Streetbank

**Mikey** · 05-02-2013, 12:24 PM

What happens if you brake something you lend, or someone refuses to return something they borrow?

I'm very friendly with my neighbours at least 15 houses in both directions, but I use the old fashioned approach and go and knock on their door and ask if I can borrow something, then return it cleaned with something extra like a cake, or a bottle of wine.

Do we really need this?

**alldigging** · 05-02-2013, 12:36 PM

Originally posted by Mikeywills View Post

What happens if you brake something you lend, or someone refuses to return something they borrow?

I'm very friendly with my neighbours at least 15 houses in both directions, but I use the old fashioned approach and go and knock on their door and ask if I can borrow something, then return it cleaned with something extra like a cake, or a bottle of wine.

Do we really need this?

I thought it was interesting and one person I saw actually charges people for borrowing things and has a deposit scheme.

People on my street are quite good at knocking on and asking.

**veggiechicken** · 05-02-2013, 12:38 PM

I live in two borrowing/lending communities too

although one man has a sign on his workshop door that says "The man who lends out tools doesn't live here any more"

**Two_Sheds** · 06-02-2013, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by alldigging View Post

you can lend things, or share info and skills.

I used to belong to one such scheme in Norwich, donkey's years ago. Can't remember what it was called ...

**Two_Sheds** · 06-02-2013, 02:32 PM

Originally posted by Mikeywills View Post

Do we really need this?

Well, yes.

If you don't know your neighbours, or if they're unfriendly, or "out" all the time, or don't have the items that you want to borrow (I'm the only organic gardener, sewist and painter as far as my eye can see, in all directions).

A well-run website that matches givers to borrowers is a superb resource, and versions of it have been running for decades.

**Mikey** · 07-02-2013, 12:55 PM

Its no substitute to actually getting to know your neighbours rather than watching them through the twitching curtain TS.

I guess this scheme allows you to get to know people you might not otherwise know, it does all still depend on everyone being fair. The video shows a guy borrowing just about everything and roping in his neighbours to help. This all works as long as you are prepared to return the favour.

I'm sure there would be a direct correlation between street layout and how well you know your neighbours, good design can enable a sense of community.

**Two_Sheds** · 07-02-2013, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by Mikeywills View Post

Its no substitute to actually getting to know your neighbours rather than watching them through the twitching curtain TS.

Could you explain how I'm meant to take that? Because it seems that nobody can say something without you having a sarky remark about it Mikey. Or do I just have PMT today?

**Two_Sheds** · 07-02-2013, 02:56 PM

Originally posted by Mikeywills View Post

good design can enable a sense of community.

Sure it can, but it doesn't have any bearing on when, or if, you see your neighbours. Our next-doors work shifts, the wife 5 miles away in the south direction, and the husband 8 miles to the north. We never see her, we see him walking to his garage a couple times a month.

Our new neighbours on the other side don't get home till gone 1am, I think they own or run a takeaway.

Mr TS works 20 miles away and the most of the neighbourhood he tends to see is the garden path, from door to car, and back.

I'm out and about every day, all hours, and I still never see any of the other people in my street. Ever. Unless the postie has left a parcel with them.

**veggiechicken** · 07-02-2013, 03:08 PM

I guess I'm lucky that wherever I've lived I've always known my neighbours and they have always been the sort that you can ask for help or a cuppa - and also will drop in on me if I have anything they want. Most of my neighbours work too but we see each other in the garden or out walking. It would be a strange and lonely life for me without good neighbours

**vikkib** · 07-02-2013, 05:28 PM

Well, I went to sign up and before I gave them my email address they said there were 3 or 4 people in my area with 5 things to share...

... after I gave them my email they said there was no-one in my area!

**Mikey** · 08-02-2013, 02:34 PM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

Could you explain how I'm meant to take that? Because it seems that nobody can say something without you having a sarky remark about it Mikey. Or do I just have PMT today?

I'm naturally just a windup merchant TS, you should take most of what I say in the good humour it is intended. It tickled me what you said (I'm the only organic gardener, sewist and painter as far as my eye can see, in all directions). I pictured you as a curtain twitcher.

Have you heard micky flanagan talking about neighbours and peeping.

micky flanagan - out out tour 2011 - ''PEEPING'' - YouTube

**Mikey** · 08-02-2013, 02:47 PM

Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post

Sure it can, but it doesn't have any bearing on when, or if, you see your neighbours.

Oh it can TS, if you have a front garden that require tending, then you allow yourself the opportunity for neighbours to come and have a chat if they are out and about. If you have young children and live in a quiet well thought out urban environment then they like to go out and play, giving you the opportunity to meet others, just by watching over them.

If however you have no garden and live on a busy street this is virtually impossible, the location of your home and how your street is laid out has a direct relationship with the likelihood of you getting to know your neighbours. Did you watch the grand designs episode where Kevin designed a small urban community, a good neighbourhood provides opportunity for the community to meet, a bad one promotes fear and a sense of isolation.

**Farmer_Gyles** · 09-02-2013, 06:39 PM

i guess this could be a handy website one day ... it's not very sociable where i live so if i want something, i generally have to buy it .... i used to know most people in the middle third of our street, always had people to chat to, always lending and borrowing things .... now it's slowly becoming like southall .... the guy that moved in 2 doors down has started building his "shed with bed" in the garden ....

that website lists about 8 people within 1 mile of me .... i live in suburbia .... hundreds and hundreds of 3 and 4 bed semis .... i do actually know one person of those 8 (used to work with her a few years ago) and she's someone i'd rather avoid .... not many people irritate me, but she's one of them ....

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