fence or something. Does it really matter if anyone else has the same stuff as you? Is your stuff less, because someone liked it enough to do the same? It may just be that you are making choices that are very fashionable at the moment. For example, I’ve noticed it’s very trendy round here to get rid of the front lawn, and replace with gravel. Many households in my street have done it in the past couple of years. I wouldn’t say they are consciously copying one another, but I suppose if you see something and like it, it does sow the seed - or perhaps I should say paves the way, if they’re getting rid of the grass. I think the main reason is low maintenance - people are sick of cutting grass. Occasionally, it’s to make room for another vehicle. Tina
I don’t think your being over sensitive Flowerpot.
Its sort of creepy and funny at the same time…you obviously have good taste
Noreen xx
I remember when I started work…years ago,that my office manager would buy anything that either the other girl in the office or I,happened to mention liking (she earned more than twice what we did) needless to say, she ended up with a very interesting wardrobe! and these days I’m ashamed to say that when she got married and gave us her list, which included everything ‘eternal bow’ I did say ‘I’ll get the plates’ - six of, in a very similar ‘copy’ pattern,not quite infernal bow, as it became known in the office,couldn’t resist, it was a very comprehensive list, from cooker model no, included,washing mchine, with the explicit instruction ‘not twin tub’…must have bad taste as nobody ever copied my decorating and furniture - except my mother, and I don’t count Ikea Billy bookcases,they are just useful!
This reminds me of a film I watched about 12 months ago, think its called keeping up with the jone’s it had a very bitter twist at the end maybe worth inviting them over to watch it , its basically a marketing stunt they create a family to move in an area and they have all the latest top gear there mission is to get the neighbours to buy…buy…buy.
Your neighbour obviously has an identity crisis & is very bored, have they got anything that you haven’t as I would be very tempted to zoom in on whatever it is and make it obvious that you are going to get the exact same and really over play it.
They may realise there own taste can’t be that bad after all if you like it.
Appears she doesn’t like being copied from the story of the radar key cover,
Pauline x
Tell her your having a sex change… Just see how determined she is to copy… Neil
Hahaha brilliant xx
It can get a bit irritating but then again it could be so much worse compared to some people’s neighbours.
When I had a friend who used to copy my clothing style I used to pick out outfits from a clothing catalogue and say I was about to place my order. Sure enough, she would order the said item and I would later say it was out of stock in my size or say it didn’t fit right and I sent it back. She used to ring me before a night out to ask what I would be wearing so she could wear something similar and when this got a bit much, I lied to her and wore something completely different. She soon got the hint and went back to her own style without a cross word being spoken.
Tracey x
Does it really matter hun? If they copy you, they have no imagination of their own, so take it as a complement.
If they are good, kind, quiet neighbours, you could do worse, so stop worrying about it.
luv pox
Hi Poll I’m not worried about it, just a tad irritated! Everything I have/do she has to have/do. Unbelievably she even seems to envy the fact that I have a progressive, in curable, untreatable illness. Hence wanting a radar key I suppose, maybe so that people will pity her seeing her access the disabled loo! If my mum were still around she would describe her as enjoying ill health. If she has as many health problems as she claims she should be bed ridden. However I digress, are they good neighbours? Well I don’t suppose they could be described as bad and they aren’t noisy, and once having moved house because of noisy neighbours I’m glad of that. I don’t sit in the garden in the summer if I know they are in, because that brings her out to chat over the fence. It might be nice to have neighbours who will have a natter now and then, but to spend two or three hours listening to someone whine and moan about her aches and pains and lot in life, is somewhat depressing. I don’t think I have ever had a conversation (not so much a conversation, as her talking and me listening) when she hasn’t been moaning about something. She has little cause to complain, her life is not bad by any stretch of the imagination. They are not poor, they had a pools win many years ago which meant they were mortgage free sooner than most, they have a family, but they don’t think the children or grandchildren do enough for them. But that still doesn’t make them bad neighbours, nor does the fact that they take my husband’s good nature for granted. As if he doesn’t have enough to do, looking after me (he is my sole carer, we don’t get any help, other than a cleaner we pay for) he helps them out, he delivers their newspaper every day to save them the effort of going out, they see older than me, but younger than him, and at the moment they owe us for three weeks daily papers. He has even ferried them around when they haven’t wanted to use their car. Do they ever return the favour, even though the both drive, and I can’t any more? No, but that doesn’t make them bad neighbours, if my husband chooses to be a mug, then they are going to let him. So, no, I suppose they are not bad neighbours, but they are self centred, self absorbed and ungrateful. Maybe I am getting wound up over something so trivial, but it’s good to get it off my chest if nothing else! Sorry everyone! xx
H again. Im glad youre able to get this off your chest with us. We are here to support each other and that`s what we try to do.
They really are taking your hubby for a mug, with the papers and liftsin the car.
It is hard to relax in your own garden…could you ut up a higher fence, so she ant see you in yor garden? But that ight be difficult to do now, after so long.
If she continues to moan and get you down, youll have to tell her you cant listen for so long as it fatigues you. Looks like plain seaking is the only way youll get through to her.
Tough situation this…
luv Polxx
ps no need to apologise…no need at all hun.
Your obviously a much nicer person than me Flowerpot. I would have told this lady a few things, long before now. In a diplomatic way of course 
Your husband sounds like mine…he will do anything, for anyone to who needs help, if it’s within his power 
I hope it’s helped you, getting things off your chest.