My short road is a cul de sac, I am in an 'arm' set at a right angle. My house is one of ten small terraced house opposite another ten, no road, only two pavements and strip of grass between them. Due to a slope the far end has a set of wide shallow steps.
Sunny day, three small boys, under 6, happily out on scooters and a small bike, going up and down the pavements and the steps. As I'm thinking how nice to see them out of doors the neighbour from the house nearest the top of the steps appears and shouts at them to go away. Their mother was already in her small front garden keeping an eye on them. Their father appears and replies to the neighbour.
Later I tell the mother that the neighbour is known for telling off children who play on the steps and has done it for the last 30+ years.
I feel so sad that this bullying behaviour cut short happy, innocent, inoffensive playing out.
