Sandwiched

My neighbours on either side (Susan and Mary) both died over the last few years. Susan, my semi-d side, was a dear, dear friend who battled with serious illnesses for several years and ended her days in a nursing home, while Mary (separated by a shared driveway) became suddenly ill just and died in hospital shorty afterwards.

Susan's house was rented out for a couple of years and went on the market eighteen months ago or so, while Mary's sprouted a For Sale sign earlier this year. Now both are Sale Agreed and I'm faced with the prospect of new neighbours on both sides. It really is the end of an era. Our three families moved in in the mid 60's when the estate was built. I've seen the children (four both sides) born and reared and my dad was god-father to Mary's youngest.

These two houses aren't the only ones on the road where the original generation has died off, of course — inevitably over a span of 60-odd years — but naturally these two have hit the hardest. So many stories; so many memories …