Its Good to Know Your Neighbour

Having a good neighbour is important.

Having a good neighbour is one of the most effective crime prevention tools ever invented. Neighbourhood watch teaches you the steps that you can take to help protect your home. It also organises neighbourhood crime prevention part of every persons daily routine, all you need to do is watch out for each other. Your job is to report suspicious activity to police. It is the police's job to handle the crooks (hmm... am a bit sceptical on this.. :+).

It just isn't the same way it was when I grew up in a small town. I knew everyone including their cats and dog (well..the only dog-German Sheppard- in the Taman) names. Even after I grew up and moved away from my home town, I got acquainted with my new neighbours, either by going door to door (bukan nak gossip..! just get to know them) or having a block party to get acquainted.

BLOCK PARTY?? ... sounds like a good idea...!

Plan the food and drinks. Call it "international night" and have each family make a dish that is unique to its heritage.. (must be halal-lah). Or have everyone bring their own food to grill. This is a surprisingly effective way to get strangers to mingle easily--they feel less awkward with something to do. You may even want a karaoke session for the group.

Dress up the block with colorful decorations. Buy lots of balloons and have everyone tie them to trees and fences on their property. You might consider a block theme color and decorate accordingly. Ask each family to make a family banner to display on its front lawn. Hang pinatas for the kids. Tiki torches and lots of twinkling lights are festive when the sun sets.

This is making me hungry just writing it.
Enjoy and have a festive time, but by all means get acquainted with your neighbors...

To my new neighbour -Siti - who just moved-in across the street last week...

These freshly homebaked banana muffins.... welcome her and her family to the neighbourbood.