Just getting to know the new area a bit more.
Moved here nearly 6 weeks ago now.
After 18 years at the last house and the previous 4 years in that same suburb it is, to say the least ,an interesting experience.
There is a certain etiquette amongst our immediate neighbours in relation to tuesday bin collection day.
I thought that we had wheelie bin pixies as, on alternate weeks of our fledgling occupation, all of our waste receptacles gravitated to the back of the service road before 7am, full to the brim with our refuse, and then magically returned completely empty to their designated place behind our gates by the time I got back from work.
This had never happened in our former suburban retreat, in fact the bin would have to be blocking the pavement, have trapped a pensioner inside or caused a collision with the passing number 66 Bus to even attract any consideration of being moved.
I did have a few snarly glances from drivers/riders of mobility scooters who were quite prepared to just ram the bin rather than ease it to one side.
The practicalities of using the back road at the new place has caused me some concern.
About 15 years ago and at the far opposite end of the road I had been the Consultant in a prolonged and very protracted dispute between neighbouring owners over just the very same roadway arrangement.
Most conflict issues of this type ,which in themselves can over trivial matters ,are fuelled by a personality clash and my client and the other party could have been no farther polarised in background, outlook, temperament and behaviour.
The road is a common right of way along the rear of 20 properties and it bisects the immediate back gardens and a further sliver of land beyond. We have railings and gates having one of the better clearances but other properties have barely a car length from the back wall of the house. The only physical demarcation is in a continuous pin kerb, flush to the tarmac surface, having the appearance of the white tramlines around a sports pitch.
It is important for there to be reasonable use in terms of moving a vehicle, in the parking up of visitor cars or in receiving commercial van or truck deliveries.
For example, in order to enter my driveway I have to pass along and over my neighbours land. In leaving the same I have to reverse out over and back in before being able to progress in a forward gear. All of this two and three point turning has to be conducted within the boundary of the pin kerb.
This is a legitimate right for my neighbours to store touring caravans, camper vans, people carriers, yet more bins and the odd bit of household detritus or building materials on what is their territory even if it is up to the pin kerb position and impedes ease of access.
I think so far that we are on the equivalent of a yellow card on our committing of joint first offences in not assuming our logical turn on putting out the wheelies and also in not being strong enough to ask the sofa delivery lorry to leave some room to let others pass.
Nothing has been said directly by our new neighbours but we know that we will certainly have to try much harder after an evidently short honeymoon as we call it, or probation as they might well.
Being the new kids on the block will be difficult but it is also somehow quite exciting and rejuvenating for us being of a certain age. Inner City Living, eh.
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