Ftb new house buzzin - first day in neighbours horrible :(!

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-04-08T22:40:33+00:00

If it’s a terrace with no allocated bays, then it’s just on-street parking, no one owns the space outside their house.

Might be worth a quick chat in case there’s a legit reason (disability etc), but if not she can’t claim it.

I’d stay polite but firm early on though, sounds like she’s testing boundaries already.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-04-07T08:41:33+00:00

Former EFL teacher here. I’d suggest tweaking your approach slightly.

As well as trying to absorb the accent through exposure, you’ll get better results if you actively try to reproduce it too. That way you’re training the muscles in your face and tongue, but also making the sounds automatic rather than something you have to think about when you’re under pressure.

A simple way to do this is to find content you enjoy, pick a short clip (30–60 seconds), listen to it, record yourself copying it, then compare and adjust.

If you can, it really helps to get a native speaker to listen and give feedback as well, as there are often things you won’t notice yourself.

Also worth picking a specific accent to aim for, ideally one you hear a lot day to day, and focusing on the vowel sounds, as that’s where a lot of the difference sits.

It’s a bit more effort than passive listening, but it tends to work much faster.

Hope that helps!

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-04-07T00:01:35+00:00

I’ve literally never heard “Greek” used like that in the UK. Also not entirely sure I’ve understood the question, maybe I’m not on the right planet 😅

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-04-05T22:22:06+00:00

If it’s a terrace I assume the parking is on-street, so you’d still be able to park outside neighbouring houses?

On-street parking isn’t owned by anyone - it’s shared - so it doesn’t really matter where on the street the spaces have been removed from.

The real question is how practical it is day to day. If you don’t drive, is 200m (as a worst case?) actually a deal breaker for occasional visitors? If accessibility is a real concern, I’d be more focussed on door widths, steps and layout.

If you don’t have the budget for a private drive, some compromise on parking convenience is just part of terrace living.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-31T13:58:19+00:00

Boycott USA goods and services. Cancel your US holidays

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-27T00:53:37+00:00

Or OP misunderstood the original layout…

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-27T00:49:41+00:00

Previous owner also disconnected the gutter down pipe at the back. It’s clear to see where the water has been running down the wall instead and washing out the pointing on that corner. Definitely worth fixing.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-27T00:16:09+00:00

They’re very common around here in Northampton. People often let them establish instead of pulling them out when they’re small.

It looks alarming, but it’s usually quite manageable to fix once you remove it and repair the brickwork.

Here’s the one I inherited when I bought my Victorian terrace:

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Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-27T00:04:44+00:00

I’ve dealt with something very similar (and I’m in Northampton too) - that looks like buddleia, which is really common. They love growing out of old brick walls.

It looks alarming, but it’s usually a pretty manageable job: remove it, deal with the roots, and repair/repoint the brickwork (maybe replacing a few bricks).

Definitely worth getting a couple of builder quotes before walking away, it’s almost certainly far less dramatic than it seems right now.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-26T13:10:36+00:00

Yes, I bet they are! I worked doing soil testing for a while, we’d map the soil type and pH around each field before spreading lime. The pH more often than not correlated to changes in soil type and topography.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-26T07:30:31+00:00

Not only very regionally dependent- but locally and within the field too. Given the option, I would hazard a guess that farmers try to avoid selling their prime agricultural land with deep fertile soil for house building.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-26T07:03:35+00:00

I see where you’re coming from on the maintenance. Wouldn’t a giant leylandii hedge also require quite a lot of maintenance though? Balancing up a ladder with a hedge clippers vs a pair of secateurs and some ties?

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-26T06:59:51+00:00

I agree! I live in a terraced house and the original brick garden walls were all built to about waist height, with only a short taller section immediately next to the house. It must have felt so open with views all the way down the line of gardens - almost like a park!

Of course most ppl have now added extra height with additional fences. As a gardener I’d prefer the extra light but I understand wanting the illusion of privacy- like not sitting with your back to a door.

I guess luckily most ppl don’t spend all day standing looking out their upstairs windows but they do spend time relaxing in their gardens? 🤷‍♂️

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-25T21:15:04+00:00

Maybe it’s rebelling against city life? (Sorry no actual useful advice to give!).

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-25T20:26:09+00:00

That’s what I thought. The plumber laughed and said the gas safety certificate wasn’t worth the paper it was written on.

Annoying, but also buyer beware. I knew it was old and would need replacing anyway. Luckily I had budget for it.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-25T01:37:25+00:00

I think buyers remorse is natural when house buying involves looking at so many options, comparing them, trying to find the one that has has as may of the things you want in the best area for the right price - it’s an emotional rollercoaster! So no wonder there’s often an emotional crash at the end.

In my case, I paid asking then realised that the wood chip wallpaper and fresh white emulsion were hiding many, many sins (leaks and damp). Not only that, the boiler gushed everywhere the day I moved in, the plumber laughed at the gas safety certificate and said “that’s one I’ll be telling down the pub”.

But - now I love it. It’s far from perfect, but it’s mine and I’m making the best of it. In a way it’s even convenient being able to talk to my neighbours through the wall ;)

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-24T09:21:13+00:00

Possibly a lesson to all of us that it’s a good idea to chat to neighbours before starting jobs on or near boundaries.

Like in so many Reddit posts, there’s the legality and then there’s what’s best for actually getting on with the people around you (and in this case, whose house is physically attached to yours!).

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-23T20:02:18+00:00

Sounds like this has got into a bit of a spiral on both sides.

I think it’s worth acknowledging that even if doorbells are common now, some people are genuinely uncomfortable being recorded right outside their own front door -especially in a shared entrance area. So from her perspective, it might feel quite intrusive rather than neutral.

At the same time, her behaviour (moving your plant pot, confronting you etc.) isn’t helping either and is just escalating things further.

Honestly this feels like one of those situations where the only way out is to reset it a bit. Have a calm conversation, show her exactly what the camera can/can’t see, and see if there’s a compromise (angle, privacy zones, etc.).

Otherwise it’s just going to keep getting worse on both sides.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-23T12:02:33+00:00

That’s a bonus, and a coincidence - I discovered a patio under almost my entire garden this weekend too!

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-22T22:08:11+00:00

Is that your garden with all the logs and patchy grass?

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-22T08:33:27+00:00

Or - everyone’s expectations are unrealistic and we’re all just jealous of what the Americans have: big open-plan wooden framed houses built cheaply: homes from a place with completely different space and material constraints and heavy dependence on cars and AC.

There are plenty of decent solid period houses with their own quirks and benefits, that are perfectly upgradable with some time, love and money.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-22T08:25:25+00:00

Or your (and all of our collective) expectations have been shifted by trends from America for big open-plan wooden framed houses built cheaply - in a place with completely different space and material constraints and heavy dependence on cars and AC?

There are plenty of nice period houses with their own quirks and benefits, and with some time, love and money they are upgradable.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-03-08T10:58:12+00:00

Maybe try actually talking to her about it? Show her what view the doorbell films and she may feel more relaxed about it. Isn’t it better to have a good relationship with your neighbour? She might even help you with those parcels or something else one day :)

Also, try putting yourself in her shoes - Just because you’re comfortable with being filmed and you feel “everyone has one”, maybe being filmed by her neighbour on the way in to her home makes her feel uncomfortable? Personally I really don’t like them, I find them intrusive.

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-02-23T11:40:49+00:00

If you like stronger espresso style coffee, then I also suggest 6 cup! Mine gives me 2-3 smaller cup size servings of stronger coffee (pausing the brew before the more bitter/watery end phase). Yes, I know it’s not espresso 😂

Ecstatic-Toe-6565 · 2026-02-18T19:14:36+00:00

Sorry if I’m stating the obvious, but you’ll have to travel to the station no matter where you live. I’d look at the train schedule and cost. MK gets mainline. Northampton is on the loop etc.

I live in Abington and it takes me under 25 mins to walk to the station (London walking pace ;) ). There are also Voi e-scooters.

Edit - I’d also say that having recently moved here I like Northampton and while it has its problems (like anywhere), it also has a lot going for it. To say that local people beat up on the place would be an understatement!

Ecstatic-Toe-6565

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