I might have mentioned before that I live on quite a large square. There are 7 houses along each little row with parking spaces in the middle. It is not a huge area, and I have been here for 12 years since Miss Hap was three months old.
Most of my neighbours have been here for the same amount of time, with a few exceptions of some ‘newcomers’ that have been here for a couple of years. It is surprising though how little I know about any of them. I tend to nod or say ‘hello’ to some of them in passing, and sometimes even have a little chat, but that is about it.
I have written all my Christmas cards out, except for the few that I give to the neighbours. Problem was, I didn’t know half of their names or those of their kids, which resulted in a quick text to Miss Hap (who was having a sleepover at her friend’s) to ask her to fill me in which she did.
Me and Mr Grump had to pop out this morning, but I was not feeling too good at all. My head was all over the place and I didn’t want to go out, but I did and quickly dished out a couple of the cards I had written giving the rest to Mr Grump to give out.
I moaned at him when he got to the car thinking he had pushed one through the wrong letterbox, but he hadn’t. That was me, I realised. I had given a card to next door that was meant for someone else! Embarrassingly, I had not written them one at that point either as they were the ones that I didn’t know all of their names as they had only been there for 2 years! The ones whose card it was have lived in the same house for twelve years and their daughter grew up with mine, being good friends!
As it was, one of the cards I put the house number, as nobody knew the name of the family, despite us always saying hello and them coming round to pick up parcels that we take in if they are out when the postman comes.
Just before dinner tonight, there was a knock at the door and I could hear Mr Grump laughing and talking. When he came in he had a card with him and a box of chocolates. I opened the card but was none the wiser when I saw who it was from, as I didn’t recognise any of the names. It turns out it was the family we had taken parcels in for, thanking us for it with the gift.What a nice thing to do.
I still feel bad that I didn’t have a clue what their names are though!
I’m usually OK with faces, but names take a while longer to register and stay on my brain. Hubby laughs at me though as I know who lives on which boat AND most of their names now! What’s even funnier is people who have been here longer than us are asking me who people are!
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Ha HA! It is funny. but it seems we are all in the same boat, if you pardon the expression! 🙂
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Ha! 😀
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I think most of us are growing used to a certain neighborly anonymity. We sorta invent names for our neighbors. For instance, I have Dementia Lady, Nice Neighbors Across The Street, Jim, Hermit Lady, Caitlyn, Weed Guy, Miss Reva, Mr Frasier, and Don & Deb. LOL Our name is on our house, but I’m sure they call us somethin else 😉
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HA! Actually I think your way sounds much more fun. 🙂
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I so relate! There are only 10 houses where we live and I am in exactly the same situation… Mind you for 25 years we had the sort of neighbours-from-hell that bad comedies are written about. You know that famous quote ” Good fences make good neighbours”… I agree.
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I know what you mean about the fences making good neighbours! 🙂
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All’s well that ends well. Now you know their names! I know my neighbors next door but three doors down, no clue. That seems wrong but somehow the thought of knocking on their door just to say hi, given that we’ve both lived here for years, seems too weird.
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Yes. There comes the point when it is too late and embarrassing 😆
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Yeah, I think I’ve arrived there already.
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iT IS FUNNY
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I am trying this again as my computer is doing strange and I mean strange things . I was trying to say it was funny how we can live so close and yet not know people. Block party time!
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Ha! That would be a good idea, One way of getting to know them all 🙂
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Been there, done that… Still doinh it lol!!
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Yes, it seems that most of us are like that with our neighbours 🙂
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It is strange though isn’t it, how weren’t tend to open up as much nowadays…
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Yes it is. We are much more private 😊
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Totally more private… I miss that openly friendliness though…
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Times have really changed. Where I grew up, we had families who stayed for generations. We knew them, their kids, their parents, etc. Sadly, it seems that now privacy is the main concern for most. How nice that you are sharing Christmas cards, even if not sure of all the names. 🎅 👼
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Yes, I think it was like that over here too many years ago, There is a lot ot be said for everyone knowing each other, but sadly now most of us either don’r know our neighbours at all or just say a quick hello in passing.
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You might enjoy this one, Judy. https://vanbytheriver.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/landscaping/
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I enjoyed it very much, 🙂
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Thought you might. ☺ Thanks for reading it.
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I enjoyed it 😊
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Another fun Edwina episode!! 🙂
I’m working on cards today myself. No neighbors get any. 🙂 Although I might post a generic one to everybody in our “neighbors” Facebook page.
I just did 4 cards, to my family members, and am now already taking a break. This may take awhile!
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Ha! I find writing cards can be time consuming, but it is also so nice to receive one 🙂
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Haha…. Judy, that is material for a great Christmas movie!!! I love that!
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It is embarrassing though, when you can’t even get a simple job done properly! That is the world of Judy though! I should be used to it by now! 🙂
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That is one of the things we love you so. Things like this happen to everybody at times (believe me… I can be a master in that too😁) but you are openly telling it and making us part of Judy’s world 😘😘😘
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Embrace your grumpiness, happy people are plotting something ……..
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How lovely!
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Thanks Tonya 🙂
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We don’r have neighbours as such but know what you mean, Judy. There are people in the village I’ve spoken to for years that I haven’t a clue what they’re called. I smile and pass the time of day. Sure they don’t ever expect a card from me. But your neighbours sound lovely.Jx
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There are two or three that have sent cards right from the start which is nice. We have all helped each other out too for various things over the years, so there is some community spirit there which is lovely 🙂
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We’ve lived in this house 25 years. In 2012 for the Queens shindig we’ve had a street party. I met people who’ve lived here ten, twenty and thirty years. Rather embarrassing for all of us. So I feel for yer, Judy.
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It can be pretty awkward 😆
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Funny story Judy. You don’t know their name, then they give you a gift . . . still with no names, lol. 🙂
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Ha ha! I know, it is a bit odd really 😀
Sent from Samsung tablet.
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I think many of us have the same problem, Judy. This year we’ve been lucky that we have had cards from neighbours with both their names and their house number in. Where I don’t know some of the names I tend to address the card to one of the occupants that I do know the name of and then add “and family.” However, it’s nothing like when I was a child and we knew all the neighbours by name. I think it’s a sign of the times we now live in.
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Yes, it is a shame in many ways that we are more inclined to keep ourselves to ourselves. 😊
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I think it’s also down to just how busy everyone seems to be these days, Judy. When I lived in London we hardly saw our neighbours. Not even at weekends. However, even down here in Wales it seems to be going the same way. There are pockets where the neighbours all seem to know each other but it only seems to be where people have all lived in the same street for the past twenty years or so.
If we were neighbours you can guarantee that you’d know who I was 🙂
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Oh yes, I would be round yours for a chat and a laugh Hugh! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often and commented:
Edwina’s Episodes is quickly climbing the ladder of my daily read list!
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Judy, a very nice Christmas story, I must say but more importantly, I really admire you for your spirit of writing cards for all your neighbours, names or no names.
Susie
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Thanks Susie, I think it is nice to acknowledge them 🙂
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This is me!
Judy E Martin
Hello, and thanks for stopping by. I am Judy, in my (very) early fifties and decided that life definitely gets more interesting as it goes on! I am a wife and a mum and have just finished University as a Registered Nurse, after having worked as an Associate Practitioner in the NHS. I am also a poet and the author of my debut book, 'Rhymes of the Times.' I love to laugh, and I love rhyming words too, so I joined the two together, and my book was born. I am currently working on another book in the series also. I am a prolific blogger and enjoy writing funny stories, anecdotes, and anything really that takes my fancy.
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