NOISE!!

Unlike many people, we don't own a cottage. My husband and I decided long ago that we had enough maintaining one house, we didn't see the point of driving 4 hours somewhere to go clean another house, lol! So, instead, we have turned our little backyard into an oasis of peace. Pool, two-tiered deck with a nice table and chair set for eating al fresco, and outdoors chairs, sofa and coffee table on the lower deck, a great place to lounge in the shade, read a book or sip a cocktail. A plethora of shade trees, evergreens, shrubs and flowers complete the peaceful scenery.

On week-ends, if it is a nice sunny day, we plan carefully so as to run all errands in the morning, so we can enjoy the afternoon outside, including the dinner menu on the barbecue. A mini-vacation if you will.

We swim, we read the paper or a magazine, then we cook dinner and finally sit down to enjoy it.

And that's when it starts.

The lawnmowers, the weed whackers, the hedge trimmers. It's like the neighbours see us sit down and at the first bite, wham, they fire up their power tools. Why is it that the retired neighbour decides to mow his lawn at six o'clock on a Sunday night? Why is it that the housewife next door, the one that doesn't work but still has a nanny decides to trim hedges right as we're having a celebratory birthday dinner with family, on a week-end? Why is it that the neighbour two doors down decides to start building his deck as I am about to take my first bite of strawberry shortcake of the year?

Grrrrrrrr!

So much for my oasis of peace.

A little word of advice to all who read me. Be thoughtful when you're planning to work in the yard. Not too early in the morning and certainly NOT during dinners, especially if your neighbours are having a barbecue.

Well, unless it's the divorcee neighbour who lives behind you, who has obnoxious drunk parties for her teenagers at which she outdrinks all the kids, parties that last til the wee hours of the night with total disregard to all the neighbours, who has sex in plain sight in her hot tub while we're entertaining (more on that another day). Then you have my permission.

I hear cottage dwellers have pretty much the same problems too, though. Jet skis and speed boats disturb the tranquility of the lakes and they have their share of rowdy drinkers too.

At least I don't have to drive four hours to get there and maintain a second house. So I guess I'll keep enjoying my backyard. It's not always all bad all the time. We steal whatever moments of peace and quiet we can.

Have a great summer, all!