to LOL at this letter from our neighbour.....

[StarlightMcEggzie]

We went him a short note asking if we could prune the branches overhanging our garden. They are almost covering a third of our garden and prevent us from getting any sunlight after about 2pm. We wanted to speak to him face to face but he never answers the door.

So the typwritten letter goes:

Dear Mr and Mrs Starlight,

Thank you for your note, & you are of course very welcome to do whatever you wish as regards the overhanging branches into your garden. :-At least, you've had the good manners to ask :-your predecessor used to just 'butcher' the trees &bushes without so much as a 'by your leave'! That's the 'Building Trade', though, for you, isn't it? They don't care about Wildlife or Plants :-They're only happy if they've managed to cover the entire planet in Bricks & Mortar!

Do be careful though, as I believe there's a pair of Magpies nesting in that tree, and we don't want to upset them, do we?

The Lilac bushes should flower in a few weeks time, and you are very welcome to pick as many flowers as you wish:- Th Bushes only flower for about a fortnight once a year, but they do look nice around the house whilst they last. If you want any cuttings of anything, you're very welcome also:- It's not your fault that you've inherited a garden that looks like something out of a 'Garden Centre'. Once it starts to grow a bit, you should get some of the Wildlife and Wild Flowers that I get in mine. Also, as your youngster grows up, I'm sure he would appreciate some lawn also:- My lawn used to make a fabulous Football Pitch/Tennis Courts etc when I was your son's age (many moons ago!) although it may be a bit difficult to see it now that it's covered in 'Forget-Me-Nots', 'Bluebells' & 'Ground Ivy', but such is life!

I've got some Grass Seed & a book that explains how to lay a lawn, if you're interested:- Our Neighbours on the other side owe their lawn to my late father providing the seed and showing them what to do, so I'll try to carry on the 'Family Tradition' should you so wish! (Not that I'm particularly interested in gardening, in case you hadn't noticed!!)

Anyway, that's enough ramblingfrom me:- Good luck with the 'Pruning' & take care!

Kind regards & Best wishes,

XXX

No, he's in a rambling group (in more ways than one he he)

Ah, he sounds lovely. Reminds me of my nan, she'll write a 4page e-mail responce to the simplest questions. Whenever I go round to see her, she never lets me go, she'll talk about anything to keep me there a little longer...shes lonely! Maybe he is too!

he sounds sweet!

He is right about the magpies though, you really need to leave the pruning for a few weeks

No StarlightMcEggzie, but the tree is at the end of our garden, and much closer to his property than ours.

No light problem for him, just maybe a crushing problem?

HE sounds very sweet - if you do get him round for a cup of tea beware that he may never stop talking!

Great Trillian. DH's Dad never stops talking either.

I'll put both the kids to bed and go out for a meal with DH. When we get back they'll be totally unaware of their accidental babysitting.

Have you thought the reason he does not answer is he might think your dh is going to 'have a go'?
Have you ever knocked yourself?
I would knock(you) and if no answer post a letter in reply that you have written, being friendly. Then he knows if you knock again it is to be friendly.

He sounds so so nice.

Yes we've both knocked many times in the past, to deliver wrnogly adressed post/parcels etc.

Always have to resort to writing a note.

He sounds fabulously eccentric, get to know him he'll probably teach you loads and have lots of interesting stories. A good neighbour is invaluable and he sounds like a gem.

"He's an accountant apparently. Doesn't like computers though."

Oh my god, I think you live next door to my parents .

brettgirl I'm fairly certain he doesn't have any children.

You've hit the jackpot with that neighbour i'd say. A real diamond in the rough!

He sounds lovely.

OP, you have a great neighbour there!

can we swap???

I'd send another friendly note and try tp pop in to see them, or is it just him?

sounds very sweet and a bit in need of some chatty company!

I LOLd at the letter too because it's so lovely. I think he sounds a little lonely.

Aw what a great letter! If you are feeling brave you could even invite him over one day for a garden consultation!

Do beware the magpies though they are vicious b*t**s.

My sister got one in the house once and they had to pay an expert £50 to come in and get rid of it as they were too scared to approach it themselves.

He sounds so sweet, wish my neighbour was more like him!

Much nicer than my neighbours too! They replaced our really nice neighbours about 6 months ago. They spit out of the window into their garden, have about 8 kids (not theirs) tearing around their garden having a shouting competition at 9:30 at night under DS's bedroom, and shout at their own children (both under 2) to "shut the f**k up will you!!?!" .

I'd much rather get letters like that, however rambling and odd .

as long as you were laughing with , not at him

what a sweet, gentle soul

do let us know what happens when he comes round for tea.

Will do.

I think I'll try to find a way of using DH's Dad strategically so that we can leave the lilac, but any back-breaking prep work is done.

It might mean we can get away with cutting it shorter too, if our neighbour feels we have respected his wishes.

Now what do I do about him cutting is grass in his front garden, right outside my bedroom window at 4:30-5am with a tool resembling nail-scissors, but amplified?

nip nip nip nip...........

(please don't say get up and go out for a chat)

quite cute!

This thread had cheered me up

has