Dealing with Difficult Neighbours

I was one of the lucky few who grew up in the same house, in the same area, for my entire childhood. It was a beautiful brick house that stood, perched, at the top of a hill overlooking the seaside. I had fantastic neighbours and I was a part of a community that I adored. That all changed though when I organized a removalist and moved out of home in my early twenties.

What I found was that good neighbours are extremely hard to come by.

When I first moved out it was to move closer to the university I was attending. Like most students, I was spending most of my waking moments in class, studying or drinking with my friends and sleep was somewhat of an afterthought. Until I realized that I couldn’t get any.

My neighbour appeared to be nocturnal or an insomniac and on top of that, it seemed that he was deaf and extra clumsy. Every night from approximately 10pm he would awake and keep me up with an orchestra of loud television, furniture moving, talking, singing and heavy walking.

I tried everything from yelling out obnoxious comments to putting notes in his letterbox, but every night it was the same. I even gathered up the courage to confront him, but every time I knocked on the door there was no answer.
Due to lack of sleep, I eventually moved.

After my first run in with a crazy neighbor, I had many more. I had ‘peeping Toms’ who constantly watched my every move and those who were extra conservative and called the police anytime I turned the music up. But is there anything you can really do about a crazy neighbour other than move far away? Yes there is, so put the phone down to that interstate removalist and listen up!

1. First things first, confront your neighbour about the problems. A polite note is less confronting and may just do the trick so leave it in their letterbox directly after the incident occurs. Give them a three strike rule, but persist with the notes to let them know how this is adversely affecting you.
2. If the problem persists call the police or the appropriate authorities to lodge a complaint. And don’t just call them once, call them on every occasion that the instance happens. They keep records and enough complaints might amount to action!
3. Make friends with your other neighbours and try to convince them to make complaints too – the more the better! After a few calls, the police will probably get the picture.
4. Ignore the neighbour if they become aggressive towards you due to the complaints. Simply remove yourself politely from the situation and tell them that the matter is with the appropriate authorities and that they should stop harassing you.

Difficult neighbours can be your worst nightmare at first but they shouldn’t result in you feeling the need to move away. By following our list of tips you should find that dealing with your nightmare neighbours is possible, without starting world war three over your back fence.
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The Safest Way to Relocate Your Car

Of course, your car is your important asset. If you have to move your car to different area, make sure that your car will be well taken care of during the car delivery. In fact, there are some options that you can choose. To make a right and informed decision on safely relocating your vehicle, don’t be doubtful to do your own research.

It would be wise if safety and security are becoming your most priority. You can drive the car along the way by yourself or move the car together with your other belongings; but they all are dangerous and full of risk. If you really need your car in the new place and you want to avoid all hassles; you should find the better way!

Trusting a car transport company to relocate your company can be a great solution. Book their service as soon as possible, at least two weeks before the day that you want to use the car in the new place. If you’re worried about spending too much cost, you should discover first to find a car moving company provides reasonable rates, related insurance and reliable services that you can afford. Using a vehicle shipping directory will ease your search!

Before your car is taken by the car transport company, ensure that your car is in good and clean condition. You must read and comprehend all the terms before you sign the contract agreement. As long as you choose the right car moving company, it can be the safest method to deliver your car.

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Fun Places to Take Your Baby to Play

Playing is a very valuable pastime for the healthy development of your baby’s cognitive, social, emotional and physical growth, and it’s a fun way for you and your baby to bond and form a loving relationship. Babies are constantly using their senses to learn new things from their surroundings and experiences, especially within their first year. Exploration and being subjected to a variety of stimulants are at the heart of play, so it’s important that you provide that for your baby. Although there are lots of games you and your baby can play at home, the following are a few examples of places you can take your baby to play outside of the house.

The Science Centre
 Science centres are great places to take babies to play because there is always something interesting for baby to see, smell, hear and touch. They are centres where adults and babies can play, create and discover together. You can play in water, blow bubbles, colour, make music and more. Nowhere else can provide as much stimulation as science centres.

Indoor Playlands 
Many indoor playlands cater for children ages 0-8, and some are starting to offer structured activities for specific age groups. Many playlands also have baby and toddler-specific play rooms with plenty of mats, padding and age-specific toys for the kids to play with, and are also useful for keeping babies separated from the more rambunctious older children.

Pools and Recreation Centres
Taking your baby to the local pool to have a fun time splashing around is a great way to exercise your baby and get her or him accustomed to the water. Most pools will have a special wading area with warmer water and fun water toys that are more baby-friendly, and newer facilities also have a special changing area dedicated to babies and parents. This way you have somewhere to store the nappy bag and baby clothing.

Petting Zoos
Zoos are great places to take a baby to begin exposing them to new things, and petting zoos are even better. This allows your baby to get up-close and personal with the animals and nature, which will really helps to satiate her or his inquisitive mind.

Drop-in Programs
Taking your baby to drop-in programs at a family resource centre is a great way for them to stretch their learning muscles, as well as socialise with other babies. These programs usually offer creative activities, painting, puzzles, blocks, and other baby-appropriate toys. Often there are also activities that many parents and their babies can do together which help babies to create strong social and emotional bonds with others. This is not only a great way for you to meet other parents, but also to have your baby use toys that are new and different from the ones at home.

Gymboree 
Gymboree play and music centres offer programs that are geared specifically towards the interests of babies aged 0-6 months. Classes generally focus of developing your baby’s interest in the world through sensory exploration. Stimulating age-appropriate activities such as tummy time, flashlight play and infant massage help babies build trust, a sense of security and emotional connections with others. These centres sometimes offer educational and fitness classes as well, and provides another great opportunity for you to bond with your baby.

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To Know More about Textbook Authors

If you read quality college textbooks, have you ever wondered who really brilliant people that write the books are? For you who want to know more about the well- known authors of textbooks, you should visit textbookauthorswiki.com.

The resource website is definitely a beginning project wiki or encyclopedia that provides you with many informative biographies of the authors who have written various text books categories.

At this special encyclopedia, finding biographies of different college textbook writers like Scott Freeman, Walter Rudin, David Heller and many other authors is as easy as a click away. Every biography contains useful information about the author’s life story and the list of other books written by the same author. Now it’s your turn to navigate the new Textbook Authors Wiki!

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Helping Your Parents Deal with Ageing

It can be very difficult to watch your parents get older. The hardest part is seeing the people who were once so strong begin to slow down, and require help from you for a change. Reversing roles doesn’t have to be a depressing or daunting task however, as this is a good opportunity for you, as their child, to start giving back in their time of need. There are plenty of ways that you can help your parents deal with ageing, and the following are just a few examples.

Give Them Space
Losing the ability to do things you once could by yourself if a hard pill to swallow for anyone, no matter their age. As their son or daughter, it’s important to understand that your parents are losing their independence, and it’s scary. Finding the right balance between helping them and giving them space will help them feel taken care of without being smothered or babied. Pop by once in a while and drop off some groceries, make them a home cooked meal, or just come for a chat. Make it clear that if they need help they can call you. This way they can have their pride, but also a little security, too.

Make Them Feel Included
 Ageing is very tough, especially if the ageing person feels like they are isolated from the rest of their family. It’s a slippery slope when you stop inviting your ageing parents to do things just because they require more time or assistance. Including your parents in all the same family events is extremely important for them to continue feeling wanted and needed, and you should be willing to put forth the extra effort to make their last years enjoyable.

Treat Them
The toughest time in a person’s life is when they realise they are getting older, but haven’t yet let go of the mentality that they are still young. You can help your parents grasp on to a little more youth by treating them to a hair transplant, a laser eye surgery or even just a manicure or spa treatment. Really, they just want to feel like it still matters what they look like and you can do that for them.

Keep Them Healthy
It doesn’t matter how old a person is, they should still try and maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Encouraging your parents to eat well and exercise doesn’t have to be done for the sake of looking younger or prolonging life, but instead to help them feel good about themselves. A good diet and a simple exercise regime can go a long way in helping a person feel more energised, improve their mood and make them think more positively. Getting old is inevitable, but you can help your parents feel strong and healthy right now.

Give Them Security
One of the major worries of an ageing person is wondering who will take care of them when they are too frail to take care of themselves. Your parents don’t want to be a burden on you, but you can still help them find a great retirement home or set them up with a reputable nursing agency.

This way they can rest easy knowing they are well taken care of without causing you extra stress.

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How to be Friends with Your Partner's Grandparents

It can be hard to get along with the in-laws, especially those that are a little more elderly, though your best bet is to just relax. Sometimes your partner’s grandparents will be the most welcoming and approving members of your partner’s family, so learning to get along with them may be a very smart move. Older people have a huge amount of knowledge and for the most part just like to chat, though keep the following tips in mind when hanging out with your partner’s grandparents:

Listen and Speak Loud
As mentioned, seniors are a storehouse of experience and wisdom, earned over a lifetime. They have many stories to share and will love you just for listening to them. In older days, when grandparents were the main caregivers of the children while their parents were out working, the elders would instruct the younger generations through storytelling. Because many seniors are hard-of-hearing, be sure to speak to them in a loud voice.

Relate to Their Interests and Learn From Them
A guaranteed way to establish good relations with your loved one's grandparents is to relate to their interests and hobbies. What does nan love to do? Develop an interest in it or use it to build a better rapport around. Maybe nan loves to cook food; you can drive her to the local farmer's market when you are visiting and help her bring home pounds of fruits and vegetables to cook. She may also have a lot to teach you so be open to learn, as you never know what jewels elderly people can impart on you.

Help Them Around the House and Teach Them New Things
Help your partner's grandparents with household chores and yard work, and they are sure to appreciate it. They will also enjoy learning new things from you, such as things you can do on the Internet.

Show Your Appreciation
Like everyone, seniors love to be loved and appreciated. So always thank them and show how much you appreciate them. Simple things like thank you cards and gift baskets for a holiday celebration can go a long way in their books. Adding a handwritten letter to those cards and gift baskets is a thoughtful way to make any grandparents' day. If grandmother is partial to certain things, like perfume for example, a gift of a bottle of her favourite perfume is a lovely gesture.

Steer Clear of Controversies or Touchy Subjects
There may well be a gulf between you and your granny-in-laws, and their views may be rooted in another age and time. If there are certain topics that cannot be reconciled between you, like politics or religion, stay away from them. If the topic is brought up, find diplomatic ways to change the subject or just say “I'd rather not spend my time arguing with you, nan. Let's spend it doing something else."

Some seniors love a good argument, so engaging them in debates in a good-natured way can be good, just never take it personally.

Never forget that your partner's grandparents are people who have lived long, full lives and are your partner's predecessors. Give them respect, regardless of the quality of your relationship with them.

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How to Make Business Trips Easier on Your Kids

Going away on business can be extremely hard on a young family, making it difficult to spend quality time with your little ones as they go through some of the most important years of their life. However, there are things that you can do to make it easier on everyone, especially your kids. It will just take a little extra effort to ensure that your business trips don’t leave your kids feeling like they only have one parent. The following are some of the best ways to make your time away on business much easier on your little ones.

image:pixabay.com/illustrations/businessmen-hold-luggage-3073637

Call as Often as You Can 
Your kids are going to miss you, so make sure that you call home as often as you can and have at least a little bit of quality time on the phone with them. This will make life way easier on your partner too, as there is no doubt he or she will be fielding constant questions about where you are and when you’ll next be calling.

Send Gifts
Kids love gifts, so have them feeling excited about your business trip by picking up little gifts for them along the way. If you are going to be away for more than a few days it’s a good idea to send your gifts home, as they will lose their minds with excitement when they get a package from you from overseas.

Give Them a Copy of Your Business Card 
A great way to have your kids feel better about you being away on business is to give them one of your business cards so that they can call you if they feel like they need to. Make sure you have your home phone marked on call display so you don’t miss them if they actually do call, and you’ll have them feeling extra special about being able to call you on the other side of the world on your important business trip. Business card printing is quite inexpensive, so next time you are getting cards made up at your local printing services shop, get an extra card or two done and have your kid feeling special with their very own copy of your card. They may not even call you, but they will most definitely feel much better knowing that they can call, text or email you if they need to.

Have Your Friends Visit Them
Having some of your mates drop by to say hey to your kids is a great way to help your kids get through some time away from you. Your kids will be excited to have some adults willing to play with them, and because they will associate your friends with you, it will help them get through a tough stretch of time without you.

Explain to Them What You Are Doing 
If your kids are old enough, tell them a bit about what it is that you are going to be doing on your business trip, as this will help them gain a better understanding of why it is you have to go, and also that you will be coming back. The sooner you treat your kids like little adults, the sooner they will be able to easily handle things like you having to be away.

It’s kind of a big deal for your kids when you have to be away on business, so make it easier on the whole family by doing a few thoughtful things and ensuring your time away on business is less of a trauma for them.

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