Neighbour all of a sudden wants to be friends after years of coldness

Well it’s not very often I get a comment like that 🤣.

Thank you ❤️.

If it was just that they'd suddenly become friendly after not being so for a while, I might think it was based on things going on in their lives. But they seem to be into primary school playground drama with their neighbours in general. If they're going around slagging off other neighbours, they're probably doing it to you too; and in any case, that's not the sort of atmosphere you need around you. I'd avoid them as much as possible.

Had a neighbour who called my partner the word you never say to a person of color.. ended quite heated.. she spent 6 years scowling, gossiping generally being a bitch.. last year a switch was flicked and she thought she could be friendly, I kept my distance as I knew what she's like but my partner was more forgiving.. fast forward to now it's all gone to shit again.. over a football (her kid)! And this is why I say stay away, don't get roped in to the fake niceties. If she didn't like you last week she doesn't suddenly like you this week.

I will defo steer clear and just maintain it how it is now as I don't want to be getting dragged into dramas

Good decision. It would not be wise to rekindle the friendship at all. Her enemies will probably assume you’re on her side if they see you hanging out with her again. If you were genuinely friends - fine, but it’s not worth inheriting someone else’s drama when they don’t like or value you and aren’t a real friend.

She’s clearly just looking for allies, since the ones she really wanted to be friends with have turned on her. If she makes up with them she’ll drop you again.

I have one neighbour I consider to be a friend. And friendly with her husband through her. But they’re people I genuinely enjoy spending time with and trust to the extent they even have my spare key. I wouldn’t just be friends with a neighbour for the sake of it.

Sounds like you are living your life just how you want it, and that is working for you. Don't feel compelled to change it. Who knows, things change, you may meet this neighbour in another setting such as a club as your children get older and a friendship may develop naturally, but you are under no obligation to be anything but polite to her atm.
Hope the horrible violent neighbour moves away soon.

Good grief! Threats and assaults? I think I'd be keeping myself to myself around all of these people. Some of them sound rough. I wouldn't be actively rude, but I wouldn't encourage interactions with any of them. Neutrality and 'grey rocking' all 'round.

I'd image she ended up in the clique and now they've turned on her she's realized what horrible people they are and how she moulded herself to be one of them. Maybe she's wanting to repent in some way for how horrible she's been but just suddenly starting to chat doesn't make the past disappear. Smile, nod and give a couple of niceties and keep on walking.