‘You do not own air’: Vegan neighbour's ‘ridiculous’ letter to family backfires

“You have taken the mickey out of me, and have been downright rude…”

It was a perfect day for a barbecue, and Perth woman Kylie was preparing the backyard for the family lunch.

The smell of their lunch was wafting through the air, and Kylie’s kids were running around, highly anticipating their delicious food. 

But down the road were their neighbours, who were less than impressed by the afternoon activity, and requested they shut it down. 

Why? Because they’re vegan. 

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Kylie's neighbours requested they stop cooking meat not once.... Picture: Hey Perth/Facebook

Vegan neighbour requests family stop cooking meat

The neighbours, “Sarah, Wayne and the kids”, were overtly miffed about Kylie’s family eating meat in their own backyard, so they wrote a letter to the Perth family.

“Hello neighbour,” the letter began. “Could you please shut your side window when cooking, please?”

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The smell was overly strong for the concerned family, which was causing a negative reaction, they added. 

“My family are vegan (we eat only plant-based foods) and the smell of the meat you cook makes us feel sick and upset,” the letter continued. 

“We would appreciate your understanding.” 

But Kylie and the family weren’t “understanding”, instead opting to ignore their request and continue eating their food. 

Now they have serious beef. (Sorry, not sorry) 

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The family was in for a surprise one Saturday when they found another letter on their doorstep after a family barbecue with their family.

On the cover of the envelope read an ominous message: “Last warning.”  

Inside was a handwritten letter, just like before. Only this time, the knives were well and truly out. 

But twice. Picture: Hey Perth / Facebook

“You have taken the mickey out of me, and have been downright rude,” the letter read. 

“I have raised my concerns of the smell of meat making my family feel sick and upset, and you go and have a BBQ on Saturday, and you knew this would affect me and my family.” 

“My friend Tina told me you took my letter to social media and it backfired on you which is 'just desserts.’”

The letter wasn’t quite done yet, though, as the grouchy neighbours threatened to take further action unless the family stopped eating meat altogether. 

“Please no more BBQs and please keep that window closed when cooking,” they said. 

“Otherwise, I'm going to report you and go to social media too.” 

RELATED: Family-of-six rushed to hospital after using this BBQ to heat granny flat

“A little courtesy goes a long way”

There was a mixed bag of responses to this awkward neighbour spat, with some arguing the neighbours were being "entitled" and Kylie was well within her rights to cook meat in her own home. 

“This is unbelievable,” said a dumbfounded person. “They want to tell you how to live in your own home.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not how the world works,” shared another. “Teach your kids about community and respecting differences but by all means, keep up your own choices.”

“OMG how ridiculous,” wrote a third. “Why should you change your eating habits to please someone else? Would they?”

“Your neighbours have every right to cook what they choose in their kitchen, you do not own air,” another chimed in. 

“You have every right to cook what you want in your kitchen and know you and your family understand that and respect it and others.” 

But others saw things differently, believing the neighbours’ outrage as understandable.” 

“A little courtesy goes a long way,” someone said. “It's not like they are asking you to wash their car or clean their house.”

Originally published as ‘You do not own air’: Vegan neighbour's ‘ridiculous’ letter to family backfires