Know your Neighbour

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 10:36

A recent survey showed that 86% of you know the names of your next-door neighbours. You're more likely to know who your neighbours are if you live in Scotland, which was the top scoring region, and least likely to know the names of your neighbours if you're a Londoner.

48% of respondents get on with their neighbours. 16% said their neighbours are good friends, slightly higher than the 12% of respondents who said their neighbours made their lives hell.



Do you know your neighbours? Do you get on with them? Or do you have a neighbour from hell?

Karanfil


Joined: 28/03/2009
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 11:27

We moved here two years ago and all our neighbours are Turkish Cypriots. Our next door neighbours are the best neighbours we have ever had. They bring meals round to us at least twice a week or we go there to join them. We have been adopted as part of their family and are invited to all the family get-togethers. We have tried all the local home-cooked dishes and have introduced them to roast beef and yorkshires, chicken and stuffing and mushy peas etc. They have made us feel truly welcome.

NatAless



Joined: 31/03/2009
Posts: 789

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 11:28

I have great neighbours here in Doğanköy! & it is also useful, we have often mutually borrowed something from one another when the shops are closed/when going to the supermarket we ask if anyone needs anything, a few keep more to themselves but the Turkish & Turkish Cypriot neighbours are great & we would really miss them if we left! I would say they have become more like friends!

In London I know people who know their neighbours, where everyone is also friendly (in a modern apartment block in Chelsea) but friends who live in Beckenham where the neighbours are not so & more about 'keeping up with the Jones's, every time my friend does something nice to her garden/buys some nice garden furniture they copy her but never really speak to eachother! I think that in the situation with apartments/complexes like where we are, people are more 'forced' to get on & be friendly as you 'bump' into your neighbours a lot more than in an isolated house/villa so it makes a nicer atmosphere if eve

NatAless



Joined: 31/03/2009
Posts: 789

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 11:29

cont everyone is friendly! Natx

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 11:45

I have the nieghbours from hell at the moment. Only 4 dogs now they had 6. Only 7 guys living there used to be 8. Mainland Turkish, rubbish everywhere. i could rant and rave for hours but too tired as they are up splashing in the pool all night and shouting while we are trying to sleep.

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 11:55

I have wonderful Cypriot neighbours. Once you have been accepted as their friend you become part of the family and they would do anything for you. If I wanted to, I could have coffee with someone different everyday of the week. Further down the hill, I have some lovely English neighbours as well. So although I live on my own, I never feel alone.

Earlybird


Joined: 28/04/2009
Posts: 816

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 13:32

Surrounded by lovely neighbours and we are all friends without being intrusive but would all help each other. I am so lucky.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 15:30

i have lots of neighbours, some good some bad but most are called fatma or mustafa, lol.



when we moved here we didn't just get neighbours we got a whole new family, thats what our village is like.

sometimes it can be a little to much like when your ill everyone knows. but other times its lovely.

when my dad died i had visits from the whole village asking if there was anything they could do?

they are the kindest people.

the main problem is finding the time for all those weddings and sunits!

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 15:43

I agree with you fire starter. I think the English people that have settled in villages with Cypriots are able to fit in better and quicker and have less problems, and if they do have problems (as do Cypriots as much as Engish), their Cypriot neighbours are there to sort things out easier and quicker. I had bit of a problem with my car, and my neighbour took it today and said he will bring it back tonight fixed, as he has done before in the past. I have got a log burning stove for this winter, and another said don't worry about logs, her husband will get them for me. It seems nothing is too much trouble, and I really appreciate all that is done for me.

minertor



Joined: 14/02/2009
Posts: 1238

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 15:51

Most of my neighbours are TC's. They are usually reticent until you speak to them. Once you are accepted by them they are the best neighbours in the world, so friendly and helpful. I have an English couple as neighbours, we are good friends, despite them being sometimes harder to understand than the TCs, They're from Norfolk and I sometimes feel like I'm in a Dicken's novel. The only other non UK/TC neighbour is a Kiwi. A lot of you on this board know him as "Brinsley", as nice a guy as you will ever meet, when he's sobre, unfortunatelymmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, sorry Richard, am still looking forward to a few Efes with yer in five weeks time.



Tony

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 16:50

stella,

i'm not sure about fitting in, but i can swear in turkish very well now, lol.



minertor,

i have lived in norfolk in the past so i know where you are coming from!

saying that we have some very good norfolk friends, but when we first moved there it was hard.



we moved into this large house but it had a short drive way. the van we used to moved had to be parked outside a neighbours house because our lane was narrow to allow the removal lorry in. within about an hour of being there the police arrived. problem? the van has no tax disc and is not registered to your address!

our trade plate was on the dashboard but they didn't see that just took the neighbours word for it.

explained the situation, there was no problem.

but we did get the level of our new neighbour!!!

keyholekate


Joined: 08/05/2009
Posts: 81

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 17:17

Sounds as though you have really good neighbours, not surprising as most Cypriots do seem to go out of their way to be friendly. I wonder what they thought to the mushy peas? Also wonder were they the genuine article?

The only place we have found them is the Ravine fish restaurant; we haven't found them in any of the supermarkets.

Karanfil


Joined: 28/03/2009
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 17:39

Hi keyholekate



They loved the mushy peas which I served with a home-made steak and kidney pie. They have enjoyed everything English and especially love sherry trife and home-made Bakewell tart.



I bought the mushy peas from Lemar at Karakum but have to admit they were frozen. The only place that I've seen the soak-your-own type is in the south.

Quarmby


Joined: 15/09/2008
Posts: 975

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 21:23

Have wonderful British neighbours, I never have to put my own music on, just have to listent to theirs blaring out most days/nights and as for screaming kids. Is it the trend nowadays for parents never to tell them to be quiet?

Jeannie


Joined: 04/08/2009
Posts: 3283

Message Posted:
28/08/2009 21:35

Quarmby - I see from your profile that you are resident in TRNC.



With regard to the screaming kids, it seems to be the norm. We have a little darling living at the back of us in Suffolk. I can honestly say that I have never known such a miserable, whiney, grizzly kid in my life. Sad as it is, I timed her whilst she was out in the garden and there was never one period of over 20 minutes when she didn't throw a tantrum. Parents are out there with her, never once did I hear them tell her to be quiet, that others did not want to hear her (by the way, the child has a voiice that only dogs should be able to hear).



Even me, trying to enjoy some peace and quiet in my garden saying, in a very loud voice, "shut that kid up, please" had no effect.



And no, I am a mother, and I do not expect children to be quiet (it would not be natural) but I brought my son up to respect others. Rant over. (Sorry, but it does make me bloody annoyed)



Jean

Suffolk



Joined: 31/08/2008
Posts: 222

Message Posted:
29/08/2009 20:29

We have Turkish Cypriot neighbours and they are all very kind and helpful. When ever we arrive it is not long before we have some freshly laid eggs or lemons/figs etc. from their trees. During the coming days home made dolma, stuffed vine leaves, olive bread or some other delicious Cypriot cuisine is passed over the wall or we get invited round for Turkish tea or cofee.



Not only that but everyone always asks us if everything is ok, do we have enough water, the loan of any tools, and if we have any language difficulties with government departments etc they are more than willing to translate.



We reciprocate by having everyone round for a barbuecue during our stay and can honestly say that in the four years of having our villa we could not have wished for better neighbours.