The great Scottish summertime.....reminds me of a friend that took a  2 week holiday in the West of Scotland and it only rained twice - once for 5 days and once for 8!  Like the Community Council (currently in recess)  I have been on holiday, this year Orkney....great place, people, weather (yes, it was sunny and warm when the rain was at it's worst down here) and away from the hustle and bustle of suburban living....in fact, we could not have been more isolated if we tried! 

 

Funny thing is though..there we were in a remote corner of Orkney, mostly farmers and cows for neighbours and they had a community centre with adjoining soft play park, a local store with petrol station a regular bus service and a real sense of belonging....I wonder if they have space on their community council?  Here we are in the Big City and we are still waiting for some of that! Some people will remember when Robroyston was all fields...I think the bus companies still believe it!

 

It is however apparent that many of my neighbours are on holiday - tell tale signs such as post sticking out of the letterbox, bedroom and living room curtains shut all day, milk on doorstep...cat scraping at door....and worst of all....incessant house alarms!!! The annoying thing about the post is that even if you suspend the Royal Mail you still get flyers from a 'local' takeaway in Stepps and that Farmfoods one - where the blazes is the nearest Farmfoods???? 

 

There is no way round it - to fool the burglars (who are really not that stoopid!) and to have them look elsewhere for easy pickings, your neighbours....that's the people that live all around you, not just next door...should know you are away and one of them may even offer to clear the letterbox for you, open and close curtains and look through your bathroom cabinet..ooops!   A timer for your lamps is a good idea and pop one on your kitchen radio too.

 

For some poor people it is too late, I have heard from a neighbour that 2 houses in the Estate opposite Asda have recently been burgled...I hope the folk concerned are caught very soon and the possessions returned but that can't take away the feeling of being violated.  Please take care of your own house and help out your neighbours too where possible.  They might be too shy to ask for your help with the post......just stay clear of that bathroom cabinet!