Next door strangers

How well do you know your neighbours? Would you count them as friends? According to a recent survey, we are becoming less pally with the folk next door, though we make more effort to be courteous than we once did. The study finds that being a good neighbour involves keeping an eye on a house during a holiday, looking after post and not being nosey. All very good. But when does a lack of nosiness become unfriendliness? Feeding a goldfish twice a week is one thing, stirring up some community spirit another. We’re getting the basics right: children and dogs are quieter and our parcels are safer, but is it time to go further and invite the not-so-noisy neighbours round for a drink?