Feb 19 2008
Popular conversational topics #2: neighbours from hell
This conversation topic sneaks out over lunches and in pubs. At first I thought it was a reserved conversation amongst friends because while the stories have entertainment value they clearly point to a source of stress in the tellers life. Then recently while buying home and contents insurance from a clerk in my local Reading bank branch:
Bank Clerk (BC): is it a nice home?
Wendy: it needs some work but its detached, no noisey neighbours to worry about
BC: Oh tell me about it! we’ve got the nieghbour from hell she deals crack cocaine and everyone knows about it, last night at about 4am she through a concrete garden boulder at her friends car because they were having an argument, I was lying there praying she didn’t miss and hit my car… …we tried calling the police but they just don’t want to know, there’s nothing you can do… …we’ve asked the council to move us but they can’t… …she leaves her 4 year old child alone in the house while she goes out partying… (and more of the same ilk for approximately 15 mins)
My listening performance was worthy of the type of fees traditionally paid to professional psychiatrists. What friendly approachable, troubled, staff they have at my local bank branch in Reading.
I might just drop into the bank to check she’s ok next time I’m downtown.
Popular conversational topics #2: neighbours from hell
