More on the advantages of living in a flat

We lived in a flat when we first got to Spain, in Santa Pola. It was a nice flat in a nice place but, as soon as we had neighbours we were able to enjoy the aroma of their cooking, listen along with them to their favourite TV programmes and enjoys those clicks and pings that come from heels, light switches and almost any type of movement.

The neighbours are pretty good here. Next door's kids have a happy hour around 11pm each evening and the sound of flushing toilets and other waste pipes often has me hurrying to see if I've left a tap on but, in general, it's OK.

In the plot next door they are building a new block of flats. It has suddenly sprouted and it struck me today that very soon the exterior kitchen window will have a view of a blank wall.