When the letter arrived from my neighbour's lawyer about my children littering the mutual driveway with candy wrappers, it was the beginning of a six year legal and emotional battle. My kids, 12, 11 and 7 would not have discarded trash on the driveway, not because they are such “good” individuals but that I would make them pick up anything they threw away instead of disposing it in the garbage. From the time they were toddlers they understood ....not to litter. Even if they decided to litter away from our house, out of my sight, they would not be so bold as to toss refuse where I would see it. And who sends a lawyer's letter, even if it was true, instead of confronting the kid's themselves or at least talking to the parents first.
Port …show more content…
Although the house lacked curb appeal, our real estate agent had put the address on the list of the showings adding to sales ads we already picked out to view, Since Dave and I were already parked in front of the place we politely agreed to go through the home. Upon entering a huge kitchen, bright and cheery, stretching the width of the house I was delighted at the size. Advertised as a three bedroom it fell into the category “bigger than it looks”. Each of the bedrooms a generous size, a deck out the back door and a front living room fit our needs to a T. A front enclosed porch, at best 18 inches from the sidewalk, plus a partially finished basement completed the layout of the home. Dave, not keen on the house, much preferred a stately 2-storey brick century on tree lined street. It even boasted an small attached, but self contained, one bedroom apt. The drawbacks to me were a very steep back yard and a …show more content…
Dave, also being an owner operator, I thought the two of them might become chummy. Mr Starling, however, preferred to keep to himself. Mrs Starling was a piece of work, miserable, cranky and homely. As time progressed the old crone would sit in her kitchen yelling out insults directed towards myself and my children through her screen door. Never saw her outside so I assumed she was probably agoraphobic.
Picking up the pieces of shingles Nora, stood on the driveway arms folded on her chest like a condescending overseer. This irked me and I wanted to tell her to go away, I don't need supervision.
Fifteen minutes later I was back in my house drinking coffee as I replayed the conversation with Nora. Dave, plus my brother and his wife laughed, calling the whole episode overly dramatic.
The next occurrence to wedge an ever widening gap of civility with our neighbours, happened when a basketball crossed over to their lawn. Rather than trespass to retrieve the ball, I first walked up the stairs on their deck to explain and ask permission to pick up the ball. As I approached their back door I could hear the old woman say to someone inside “What the hell does she
Port …show more content…
Although the house lacked curb appeal, our real estate agent had put the address on the list of the showings adding to sales ads we already picked out to view, Since Dave and I were already parked in front of the place we politely agreed to go through the home. Upon entering a huge kitchen, bright and cheery, stretching the width of the house I was delighted at the size. Advertised as a three bedroom it fell into the category “bigger than it looks”. Each of the bedrooms a generous size, a deck out the back door and a front living room fit our needs to a T. A front enclosed porch, at best 18 inches from the sidewalk, plus a partially finished basement completed the layout of the home. Dave, not keen on the house, much preferred a stately 2-storey brick century on tree lined street. It even boasted an small attached, but self contained, one bedroom apt. The drawbacks to me were a very steep back yard and a …show more content…
Dave, also being an owner operator, I thought the two of them might become chummy. Mr Starling, however, preferred to keep to himself. Mrs Starling was a piece of work, miserable, cranky and homely. As time progressed the old crone would sit in her kitchen yelling out insults directed towards myself and my children through her screen door. Never saw her outside so I assumed she was probably agoraphobic.
Picking up the pieces of shingles Nora, stood on the driveway arms folded on her chest like a condescending overseer. This irked me and I wanted to tell her to go away, I don't need supervision.
Fifteen minutes later I was back in my house drinking coffee as I replayed the conversation with Nora. Dave, plus my brother and his wife laughed, calling the whole episode overly dramatic.
The next occurrence to wedge an ever widening gap of civility with our neighbours, happened when a basketball crossed over to their lawn. Rather than trespass to retrieve the ball, I first walked up the stairs on their deck to explain and ask permission to pick up the ball. As I approached their back door I could hear the old woman say to someone inside “What the hell does she