Re: [Re: secluded vs open gardens]

Yvonne Gregson wrote:
> 
> On the Greek Islands (sorry about that again, but this is a Medit. Plants
> site) a gate seems simply to serve to prevent you walking into someone's
> kitchen by mistake.  If you intended to, well that's all right, because the
> question of "other people's property" is not one which bothers your average
> xenophilic Greek islander.
> 
> In Britain, if I remember rightly, it's more complicated. The front garden
> mostly has some sort of low barrier  at least to distinguish it from the
> others.  All is for display and approval and passers-by may comment on
> anything in it, if they can catch the eye of the gardener (which will mean
> that he wishes them to), but must do so without treading on an inch of his
> property.
> 
> The back, however, is totally out of bounds and you have to have become an
> honorary friend through a complicated ritual known only to the British before
> you are allowed in.  Even if you are the next-door neighbour you must pretend
> not to know about, and not comment on, anything which goes on behind the high
> fence, although the entire garden is visible to you from your upstairs
> windows.
> 
> I think that covers it.
> 
Yvonne
Your description of the British system gave us a good laugh.
I think one might designate the NZ attitude as modified or maybe
"loosened-up" British!.

Thinking of high walls and hedges reminded me of a very funny thing
which happened to me some years ago. I was walking down a lane which
leads to our local park and which runs between two private properties.
On one side was at that time a high fence thickly overgrown with
jasmines, so one couldn't see through it at all. 

For my sins my accent (which I have never been able to modify) stems
from my Kenya childhood and can only be described as "British Upper
Crust". Through much public speaking I also have a rather clear
penetrating voice. 

Well I was trotting up the lane with some member of the family and
chatting away when from the other side of the fence came an obvious
imitation of my speech with some allusion to "the dear corgies".  The
only time in my life when I have ever been even remotely associated with
Queen Elizabeth!! Gave us a good a laugh anyway

Moira
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