We have a new next-door neighbour. He is a single parent to 3 children (2 boys and a girl, and clearly has his hands full with them.
He has been trying in many respects to be a good neighbour, friendly, offering the use of some of his tools, and asking advice on local stuff, eg bin collection day.
The children all seem clean, fed OK and are polite to us. He clearly has a routine for them, they are called in at a set time for shower and meals, warned not to drop litter etc.
However, on many occasions he seems at the end of his tether and there is a lot of shouting from him, and a degree of answer-back from the boys.
I'm guessing that as a means of calming himself down, he takes to smoking the old wacky-baccy, many many times a day, to the extent that we've had to keep shutting all our windows and patio doors, as quite frankly it is a foul stink. It is also affecting my husband, making him feel ill.
I haven't directly brought this up with the neighbour but did say to him that he's got a lot on his plate, and if he ever needs to get a bit of me-time away from the kids, I'm happy to stay with them if he wants to go out.
What makes it more difficult, is that we are aware he has a previous criminal record - my husband used to be a Community Punishment Supervisor, and for a while I was a Community Service Officer (both in the Probation Service), and my husband actually supervised this chap on a Court Order.
I hesitate to shop him to the police, for fear that his kids will lose their remaining parent.
From the natter I had with him the other day, he clearly feels the weight of supporting his kids alone and I do really feel for him.
But, the vile stink which keeps permeating our house and garden is getting to us - he's already on his 3rd or 4th spliff this morning and it gets worse in the late afternoon just before and after his kids get home, when he's putting put more fumes than a forest fire.
Phew, what a long post - sorry but just had to vent and see if anyone has any suggestions?
