Life isn't always sweet..

I have always considered myself a pretty friendly person. Easy to get along with, always giving people the benefit of the doubt. I have always thought myself to be a pretty patient person too trying to avoid unnessesary conflict.
But now I find myself in a situation where my happiness and sanity rests in the hands of one person.  I wasn't going to do this post, this is my problem, but if I don't let it out I may explode and do something silly I may regret.

As you all know I live on 5 acres and the one most absolute thing I love about living here is the peace and serenity. Waking up to the sound of sweet chirpy birds. Being outside in the garden with no-one but me and my thoughts.

Well a couple of years ago a new neighbour moved in. I tried to say hello the first time I saw her but I knew after a minute that she was the stand offish type. Ok then, that's fine. I can respect that.

She and her family moved in with a couple of dogs.  Now, just let me paint a picture for you. My house is set far back from the road. Her's isn't. So alot of her backyard is in alignment with my front yard. So? you may be saying. So in the couple of years she has lived her she has now 10-12 dogs, plus around 8 cats a couple of which come to eat at my place as they are always hungry. Yes, I admit I feed them. I feel sorry for them. So all her animals are basically to the side of my front yard.

So now instead of hearing chirpy birds in the morning all I can hear are her more often than not barking, high pitched dogs along with a very antogonising howl from a greyhound she has aswell. I have tried talking to her. She just slammed the door in my face. I have put in a written complaint to council. They have spoken with her but nothing much has changed.

I have been woken up at unGodly hours in the morning, forget about sleep ins on the weekend. I have tried ringing her but she now has an answering machine so she doesn't have to talk to me. So cut a long story short, my sanity, my happiness are in this woman's hands. I could think of a few words to call her right now but I won't. Sometimes I can't believe I am turning into (she has turned me into) a very bitter, angry person.

I know I shouldn't be putting this on my blog. But I have too, I just have to for my sanity's sake. I don't know what to do. Should I move? I have put so much blood, sweat and tears into this place. Why the hell should I? Yesterday I found myself looking at property on the net, 100 acres.. where my neighbours can do what they want. Have any of you ever been in a situation like this? I have never had problems with neighbours, not even when I lived on a normal block. I have been pretty lucky I suppose, up till now. So the saga continues and only time will tell what's to happen.....
 ok, back to my sewing to get my mind off it and cheer me up.. take care, Maryann     oh ps. I just purchased Julia Child's cook books and can't wait to get them to try out her recipes!!