How To Be And Find Good Neighbours

Neighbours
So the neighbours don’t talk to you? In Holland apparently when you move in you are expected to invite all your neighbours to a housewarming party to introduce yourself. (If you don’t, it’s considered you are unfriendly and nobody talks to you.)

That’s an obvious thing to do, once you think about it. My parents did this when they moved into a close of only six houses. They had a housewarming and invited all the neighbours.

They knew that for the next twenty years they would be seeing those people going in and out of doorways and driveways. So much better to have somebody you can smile at, wave to, rush over to chat to, call to and invite in for coffee.

As well as chatting about the traffic problem, the awful murder, the wonderful new shops, the park you’ve discovered, the new leisure centre, the bargain in the supermarket, and where to find a cleaner or window cleaner, or curtains to fit the funny shaped windows and where is the water pipe hidden and can you lend me some pruning sheers, give my car a jump start or lend me some sugar.

Some people are natural nurturers. If your neighbour is a good friend, you tend to want to help them, too, because you very quickly find you are indebted to them and are desperately trying to repay all the coffees and meals, and advice and loans.

You can trust them with your keys. And they’ll phone you if they see anything suspicious.