Earlier on the local kids for the umpteenth time asked us to go get their ball from the garden. At around 6:15 I suggested that this be the last time today and they find somewhere else to play for now to make sure the ball doesn’t come over.

At 6:30, whilst we were eating dinner, more balls came over and, sure enough, banging on the door and the door bell sounding.

I’d just finished my dinner so went to the door and explained to the kid that I had already suggested they play elsewhere and that they would now have to wait until tomorrow for their balls.

.

Within moments of that there was some banging coming from behind the house. I couldn’t see anything from upstairs so went out in the garden and was confronted by a kid climbing through our now demolished fence. He stared at me for a moment then ran off.

I ran through the house to confront him but he had since gone.

Kids standing at the house behind ours claimed not to know who he was yet they were all there at the time with his, playing football and it was their ball he was trying to get.

Several adults then tried to gain access to the garden and one managed to do so, the whole incident was a little scary but more just unbelievable that anyone could be that inconsiderate.

The police were called and a statement taken. Whilst the officer was here the local kids bumped a car into the back of ours but no damage was done, they had done enough to partially dislodge his handbrake so I put a brick under his front tyre and moved my car away.

The officer then discovered that his car had been vandalised too, I mean, there really is very little hope when that sort of thing happens.

The cop is meant to come back later but whether he does or not is anyone’s guess.

Earlier on the local kids for the umpteenth time asked us to go get their ball from the garden. At around 6:15 I suggested that this be the last time today and they find somewhere else to play for now to make sure the ball doesn’t come over.

At 6:30, whilst we were eating dinner, more balls came over and, sure enough, banging on the door and the door bell sounding.

I’d just finished my dinner so went to the door and explained to the kid that I had already suggested they play elsewhere and that they would now have to wait until tomorrow for their balls.

.

Within moments of that there was some banging coming from behind the house. I couldn’t see anything from upstairs so went out in the garden and was confronted by a kid climbing through our now demolished fence. He stared at me for a moment then ran off.

I ran through the house to confront him but he had since gone.

Kids standing at the house behind ours claimed not to know who he was yet they were all there at the time with his, playing football and it was their ball he was trying to get.

Several adults then tried to gain access to the garden and one managed to do so, the whole incident was a little scary but more just unbelievable that anyone could be that inconsiderate.

The police were called and a statement taken. Whilst the officer was here the local kids bumped a car into the back of ours but no damage was done, they had done enough to partially dislodge his handbrake so I put a brick under his front tyre and moved my car away.

The officer then discovered that his car had been vandalised too, I mean, there really is very little hope when that sort of thing happens.

The cop is meant to come back later but whether he does or not is anyone’s guess.

I had a visitor this evening. He is a lovely guy, friendly, polite (sometimes) and probably a heart of gold but few social skills.

Now, I don’t mind folk visiting, it’s nice to be wanted but sometimes this person doesn’t get those little signs that we send out as subtle hints, that time of the evening has arrived, time to go.

So, I normally, with this person, have to refrain from subtlety and directly say it is time to go. It worked to this evening except by a stroke of bad timing or wickedness, I don’t know which, Matt decided to come down the stairs and at that point make a drink for himself and offer one to this person despite me having already told him he is leaving right now …

Anyway, with cup of tea in hand this person looks at my PDA sitting in its cradle in my office, part of my private space and notices a picture of myself, Tony and Ian and said: “what a lovely picture, of course, the question now is, which one of you dies next?”

It is at this point, dear reader, that I ask the question, is self control over rated?

I had a visitor this evening. He is a lovely guy, friendly, polite (sometimes) and probably a heart of gold but few social skills.

Now, I don’t mind folk visiting, it’s nice to be wanted but sometimes this person doesn’t get those little signs that we send out as subtle hints, that time of the evening has arrived, time to go.

So, I normally, with this person, have to refrain from subtlety and directly say it is time to go. It worked to this evening except by a stroke of bad timing or wickedness, I don’t know which, Matt decided to come down the stairs and at that point make a drink for himself and offer one to this person despite me having already told him he is leaving right now …

Anyway, with cup of tea in hand this person looks at my PDA sitting in its cradle in my office, part of my private space and notices a picture of myself, Tony and Ian and said: “what a lovely picture, of course, the question now is, which one of you dies next?”

It is at this point, dear reader, that I ask the question, is self control over rated?