I have new-ish downstairs neighbours. They moved in a couple of months ago, and such is the nature of London life that I haven't met Mister yet.
I've met Missus, though, a few weeks ago. I had just come in and was picking up my post when she accosted me.
"Who are you?" she frowned
"Oh hello," I smiled. "I'm Illanare, I live in the flat above you."
"Can you prove it?"
"I'm sorry?" (I genuinely thought I had mis-heard her)
"Can you prove you live here? You could be anyone and I have a young child"
"Well I let myself in with my keys, I'm picking up my post and I know that I live above you. If you need any more confirmation of my identity then just ask our other neighbours" and I stalked away in quite the temper.
I haven't met Young Child but I am familiar with her work. She's about 5 years old and she screams. A lot. Sometimes I know when the family have come home before they enter the building because I can hear her screaming when the car door opens. I do realise that it must be exhausting and frustrating for her parents (it certainly is for me and I'm a whole floor removed from the epicentre) but I also wish that they could come up with a better way of letting her blow off steam than allowing her to run up and down the communal stairs, screaming at the pitch of her healthy young lungs and hitting the front door of other flats (including mine). It's very tiring...
"A Place of Greater Safety" by Hilary Mantel
18 hours ago
easily solved - start hitting the door of THEIR flat but do it at around 2am in the morning after a night our drinking. also after banging on their door while singing a very drunken version of 99 bottles of beer on the wall, stomp up the stairs a few times.
ReplyDeletein fact you don't even have to be drunk to do this, just set your alarm for 1.55am a few times through out the month - it will be worth it.
alternatively you could just go and talk to the parents but for me that wouldn't be any near as much fun :-P
~x~
This sounds just AWFUL. I always have the hardest time with my neighbors, and especially the ones that have lived above me. One time it was as if a herd of elephants had moved in. Another time it was a family who obsessively vacuumed several times a day. Our neighbors to the side of us tried to start a fight with my husband. I wish you the best with these guys!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are doing okay. It's so good to hear from you.
OK -- that woman is just rude. And no way is running up and down the stairs screaming ok -- go outside to the park. If people pulled that in our building in NYC, they'd get kicked out on their ears. Go talk to them. And if they are not sympathetic, talk to the landlord.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to come & stay... I'll scare the little sod silent. Forever!
ReplyDeleteAnd the kid too.
omfg.
ReplyDeletethey sound insane. just what you want in yr neighbours!
Really? She said that to you? Very weird.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the nerve of her! How did she plan to prove she lived there? I'm glad you told her off!
ReplyDeleteThat is the rudest way of meeting a neighbor I have ever heard of. I imagine her doing that with all the neighbors. Good luck with her finding any help if she's ever locked out or needs a cup of sugar.
ReplyDelete