Today I saw once again the value in making sure we got to know our new neighbours when we moved into our new house nearly two years ago. We had never really made any effort in the previous home, probably because we are usually quite happy to be just us. Of course, we like to spend time with family, but we didn’t really go out of our way to make friends in the last house. Not that there was anything wrong with the neighbours, we were just in a different space then.
When we moved into this house, day one we knocked on the door of our closest neighbour and introduced ourselves. It’s the best thing we could have done. This year both of us couples went on a holiday to the UK. Both looked after each other’s homes, just keeping an eye out for security, while my cousin came and cat sat some evenings to give Gidget some company.
We have even formed a Quiz team at the local club where most of us are members. We had our first outing recently and had a blast. It’s nice that we all get on and can have a laugh and get to know each other. It certainly paid dividends this morning!
This morning I got up and went to open my greenhouse. Looking out the door, I had a moment of thinking ‘some of those roof panels look very clean!’ Wrong, so wrong! They weren’t clean, they were gone! Blown clean off as it were. On further inspection there were three panels that had blown away in the gale force winds we had today. Unfortunately, Ade (husband) was at work and not due back for several hours. Our immediate next door neighbour was out of town and my cousin – who is my usual S.O.S call – wasn’t around either. So, luckily, when I checked on another neighbour, he was in his garage and happy to come and help when I explained the situation and my inability to physically deal with it.
With the help of our tarp and his bungee cords, we were able to do this:
As the theme tune to the Aussie programme ‘Neighbours’ says:
Neighbours, Everybody needs good neighbours
With a little understanding
You can find the perfect blend
Neighbours…should be there for one another
That’s when good neighbours become good friends
Ooh Neighbours, should be there for one another
That’s when good neighbours become good friends.
We are so lucky now with the neighbours we have and it is reassuring for me to know that if I need help in an emergency I have people that I can turn to support me if my husband is not about.
So lucky to have neighbours that have become good friends!
My journey with Parkinsons 