Found out on Wednesday that the planning permission that our neighbours had rejected in 2000 was actually approved on appeal to the secretary of state. Now (Thursday evening) the building in their back garden has already gone – to be replaced by two houses.

We are philosophical about this, but it would be nice to have known about this in 2001 – especially as the council said that they would inform us.

The weird thing about their back lot with no building is this increase in noise and the improvement in the view. We can see the church from our garden now, but I suspect this view will not remain after the houses go up.

So, we aim to get the windows facing our garden put in to frosted glass. We also aim to get the new window that they propose removed or made frosted glass. Our neighbours will change from a gym/office to four houses. Is that bad or good? Not really sure yet, but you cannot stop progress.