Oh, you can only tell dill from parsley by the grocery labels! And I bet you’ve only seen berries in jam! – Grumbled the offended neighbor

**Diary Entry 15th August**

*”You cant even tell thyme from parsley without the supermarket labels! And I bet youve only seen berries in jam!”*

Thats what the offended neighbour kept muttering under her breath.

Valerie and William had finally made it to their countryside cottage. Theyd bought it last autumn and now, with summer in full swing, it was time to put things in order. The house itself was lovelycertainly winter-proofbut the garden and outbuildings needed serious work.

The old orchard had to be tidied up, and theyd already ordered a new sauna, due to arrive in a week. They just needed to pick the spot for it. While they were at it, they planned a covered area for laundry, a woodshed, and a gazebo. The kids had promised to visit and help out.

*”Its peaceful here,”* William mused. *”We could live here year-round now that were retired.”*

*”I checked the cellar,”* Valerie added. *”Only the door needs replacing.”*

*”And I had a look at the back veranda. Remember we talked about a gazebo? Pointless. Theres already a lovely round table and those antique chairsjust needs a bit of polish, and theyll last another century. The view over the orchard is perfect for tea. Though the door needs changingfeels like someones been inside recently.”*

*”Doors first, then. Well sort the backyard properlyneat but private. And out front, well have a proper lawn with flowers.”*

*”Theyre already coming upperennials. Might need moving around, but well leave them this summer.”*

A week later, the sauna arrived, and the children came to help. The neighbour, Mrs. Hodgson, popped over to introduce herself, her grandchildren darting about like wild hares.

*”Got grandchildren of your own?”* she asked pointedly.

*”Theyll visit,”* Valerie replied.

*”Why the high fence? None of us bothered with boundaries before.”*

*”No fence?”* William raised an eyebrow. *”We just took down the old onerotted through. Might not have mattered to you, but we like order. And dont worry, its right on the property line.”*

*”No gate between us? Theres always been a shortcut.”*

*”Not anymore. The only entrance is from the lane.”*

*”But how will the children play? Yours, mine? And youve cut down the apple treesmy lot loved climbing those!”*

*”We pruned them, not removed. Planted new ones, too. Your grandchildren can climb *your* trees.”*

*”Everythings new with you. And why the bushes along the fence?”*

*”For privacyand beauty!”*

Mrs. Hodgson left in a huff but returned with more questions. Her grandchildren kept trespassing until the new gate went up.

*”Youve settled in properly,”* she remarked. *”Staying through winter?”*

*”Well see,”* William said.

*”Why lock the gate? The children always played football out frontsafe, flat. The roads full of cars!”*

Valerie snapped. *”My front gardens full of vegetables, unlike yours. You wouldnt know thyme from parsley without a label, and berries only come in jars! If you want to be friendly, act like it.”*

*”The gate stays shut. After your lot let our hens out, we never found half of them.”*

*”Youve got chickens? So you *are* staying!”*

*”We already live here.”*

By late August, we celebrated Williams birthday. The whole family gatheredmen grilling, women setting the veranda table. Then

*”Here we are! Came to wish you well, neighbourly-like. We never needed invites before. The children knew by breakfast!”*

Valerie forced a smile. *”This is a family gathering. Were neighbours, not kin.”*

*”Oh, that could change! Once the children grow upwho knows?”* Mrs. Hodgson chirped.

She stayed, twisting every word. Her grandchildren shook fruit trees, scaled the sauna roof, then started hurling decorative stones into the inflatable pool. Water gushed out amid shrieks.

*”Hardly a tragedy,”* Mrs. Hodgson scoffed. *”Autumns comingpool wouldve been packed away soon.”*

*”Time to go,”* William said firmly.

*”But weve not even sat down! The children are starvingall that running!”*

The day was ruined.

A week later, the family returned for Valerie and Williams anniversarythirty-five years. This time, someone (bless their seven-year-old grandson) locked the gate straight away.

Knocking went ignored. The scent of barbecue and crisp evening air filled the garden.

*”When do you head back to the city?”* someone asked.

*”Well see. Autumn firstharvest the apples. This years crop is splendid. We love it here aside from one neighbour. But were learning to manage her.”*

Laughter all round.

Later, alone, Valerie and William lingered. Autumn, then winter theyd try it. If not, the city flat awaited.

As for Mrs. Hodgson? She leftschool starting, her daughter needing help with the grandchildren. William exhaled in relief. *”Thank heavens for small mercies.”*

What would you have done?