There goes the neighbourhood.

 We have very good neighbours. Ah yes, but what makes a good neighbour? Someone who’ll help you in a crisis? Certainly. Someone who greets with a cheery ‘How’s it going?’ on those rare moments you bump into each other out on the street? Probably. Someone who pops around uninvited to see what you’re up to? Release the hounds!

 I’m proud to be suburban and I like where I live at the moment – quiet retirees on both sides.  But years ago I lived in a unit and I found living in it to be hard. I lived on the ground floor of a unit for about eight months. The people above me were quiet enough, except when they expressed their love for each other, if you know what I mean. Also, unfortunately, the teenage son of the next-door-neighbour kept his car in the front yard. He liked reggae music so much that he turned his car into one giant boom-box. Whenever he was short of petrol money, he would stay home, polishing his pride and joy with Bob Marley thumping out of the car’s monster speakers, the bass turned up to 11, sending out shock waves which shook the paintings off my walls. I reckon all that vibration works its way out to sea and is the reason whales beach themselves – they want to get down to that reggae beat – man! It’s as good a theory as any; ask a marine biologist.

 I thought we’d found the ideal home a couple of moves back. It was in a quiet street and was apparently peaceful. It wasn’t until we moved in that we realised just how many children lived next door – seven. They were actually well behaved and only acted up when their mates came around.

 But when they moved out, I was delighted to see a young couple move in. OK, there’d probably be a baby crying in a couple of years, but it had to be quieter for a while. It was...until they got the German shepherd. This beast could bark for Australia in the Olympics – and I’m talking the long-distance, marathon barking event. When they were home, their dog was happy and only barked if he was over-excited at feeling so loved and included. But when they went off to work every day, he barked at every movement until they came home again. This couple couldn’t believe the dirty looks their new neighbours were giving them – particularly the bloke across the road who worked nights and was trying to sleep.

 There’s no doubt that noise pollution is one of the biggest stresses of city living. People living outside capital cities would be blissfully unaware that the people living under the airport flight paths make as much noise moaning about the jets as the planes make themselves.

 I guess we all have to live and let live. If you want to be able to buy a litre of milk and a bag of chips at ten at night, you have to put up with the downside of city living. Anyway, I reckon the kid across the road who plays a drum kit in his garage is actually starting to get some rhythm. Fingers crossed he doesn’t start a group, because if they’re a Bob Marley tribute band, I’m out of here!