The fancy Italian furniture shop on Finchley Road that was selling the glass globules has closed down. Now the space is empty, except for this big photo mural in the window. I discovered through Googling that it depicts the Italian town of Ostuni, on the boot heel in the region of Puglia.
I'm pretty sure this mural wasn't up when the shop was in business. I guess they just wanted to leave us with a little taste of the homeland.
This person didn't seem all that impressed, but I like it. It's certainly better than newspaper or soaping the windows. There used to be a second photo mural to the right but it fell down after a few days -- you can see it crumpled on the ground inside the store.
We've had some neighborhood drama! Mrs. Russia (our upstairs neighbor) came to our door a few days ago complaining about Mrs. Kravitz's kitchen exhaust vent next door. Apparently Mrs. Russia is bothered by the noise and the cooking smells emanating from the vent and wanted to know if we were too. I told her no, we hadn't even noticed it.
Well, she sent what was essentially a "cease and desist" letter to Mrs. Kravitz, arguing that the vent is against building and/or noise codes. Mrs. K responded by calling me, arguing that the vent is within codes and working as it should. I've told both of them that I don't want to get involved in this squabble, but I did put Mrs. K's written response (which I thought was quite mild, considering the source) through Mrs. Russia's letterbox. Mrs. K says she's having engineers come to look at the fan to make sure it's working properly.
Drama!
And then more drama, this time of our own. Last night I did a load of laundry and Dave found water running across the kitchen floor. Apparently some drain or something is blocked. Time to call the management company and get them to service the machine (which, to be fair, hasn't been done in about five years).
As Roseann Rosannadanna used to say, "It just goes ta show ya. It's always somethin'."
I love these characters that surround you and Dave.
ReplyDeleteAs Mr. Rogers used to sing, "These are the people in your neighborhood..."
DeleteIf Mrs R is smelling Mrs K's cooking, I'd say the vent is working fine. I quite like walking past homes where I can smell onions or garlic, toast or bacon, one time I smelled barbecuing chops. I hope you get that drain fixed quickly, no one needs a river in their kitchen.
ReplyDeleteI honestly don't know why she's wound up about the smells. I think it's more the noise than anything else.
DeleteTo settle your neighbours' dispute may I suggest buying a large inflatable children's paddling pool. Fill it with compost and water and then you referee a mud wrestling match between Mrs Kravitz and The Russian Doll. For the sake of modesty, both should wear bikinis. You will need a whistle.
ReplyDeleteThat is a nightmare from which I will now never awake.
DeleteYP that certainly stimulates the imagination!!
ReplyDeleteI hope your management company works speedily..hand washing clothes is no fun and launderettes expensive.. although they are a source of good conversation!!
They DO typically respond pretty quickly.
DeleteMrs Russia has windows open to the outside cold and odours emanating from Mrs Kravitz?
ReplyDeleteI am a little confused about your water leakage. Drain or machine itself?
Oh, I meant odours emanating from Mrs Kravitz's home, not Mrs Kravitz herself.
DeleteI'm pretty sure it's the machine. None of the other drains have shown any sign of a problem.
DeleteSounds like their nickname for you is probably Mr. Switzerland.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you say that! All my friends used to call me "Switzerland"!
DeleteWith all the drama in and out of the house, you really NEED that mural right about now.
ReplyDeleteI'll take any form of escape -- even a cheap photomural in the window of a closed-down furniture store!
DeleteYou ARE having drama! I love the "characters" in your world -- they are a book waiting to happen -- a series of essays (all started here!) Neighborhood "disagreements" can be fun with interesting characters -- until they try to get you involved. Nope... not my circus.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a mural or something "fun" when a place closes -- far better, as you said, than newspaper, boarding up, soaping or even leaving it blank. We are seeing a lot of empty storefronts in our downtown -- I wish they'd do the same.
We definitely have a mix of interesting characters around here. I feel like some people go out of their way to provoke disputes with others.
DeleteSeems like Mrs. Russia would be keeping her head down and trying not to attract attention to herself in these days.
ReplyDeleteLOL -- you'd think! (Although to be fair I'm not 100 percent sure they're Russian. They could be Ukrainian!)
DeleteI would not touch that issue with a ten foot pole.
ReplyDeleteYeah, believe me, that's my approach!
DeleteAh yes, it's always something. I wouldn't want to get involved in that exhaust fan dispute either, especially if you haven't even noticed it.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't noticed it at all!
DeleteI like the subtle reflection of the city in mural window - two worlds in one shot.
ReplyDeleteInteresting coincidences - our washer just died (waiting for a new belt for the agitator to resurrect the machine) and yesterday we installed a new kitchen exhaust fan, which is quite noisy and very effective.
Funny! Parallel worlds an ocean apart!
DeleteLove that mural and the reflection of the city in the same window. Really lovely.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting that Mrs. Russia came to you to discuss the smells and noise emanating from Mrs Kravitz's place.
Hope you get everything worked out with the washing machine drain. Oy.
I think it's a relatively simple fix. It's probably just lint in a line that needs to be cleared.
DeleteYou're put in a very uncomfortable spot when you get in between two squabblers.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not going there!
DeleteI can understand Mrs. Russia asking if it bothered you as well. I guess Mrs. Kravitz was trying to enlist you on her side. Which seems a little bold considering you and she are often at odds.
ReplyDeleteSeems like it's been more recent that you were having water and drain problems with the washer.
Mrs. K acted like she was my best friend when she called me! Quite the opportunist!
DeleteMaybe Mrs. Russia just needs a vent fan to blow Mrs. Kravitz' smells back at her! Good to not get involved!
ReplyDeleteI always feel sad to see a business closed.
Hope there is an easy solution to your leak problem!
Mrs. K complained to me about some machinery that the Russians were using to repair or refinish their terrace. I had no idea what she was talking about either.
DeleteIt is always something! Living in a house is full of one thing after another. Usually troubles with appliances or water leaks. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteAnd many of the houses in London are at least 100 years old, so that adds an extra layer of complication!
DeleteAhhhhh, there is just nothing like the sight of free flowing water in one's house. Hope they come out and fix it soon.
ReplyDeleteI don't think our leak was as problematic as yours. We just cleaned ours up with a sponge!
DeleteThey both come and talk to you about it?
ReplyDeleteWhat the hell.
I know! What am I, the mediator?!
DeleteI often think of Roseanne Rosannadanna. She was very wise… for a crackpot. I hope the neighbors leave you out of it now.
ReplyDeleteI loved Roseanne Rosannadanna! The fact that I still think of her more than 40 years later says something, right?
DeleteYou must come across as a voice of reason, but no, I wouldn't go there either!
ReplyDeleteI suppose I do, but that's because deep down, I don't care!
DeleteHow funny that everyone seems to think of you as the mediator! (love Ed's comment) Nope... I wouldn't want to get involved, either.
ReplyDeleteI hope they get there to do your washer maintenance quickly.
Ed was spot on. If my college friends were arguing I'd sometimes decline to take a side and they'd say, "Oh, he's being Switzerland again."
DeleteSometimes I DID take a side, though, if someone was clearly in the wrong!
Drama …I love it
ReplyDeleteA little goes a long way.
DeleteMrs. K deserves a little drama after all the complaining she's done.
ReplyDeleteWhat goes around comes around!
DeleteIt never pays to get into arguments with neighbours Steve. I thought Mrs.K would have told her where to go, she always comes across as really feisty. lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
x
Well, apparently they HAVE had some face-to-face confrontations, which is why they won't speak to each other now. (And why they call me!)
DeleteHi Steve, Olga and Dave.....Let's blame Donald Trump for all this drama amongst people these days. (laughing hard) Now everyone seem to cause drama and try to add others into it. There was drama at dialysis this morning. Something happen on Saturday at a meeting with whomever and it was still going on today. This drama queen (tech) was looking in our mouth reading every word we were saying. I didn't comment on whatever happen. I was just talking to the lady in general but I assume this messy tech thought we would say something so she can carry it on. I will address her being nosey and messy on Thursday. I will also let her know if i have something to say that she wouldn't have to read my lips because I will tell her. Life is too short for bullshit and I know you won't but please don't get involved in their mess.(lol) I wouldn't listen to neither one nor answer my door when either come calling. (lol) I never visit my neighbors and never answer my door when they ring my door bell. I let them know at dialysis I am up at 5:00am and there at 6:00am and that is too early for bullshit. (laughing)
ReplyDeleteYou'd think at dialysis people would have more important matters to contend with, wouldn't you?!
DeleteI hope your neighbors get their issue taken care of. And yes, it IS always something! I hope your machine is fixed soon. Hugs, Edna B.
ReplyDelete