WITH the end of the Australian tv series Neighbours it got me thinking about relationships with neighbours over time.

As a (small cough) mature woman I can clearly remember all my parents’ neighbours when I was growing up in the 60s/70s. I recall being part of an incredible neighbourhood community.

The kids all played outside on the green, running around, making camps, riding our bikes, having races, and playing football and ball games. All ages mixed. Various parents used to set up chairs around the green and take turns to look out for us all.

Sipping tea and sharing gossip and news. Occasionally applying a plaster to a grazed arm or leg!

It felt safe and normal back then.

Lots of things have changed since then. Or at least it feels that way to me. We didn’t have Facebook, mobile phones, or the Internet. If you had a problem, then you had to either ignore it or talk about it in person.

We were chatting with good friends recently. One of their neighbours is struggling with mental health issues. They make time to see if they are coping ok. They cook a little extra dinner and pop round to share it with them.

Another neighbour close by is paranoid about their parking spaces and behaves in a very belligerent manner which doesn’t make them very popular in the neighbourhood.

It begs the question – “Are you a good neighbour?”

We have had good neighbours and we have had nightmare neighbours in the past. Currently we are blessed to have fantastic neighbours, and indeed a fabulous local community.

I think the Covid Pandemic has made a massive change to how we behave as a community, wherever you live.

People volunteered to collect prescriptions and grocery shopping. We kept an eye on vulnerable people in the community and made sure they were ok.

We don’t all have to be best friends with our neighbours. But wouldn’t it be nice if we all cared a bit more.

I am sure you would wish that your community would look out for you if you needed assistance.

As well as caring, we can all try harder to be more tolerant of people who are different to ourselves for whatever reason.

Smile, and offer an ear to listen to any problems. Be polite, it doesn’t cost anything to be nice?

See you again in two weeks! Until then – Stay safe and be kind.

Written by Trish Caller