Our long time neighbours next door sold recently and a new couple moved in only last weekend. My wife Liz and I were sitting out the back when they moved in, she said “Wonder what they’re like, hopefully not as intrusive as the previous people.”

I said, “surely not as bad as them. We didn’t seem to know them much at all, but they made so much noise and disruption that I was glad to see them move.”

Liz added “you didn’t know half of what the last couple got up to, I had to handle it all while you were working out of town.” “Sorry, I know you had much more to contend with than me, let’s hope we can have an easier life with this new couple” I told her. Just then a woman’s head popped up over the fence, and said “Hi, I’m Jan my husband Dick and me are your new neighbours, hope we can catch up soon, we’ve heard you’re great people.”

Liz quickly said “Hi I’m Liz this is Mick my husband, we’d love to catch up and get to know you both BETTER.” She emphasised the better with a big sigh. Wow I thought, Liz is full on before she’s even meet these two properly. “Why don’t you two come over here for drinks after you’ve settled in a bit.” Jan said sure they’ll grab some drinks and drop around soon.

Both Jan and Dick knocked on our door an hour later carrying a couple of bottles of wine, they seemed a casual fit couple in their early forties.