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Hi, Rusty!
I think we have been somewhat "spoilt" by having very good neighbours on both sides of us for nearly forty years!
And now both houses will be being sold.....one already on the housing market.
As you already know, our neighbour and very close family friend on our other side, has gone to live with his daughter , following his recent health problems.
I have visions of replacement "neighbours from hell", as a friend is currently experiencing.
But I shall take as I find....you are most probably right...I am worrying for nothing..... and the new neighbours will be lovely!
Right...I must away and get organised ...time to leave in fifteen minutes!

Hello, Elle!
Your new neighbours will probably be fine!
It is quite natural to wonder what they will be like.
Everyone does it!
I have just watched a bit of last night's Passchendaele programme.
It is excellent (congrats to BBC).
Richard van Emden is on it.
I have several of his books.
Would have been good to see Lyn MacD, though.
She is in her eighties now, so maybe not up to it.
Have a look,
You will like it!

Hi, Rusty!
Back home from the vets.
Dog quite happy to have a needle stuck in her, but not so keen on having her anal glands checked!
All still okay though, so that is good!
Now why do I know Richard Emden, Rusty?
I can picture him quite clearly before me......
Would it be from that programme about The Somme that we watched a while back?
I have both Passchendaele programmes recorded - yes, I shall watch as soon as I have time!
I need a coffee right now.......

Hello, Elle!
Yes, Richard van Emden would have been on the Somme programme.
He is a WW1 author and historian.
He had the wit a few years ago to realise that the last soldiers from WW1 were fading away and started recording their stories for posterity.
He writes in a similar style to Lyn MacDonald.
Just watched the programme from Tyne Cot cemetery.
Was very good!

Hi, Rusty!
I am glad that you enjoyed the Remembrance programmes for Passchendaele.
I still have mine to watch later on....
I have been busy since I came home, sorting out paperwork...and doing a few jobs.
I haven't even glanced at the crossword as yet.
Then my daughter rang, so we have been having a grand old chat about her holiday!
Now, we are just nipping out briefly with the dog.......it is a lovely afternoon!

Hello, Elle!
Great day here, too.
Just finished my puzzle.
It is a bit on the easy side today, I thought.
When I was watching the remembrance service from Ypres I noticed on two graves the rank "serjeant", rather than "sergeant".
I was surprised.
I always associated "serjeant" with being a very senior barrister, or Law Officer.
Have you explored any more of Oxford Dictionaries?

Hi, Rusty!
My goodness, I am really behind times.....at the moment, I have everything "on hold"!
I have had so little free time over the last week - what with visiting daughter's cat etc...and today has also been hectic!
I am looking forward to reading up on the English Grammar on the Oxford Dictionaries site ....I shall very much enjoy that!......but it will have to wait its turn!
I hope to watch "Passchendaele" at some point this evening.
Maybe after dinner.
I don't know about the alternative spelling of sergeant/ serjeant ...all I could find in Chambers was just that?
That it was a variant spelling?
And my crossword puzzles still remained unlooked at!
I enjoyed my walk and the fresh air, though!!

Rusty
I noticed these spelling differences when I visited the 'D' Day cemeteries. There were also 'sargeant's, if I remember. On my return I asked my father, who was a soldier. He didn't know the reason but guessed that it might be something to do with the regiment that the fallen soldier had been in. Apparently the British Army regiments rather enjoyed being different!

Hello, Kenyatta!
Thank you for the info!
I think your father may well be right.
There is the Royal "Welch" Fusiliers, too, which uses the archaic spelling of "Welsh".
And why ever not, indeed!

Hello, Elle!
I won't say anything about the Passchendaele programmes other than they were very engrossing.
I was very "satisfied" with them.
Not sure if "enjoyed" would be the correct word for such an occasion.
I have decided to buy "War Horse", as I took to Michael Morpurgo during the programme!
The variant spelling of sergeant/serjeant I suppose is what happened through the course of time.
I think Kenyatta is correct, that tradition played a large part in it.
I still find "Serjeant" a strange title for a very senior law officer, though?
Must investigate!