Tui Tce

Held on Sunday 18th March, 2012

We hosted a street BBQ last Sunday. As we have a pool and the weather was so warm it made sense to host it in our back garden, so all those who wanted to could enjoy a swim as well.

We have been having street BBQs most years. There has been a reasonable turnover of people in the street over the last few years and it has been a great way to keep connected. We are a multi-cultural street and all those who attended enjoyed themselves and some met for the first time.

My goal is to create a warm friendly street where we can help each other out from time to time and look out for our neighbours' properties if someone is away. We have benefited greatly. An example of this is when we had a truckload of soil delivered on our driveway and two neighbours just turned up after work to help wheelbarrow it around to the back. I had just got to the point of wondering how I was going to do it all with just my husband. The load disappeared before my eyes. I was so grateful and beyond words. We are blessed with our neighbours.

Another example is when our cat went missing unusually for three days. Having all the neighbours' email addresses, led to finding him locked in one of their garages.

Relationships are important. We all need each other. Let's not wait for a disaster to discover that truth.

- Mary Clare