Stories from my Sketchbook . . .
Fighting spouses, other people’s children running all over your front garden, loud music lovers, screaming mothers, people who let their pets run wild, late-night partiers, someone who trims all the boundary trees and hedges—and throws all the debris into your yard . . . Does any of that sound familiar? Anyone who has lived next to nasty neighbours will know how stressful and unpleasant it can be—and how it can be enough to drive even the sanest and most peaceful person to the brink . . .
Happily, I have been very lucky with my neighbours over the years. Although there have been one or two I was not overly sorry to see the back of, for the most part all my neigbours have been friendly and supportive, kept their children and animals under control, their domestic affairs to themselves and only gone slightly overboard on the noise levels on high-days and holidays—which, quite frankly, is fair enough.
Consequently I have had very little to complain about . . . and I would hope that any of my neighbours, if asked, would be able to say the same of me.
Even so, no matter how friendly with, or fond of, my neighbours I am I can’t really see how a good sturdy fence between us can do much harm. Just to be on the safe side, you understand . . .
Sally says . . . eat, sleep, work, read, play, draw, bark . . . 
Joneen Troup
February 18, 2018 at 5:33 pm
Careful. They might take of fence!
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sallyinthehaven
February 19, 2018 at 7:21 am
Oh – groan!!
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S. A. Young
February 16, 2018 at 11:40 pm
I live in an apartment in the city and have, for the most part, been very lucky in terms of my neighbors. For the past two years, however, I’ve been dealing with a young woman who lives directly overhead. She owns a grand piano and refuses to put carpets on her hardwood floor. I hear every note whether I want to or not! (Maybe if she knew some Gershwin? Perhaps I should slide some sheet music under her door.)
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sallyinthehaven
February 17, 2018 at 7:04 am
There used to be a fellow down the street here who practiced his drums at the same time every day. I could clearly hear him from my house and always used to wonder have his immediate neighbours dealt with it. Phew. I wonder how your neighbour would feel if you took up the trumpet and joined in with her?
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S. A. Young
February 17, 2018 at 7:46 am
🤣 Even I would hate me!
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stevetalbot51
February 16, 2018 at 4:20 pm
PS – I like the sketch but are you sure those steel cables are secure enough?
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stevetalbot51
February 16, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Good/bad neighbours can make or break your life – that is the long and short of it.
So moving to a new house requires “neighbour due diligence” which can be an interesting exercise.
Have to say we have been very lucky as well, over many many years in Sydney and West Haven.
Cheers Sal, enjoy your weekend 🙂
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C C Cedras
February 16, 2018 at 8:00 am
As it happens, my nearest neighbor (neighbour? LOL) is a quarter of a mile away, BUT, she trained her puppies (Labradors) by walking on our property, with our (naive) permission. What we didn’t know is that the dogs imprinted our property as “theirs” and would blow right through their “invisible” fence and hunt, kill and maim young wildlife on OUR place (turkey pults, fawns, grouse nests, and the like). While My Darling Husband was living, we didn’t speak. A rapprochement has taken place. Their dogs are now long gone, and I don’t have the heart to hold a grudge.
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sallyinthehaven
February 16, 2018 at 9:03 am
I agree about not holding grudges – but damn, it’s hard sometimes isn’t it?? (Also smiles about the ‘neighbor/neighbour’. My old English teacher would turn in her grave if I ever started to drop the ‘u’s from the ‘Queen’s English’!! ) 🙂
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