Originally Posted by Glendarroch:
“Where I live, you might not know the person you pass in the High st, but you can be damn sure you know someone who does know them, and as for a certain neighbour of mine who's on the community council - you don't need to read the local paper after a chat with her
. You get a full list of births, deaths, and marriages as well the run down of council scandals. I don't think it matters if it's a town or village, it's the type of area and how people live. In my Mum and Dad's street we knew all of the immediate neighbours because the kids were at school together, the wives were housewives and met when they were doing the garden, hanging out the washing or at the butcher's van. A lot of the dads it so happened were in the police and knew each other. Same in my friends' streets - the women met at the delivery vans and the rent office, the kids went to school together (and walked), the Dads worked at the same places. Lots of people had extended family living nearby as well. So I know lots of people living in this (smallish)town my age and older who I've known for most of my life.
It's probably less common now because people get out of the house and into cars, they don't use the local facilities, the kids don't always play outside, and there aren't big local employers, where almost everyone works.
Then again it's also the type of place where a stranger will strike up a random conversation just because 'I see you going up and doon the road, hen!'
Then again, you get places where everyone is an incomer but they've really made an effort and keep the community going, and other places where no one ever speaks, and that can vary from street to street, never mind town to town.”
“Where I live, you might not know the person you pass in the High st, but you can be damn sure you know someone who does know them, and as for a certain neighbour of mine who's on the community council - you don't need to read the local paper after a chat with her
. You get a full list of births, deaths, and marriages as well the run down of council scandals. I don't think it matters if it's a town or village, it's the type of area and how people live. In my Mum and Dad's street we knew all of the immediate neighbours because the kids were at school together, the wives were housewives and met when they were doing the garden, hanging out the washing or at the butcher's van. A lot of the dads it so happened were in the police and knew each other. Same in my friends' streets - the women met at the delivery vans and the rent office, the kids went to school together (and walked), the Dads worked at the same places. Lots of people had extended family living nearby as well. So I know lots of people living in this (smallish)town my age and older who I've known for most of my life. It's probably less common now because people get out of the house and into cars, they don't use the local facilities, the kids don't always play outside, and there aren't big local employers, where almost everyone works.
Then again it's also the type of place where a stranger will strike up a random conversation just because 'I see you going up and doon the road, hen!'
Then again, you get places where everyone is an incomer but they've really made an effort and keep the community going, and other places where no one ever speaks, and that can vary from street to street, never mind town to town.”
You live in Scotland, right? Where is this place you're speaking of. I want to move there, sounds great.
”
