Your thoughts appreciated

Yes make sure your husband wears a mask. My dh did a lot of wood cutting and sanding without a mask and developed nasty nasal polyps.

I agree about a mask being sensible when sanding. Other than that... massive shrug.

If the noise was disturbing me, or if I thought it might be disturbing neighbours, I'd say so.

I honestly don't think working physically in temps just below freezing is worth fussing about.

Just the sort of thing my OH would do if I was out til 10pm. I wonder if it's to deter me from going out! Yes he's an adult as the others say, but he should be mindful of his impact on you. And he should have a phone or alarm on him when you're out, to summon help.

I would not use a sander in an echoing garage after 8pm but I do live in a very quiet road.

Re the argument that adults are responsible ultimately for themselves - I agree with those who ask who'd be picking up the pieces if things go wrong? An adult conversation with him is not nagging or treating him like a child. Re the sander, I wouldn't expect to hear a power tool after about six in an evening. And people often don't complain because they fear spoiling neighbourly relationships

Thanks for all your input-interesting range of viewpoints! Yes DH is an adult, but with the stubbornness of a 4 year old at times. He'll know perfectly well when he's cold but will always push for that few minutes more to finish something. He also has a tendency to think that he's superman and still insists on doing things he really shouldn't- like lifting heavy items. We just bought new shower doors online and it was a two man delivery-only until package got past the front door! DH then manhandled 70kg through the house as he wasn't prepared to wait for our friend to help later on. My heart has often been in my mouth never mind this addition of working in sub zero temps. There probably is a significant degree of self interest, I don't want him to be unwell again obviously, but nor do I want to have to pick up the pieces should that happen. It was horrendous when he was ill before, I've never seen anyone as bad tempered as he was. He's had 2 additional chances already, not sure he'd get a third.

Unless he's planning a major project surely that was a one off? I understand your worries, but men do feel ageing and being unable to do things they used to do is an assault on their masculinity.

I'd leave him to it and just keep plying him with cups of tea.

Say the word Katek and I'll come up and read him the riot act. I'll use words like 'inconsiderate' and 'thoughtless'. You and the neighbours can stand quietly by.

anya I wish! He has a whole series of one offs under his belt and no doubt will find more. Think next one will be assembling large wooden climbing frame with DS at New Year!

jane I like it!

In that case Katek I think you'll have to buy him some thermal underwear and go with the hot teas!!!

Tell him you find long johns very sexy?

Er......think he might look a lot like Max Wall anya!!

There is no point in me suggesting OH should get warmer clothes on or other such good ideas he seems to always the deliberately opposite so I ignore it.

He decided he would not ask for help lifting all the new 6x5ft fence panels into the slots on the existing supports. Several months later he commented it had not been a good idea.

I also have to deliver a screaming rant every so often the * man starts doing stuff like moving stuff about in the cupboard next to our my bed room at around 4am.
(I kicked him out to another bedroom years ago due to his coming to bed in the small hours freezing cold.) It took me months to be able to sleep well after that.

You can try to be helpful but in the end I look after myself. Sorry to be so negative.

Doesn't sound great Nellie. Will I pop down to sort him out once I've ranted at Katek's DH? So inconsiderate!