The back garden behind our house isn’t very spacious, but it does have a high wall both sides and the back wall of the garage is the end of the garden so it is nicely secluded. We can’t see over the wall into our neighbour’s garden either side and the same goes for them. If you really wanted to see anything you would have to go to one of the upstairs rear bedroom windows and crane your neck to see either way, as would they.
When we first moved in the house, that is one of a small L shaped terrace of eight Georgian styled cottages, the neighbours were all very pleasant and kindly. In the fullness of time, the same as any other neighbourhood, houses were sold and new people moved in, the best period of our twenty-five or twenty-six year stay, was when our next-door neighbours who were of Belgian origin and were also musicians and the lady of the two was a talented artist also. We quickly became great friends and they took up running and swimming and joined our little club. It was funny that they so often would try to apologise about their daily music practice periods, which used to make us laugh since we loved to hear the sound of saxophones drifting through the walls and windows, even scales were a peaceful thing to listen to and never ever disturbed us. They played with two local bands and we could go and see them perform now and again. We were very sad when after retirement, that they decided to go back and live in France in a small town where they had lived earlier in their lives together. They had also played in the local band in those days so they would soon fit in again as they did before.
On leaving, they sold their house here to a young couple, who married sometime after they settled in and then produced and little baby girl last spring, which was I think a most unfortunate time to bring a baby into the world but who could have known that then, friends could not come to visit and hold the new baby. They are a nice pair, though much younger than us, and we have not become close friends as was the case before. So, we exchange simple pleasantries and they keep themselves pretty much to themselves. When they have had little gatherings before the Covid times the young guy would send a text to warn us that it may be a bit noisy for a few hours which was nice and polite. The other side are another young couple with a little boy and they also keep themselves to themselves. During the Covid endurance period only one of the neighbours was kind enough to offer to get any shopping or anything that we might need, we were managing quite well, but how nice of her to make such a kind offer to us. Our son in law got some shopping in for us during the worst times, when there was a lot of panic buying and we were most grateful for that. We now get regular deliveries from a number of stores, something that is widespread now and no panic any more.
We do miss our previous neighbours Jan and Christine (the saxophonists and artist). The noisiest thing they ever did was play ping-pong in their back garden. They took care of the garden and grew grapes vines up to the point where they had a shaded sort of lean-to over their kitchen door that was most attractive. They had another tree in the centre that they sat under in the summer and also planted a beautiful Camellia that over the years grew up their side of our dividing 6-foot wall, until we started to see the beauty of the early spring blossoms too. I always asked if it was ok to pick a few of the flowers from on our side where they hung, for our dining table which they always said we were most welcome to do. We are still in contact via Facebook and Instagram but miss the changing room chatter at the pool and passing them out running in the woods. We have been to their home in France which is lovely and in such a pretty little town.
That Camellia, became a home for a family of Blackbirds as it grew, who we also had the pleasure of, since they came into our garden and fed from the central bird table and bathed in the little iron bird bath. There are still Blackbirds in that big shrub, but now there are also a family of Sparrows and a smart bold little Robin, all living peacefully together in the one tree, all feeding from our well attended feeders. Of course, you cannot choose which birds come to feed so we also get the garrulous Magpies, Starlings, Pigeons and even Seagulls (which is the down side) but as long as some of the prettier little birds still call in it is worthwhile buying big bags of meal worms that seem to be every little bird’s favourite. Sadly, the nice grapevine has been killed, but the TV reception in summer is improved, so that much is good. Where we start any of our woodland runs there are lots of hedgerow birds too that are a joy to see, our favourite there being a lovely Yellowhammer who pops up so often to say good morning as we pass.
It has been a lonely time these last long months, so it is good to see that the garden birds seem to be unaffected by the disruption to us humans. We could also take a note or two from the birds on harmoniously living with neighbours of every lifestyle and habit. I know that some folk find me a pain in the neck but I am not the worst person on the planet I’m sure. Make allowances where you can, live and let live. Be kind.
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