Odd neighbours

[Purple9121]

Just wondering how other people would deal with this. Me and my OH moved house earlier this year and have some odd neighbours next door. They're an older couple and the chap only speaks to me if my OH is there, otherwise he ignores me. His wife has never spoken to either of us and has actually blanked both of us if we've come out the house at the same time. She has blanked me when I've walked past her as well. It's very odd and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable, especially as there are quite a few neighbours on our road who have been friendly and lovely since we moved in. I probably wouldn't be bothered as much if they didn't live next door but just don't really know how to deal with it.

The wife might be shy or bad at recognising faces - I'm like that and wary of greeting a stranger by mistake.

Deal with what? They don't have to speak to you. Some neighbours are happy to chat and some aren't. That's just how it is.

Perhaps they are just shy. Have you tried engaging them in conversation?

I did think that she might be shy but I think it's quite rude to not even say hello or acknowledge us when we've come out of our house at the same time. I don't expect her to stand and have a conversation with me, it's just a bit of common courtesy.

I have a neighbour who is friendly occasionally but most of the time is miserable and makes me feel akward so completely get it! There’s nothing you can do and just have to learn to accept it

Theres nothing to deal with.

Either just ignore them as they do you or give a quick hello as you walk by. Don't stop or anything. Keep walking

If they never spoke to us then I would just accept it, but I don't really know whether to acknowledge them now or not because the chap openly speaks to my husband, my husband has chatted to him quite a lot and he does talk to me if my husband is there, it's only when he isn't that he doesn't even say hello.

@Chunkymonkey13

I have a neighbour who is friendly occasionally but most of the time is miserable and makes me feel akward so completely get it! There’s nothing you can do and just have to learn to accept it

Thank you! Glad someone gets it!

I would acknowledge them - just nod and smile and leave it to them if they want to say hello.

@Purple9121

If they never spoke to us then I would just accept it, but I don't really know whether to acknowledge them now or not because the chap openly speaks to my husband, my husband has chatted to him quite a lot and he does talk to me if my husband is there, it's only when he isn't that he doesn't even say hello.

You'll just have to accept it anyway, what else can you do? Say hello if you want, if they don't answer then they don't answer.

@Justkeeppedaling

Perhaps they are just shy. Have you tried engaging them in conversation?

Yes, the day after we moved in they were both outside and I went up to the chap and introduced myself and my OH and we chatted outside for a little while. His wife popped her head round and smiled at us but that was it. I've recently had a baby and he has asked how I am when he's seen me but my husband was there at the time.

I've lived next door to my neighbours for 8 years.
I can't recognise if it's them or their relatives. They are all the same shape. So I ignore them because I don't recognise them.
She might have the same issue.

Yeah that's a good point, I might just leave it up to them to speak to me first.

Possibly. It's interesting to hear other people's perspectives on this and it's made me realise there could be an underlying reason why this keeps happening.

I barely acknowledge my neighbours either tbh. Just because I live nextdoor to them doesn't mean I want to be their friend. I will say good morning if we meet directly or if neighbour says it first though.
I didn't know what to say earlier this week when neighbour said she hadn't seen me in ages though as I've been here and been coming and going can't say I notice whether I've seen neighbour or not as it just doesn't register.