I don’t know about you but I don’t know my neighbours very well. There is no chatting over the garden wall so to speak. As it happens that would be very difficult where I live at the moment for we have rather high walls surrounding the premises. The point is we have never encouraged our neighbours to visit us, in fact only one of our neighbours has ever been inside our house. We do speak with them of course, when we see them outside. There has only been two occasions whereby I have been inside one of my next door neighbour’s house. The first time, some seven and a half years ago now was when I was dressed ‘en femme’ and before I had undergone surgery. They did not recognise me at first but I was warmly welcomed in any case. The second time, last year, was when they had an electrical problem which needed sorting (I am an electrician for those who don’t know). We are supposed to love our neighbours, even those who live next door! Being a Christian I can say that I do love my neighbours but thankfully I don’t have much contact with them! What is the saying, ‘Familiarity breeds contempt’? Enough said. Some people are difficult to get along with so you have to grit your teeth and bear it I suppose. My neighbours generally keep themselves to themselves and we are not bothered by them in any way but it would be nice to know their support if ever it was needed. The only snag to that is we don’t know if we would get it. It is our fault of course, we should be breaking ice but I suppose we are just lazy in that respect. Is this the same for everyone? I guess it isn’t but why are we like that? Why do we find it hard to link with our neighbours? What is the barrier and how do we break it down? It isn’t easy when you are away from home most days out at work or whatever. We seem to have lost that close community feeling, that sense of unity, that affinity we should have between us. We tend to live out our lives in isolation without realising the friendship we all could share if we could only reach out to one another. I do my best in that I am available to my neighbours should they need my help and have always responded when they call on me. I hope you can do the same.

Shirley Anne