Do you know your neighbours?

frogstamper · 30-04-2010, 01:10

I thought I'd start this thread because as I was reading through a recycling thread Maggy made a comment about not knowing her neighbours these days, it got me thinking that I'm exactly the same, apart from the cursory smile or nod of the head my neighbours are total strangers.
I was thinking back to when I was a youngster and in 76 the entire street got together and organized a street party for the silver jubilee, I can honestly say I knew each and everyone of these peoples names, it wasn't a case of people living in each others pockets or being overtly nosey I believe it was a genuine case of community, something we appear to be lacking nowadays.

Sasha222 · 30-04-2010, 01:18

Ya there are 6 houses on my block and all my neighbours are very good and we watch out for one another. My husband and I both had ops last year and also my brother died and the support of my neighbours that I had couldn't have been better.

If anyone is in trouble we all know that we can knock on one anothers door and we dont live in one anothers pockets.

**Matt D** · 30-04-2010, 01:23

When I was a kid, living at home, I knew the other kids on my street, and my parents knew their parents. We'd play together. They'd babysit each other's kids, go for coffee/beer/snooker together, whatever.

Now...

I didn't know a single neighbour when I was living in my previous house (shared with a few mates). Spent over four years there, and didn't know any of them, not even names. Just the polite nod or smile, as you say.

Mrs D and I have been in our flat for nearly four and a half years, and we don't know any of our neighbours. It's only very recently that we found out the name of one woman on our floor, and that's only because we helped her with her boiler (she couldn't figure out her central heating). Still don't know her though, other than to smile or say hello.

Sasha222 · 30-04-2010, 01:29

Thats very sad to hear. We watch out for our neighbours and they watch out for us as well. Only recently in the cold weather we had we had to have our fire place taken out and one of our neighbours spotted the council workers taken out the damaged fire place and straight away she knocked on our door to offer us the use of her electric fire as my husband was not long after having a hip replacement.

It was so nice of her and she got our shopping when we both had our ops and got anything we needed in the shops.

I appricate the neighbours we have more now

cimt · 30-04-2010, 02:13

I sorta know them, we hardly ever talk though. In the previous house we lived in, we not only knew everyone on the block but about 90% of people in the area. Most people looked out for each other and everyone would talk in each others gardens until god knows what time at night whilst all the kids would play games outside or go into someone house and play on a console. How much times have changed. I loved it there. It's been knocked down now though.

LondonRoad · 30-04-2010, 07:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt D

When I was a kid, living at home, I knew the other kids on my street, and my parents knew their parents. We'd play together. They'd babysit each other's kids, go for coffee/beer/snooker together, whatever.

Now...

I didn't know a single neighbour when I was living in my previous house (shared with a few mates). Spent over four years there, and didn't know any of them, not even names. Just the polite nod or smile, as you say.

Mrs D and I have been in our flat for nearly four and a half years, and we don't know any of our neighbours. It's only very recently that we found out the name of one woman on our floor, and that's only because we helped her with her boiler (she couldn't figure out her central heating). Still don't know her though, other than to smile or say hello.

I've stayed in both extremes. I think the difference is kids.

The last place I stayed was very commuter orientated. You would only see neighbours to nod to if they were cutting the grass or something. You hardly saw anybody at all over winter.

Now where I stay it's walking distance to 2 primary schools so in an estate of 80 something houses just about every household has at least one child. Having 2 girls, aged 5 & 8, I therefore know most of my neighbours and we share brownie, craft club, etc driving duties. We also have the odd social event.

I have however lost my identity since most people now know me as N's Dad or R's Dad.

My immediate neighbours include 2 police couples and 2 teacher couples. I've found this previously, those 2 particular occupations often have PC or teacher spouses. Perhaps the initial attraction is the mutual empathy and understanding of the stresses and strains their jobs bring.

Fingy · 30-04-2010, 07:24

I know all my immediate neighbours quite well. We look after each others houses when away, feed cats/dogs, check post etc. Scary thing is that my dad, who does not live with us seems to know them all just as well! The joys of a retired parent who does most of your DIY and gardening.

**Maggy J** · 30-04-2010, 07:49

I do know a very few of my neighbours, the long term ones.However in 40 + years of living in this street the number has gone down to a mere handful due to death and people moving house..Since the 60s/70s people have become more inclined to move house during each decade.

I do however know a fair few people around the borough and my husband knows even more because of membership of local clubs and organisations.

However when iit comes to useful neighbours I think I rather like my latest near neighbours who, when a gang of louts decided to use our street for a gang fight, got out their 2by4s and chased them off..So although I don't know his name I rather like him..

I do miss old Daisy and her sister though.They died about 8 years ago.One was 102,the other was 104..and they got out and about right up to the end.These days it's all young parents who have moved into the street because of the nursery,infants and junior school behind the street.

Ramrod · 30-04-2010, 07:59

We have our neighbours round for BBQs and parties, it's a pretty close-knit community......but we do live on a dead ended private road with only 8 house on it

Delta Whiskey · 30-04-2010, 08:20

Living in a block of flats, I've met a few of my neighbours in the street as they emerge from the communal doors, we're on nodding terms. I don't know anyone's name though.

dilligaf1701 · 30-04-2010, 08:22

I only know the neighbours from upstairs. And that's only because I seem to be forever taking in very odd smelling parcels for her.

**Maggy J** · 30-04-2010, 08:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas T

I only know the neighbours from upstairs. And that's only because I seem to be forever taking in very odd smelling parcels for her.

Waits for MLM to appear....

joglynne · 30-04-2010, 09:12

We live at the end house of a fairly long road but know all the families to about half way down the road and it's a nice feeling living amongst people who would notice if you didn't draw back your curtains in a morning and actually do something about it.

Before we had our son, we were both working long hours and were just on nodding terms with the few neighbours we came across but did notice that all the children, despite quite a wide age range, would play together and look after each other. When our son old enough to stand at the front gate he was was absorbed into the kids gang the parents adopted us as well.

As a group we still socialise, and the new generation of parents still keep up our tradition of going as a group to Blackpool so that all the kids can go on the Pleasure Beach together.

Now I work from home I hold the keys for most of our neighbours

grandmaster · 30-04-2010, 09:13

I know some of my neighbours quite well and others not so well.
The neighbours directly opposite I know the best and when time permits i visit for coffee either sat around the kitchen table or leaning on their fence in nicer weather.

I like my street and the people that are on it (now!) but it only takes 1 set of unruly people to move in and ruin it.

Nugget · 30-04-2010, 09:52

We've lived in our house for 6½ years, and I'd say that I know probably 80% of the neighbours at our end of the street - of the others, I'm at least on nodding terms with all of them.

In fact, the guy who lived next door when we moved in is now my main drinking and running buddy, and he split up with his girlfriend nearly 4 years ago - mind you, he did only move around the corner