I was reading this week’s local Guardian & Gazette newspaper and came across the Editor’s Comment headed “It is better to love thy neighbour once more’. The full article ‘Roof with a view for neighbours after handshake’ explained how two families, residents of Elm Terrace in Woodford Green, Essex, wanted to extend their historic homes and worked out a way together of doing so which suited everyone involved. Such joint ventures are becoming so rare but by co-operating closely with each other and the council’s planning department, they were able to achieve their goal without any of the animosity and opposition so often sparked by such ambitious projects when people fail to consult their neighbours.
What was even more impressive was that there was nothing put in writing but was based solely on trust although involving a £250,000 gamble. The Comment then says …’Many of us see the person living next door more often than we see close members of our own families. We rely on them to keep an eye on our property or feed our pets when we are on holiday, or to look after a spare set of keys in case we get locked out……’
And this is how it should be so after writing the following on 1st February 2010, I felt such a mention of these neighbours worth putting on this website with the hope that others will be inspired by the Shelleys and the Youngs. Thank you …..
After writing the Blog above – I went into my local chemist and joined in a conversation about Cyprus (my dad was Greek Cypriot)…. one of the ladies turned out to be be one of my neighbours living in the same road as myself! There is no such thing as a coincidence…. and I say this simply because I have learnt about Universal Laws, the greatest one being the Law of Attraction. I had been thinking about wanting to make some new female friends to go out with and happened to look in a local newsagent (interestingly not far from this Chemist) and saw a postcard advertising someone looking to make new friends. I responded and now have a new friend ….. try it sometime.
