When I first moved here 10 years ago, I had hoped the community get-togethers started by the charity which owns the whole road and the charity who built the 14 houses would continue but they didn't.
There is another charity-owned road running parallel, linking ours with a footbridge over a stream and in those houses are extended families from all corners of the world.
So our community parties were wonderful with lots of lovely ethnic foods and music. I was the only person from our road who attended although one other person did go just once.
I don't see or communicate with any of my immediate neighbours as they are mostly out at work (although this is regarded as 'social housing' they have somehow managed to flout the rules about income levels). C'est la vie.
On the one occasion a couple down our road 'organised' a Christmas party, the invitation read, 'Bring your own food, drink, cup, plate and chair.' So just what were they organising?
We sat outside on their drive and the whole tone of the conversation was blatantly racist, uninformed claptrap.
I, who was working with refugess and have many Maori friends, made my thoughts plain and walked away (with my cup, plate and chair but left the food and drink, hoping it'd choke 'em) so I doubt I am popular wth that crowd anyway.
Not long afterwards, they asked the charity to put a chain link gate across the road to stop non white people walking past their homes. Not walking in and ravishing their budgies, you understand, nor stealing their wine and silver, just walking past
I have one lovely neighbour, who lives opposite. He's quiet and shy, shares his surplus vegetables with me as I do my baking with him. We take in each others couriered parcels but we don't socialise as such.
His late wife was Maori and he has children and grandchildren who prove their heritage abundatly when visiting, so I don't suppose he'd be welcomed by the bigots further down anyway.