12 years ago new neighbours moved in. They were young and arrogant with an air of superiority. We were middle aged, kind, helpful, respectful towards all people.
They started slowly but surely to adopt this really bad attitude against us. Unfortunately we share a drive between our semi-detached houses. When they wanted something from us it was banging on the door to move the car, which as it happened was not even in their way. Fix the fence immediately when their grass was up to the knees and no one was even using the garden. They would knock and complain about our friends parking on the drive even though they could get a bus out of their side if they wanted to. There were letters through our door, and threats of solicitors etc. - all to no avail as we knew our rights and did nothing wrong.
When we wanted something from them. i.e. their drainpipe was leaking for a month on my side of the drive outside my kitchen. Drains blocked with dirty sewage running across the path for 2/3 weeks before they deemed to get a plumber in. Polite requests went unheaded. They just ignored us. You get the picture - one rule for them and another for us.
One day about 10 years ago, I was extremely angry at their attitude for no reason but to be awkward and I said to my husband I am going over. I was at the time in a temper but I did calm myself down because I knew in temper you get nowhere in life.
The husband came to the door, and I saw the wife on the hall stairway in the background - we do not even make eye contact now. And that does not happen to me because I have never had occasion for it to happen.
I said to him. “Look I am just going to say this once and once only. I do not know why you have come with such an attitude when we are really nice neighbours and cannot understand what you have against us. But let me tell you something - one day in the future this will go against you big time. There will come a time when you want something from us. You will go on holiday and your house will be vulnerable to burglars and such like. Neighbours should join together in their best interests. You will want a parcel taking in when you are out. You will want something to do with our joint ownership of the drive. Mark my words, something will come up and you will be sorry.”
Fast forward a few months ago, the neighbour started saying good morning and being a bit civil. I said to my husband, I am suspicious - they want something from us. Two weeks later he came to my door - asked how my family were. Smiled. And here I stood waiting for the punch line. It came.
Turned out they wanted to build an extension and swap the rights of the shared drive so we each owned our own half. This meant if either of us wanted to build a slightly larger extension taking in the half drive way we could. He tried to persuade us that it was beneficial to both properties, and he would be paying for all the legal fees etc. My husband wanted to think about it but I immediately said no. I said:
“You know it may well be of benefit to us, but in different circumstances we would consider it, but I do not know if you remember the conversation I had with you about 10 years ago when I said one day because of your obtuse attitude for absolutely no good reason on earth you will be sorry. And now I am pleased to inform you that day has come!”
With that I closed the door. Turned about face. Nodded slightly and thought - justice has at last been served.