Neighbors, the good and the bad

I am about to get new neighbors.  It is an adjustment.  I do love my peace and quiet, although currently I may have TOO much of it.  The houses on either side and across the street from me are empty.  Now, people are moving in downstairs and I can hear EVERY sound....the door opening and closing, footsteps, the  murmur of voices.  Sometimes I hear conversations that I DON'T want to hear.
I don't think I make much noise...only my television, my radio and my shredder.  (No, I don't do any vacuuming).

Driving around yesterday I was disgusted with the amount of TRASH all along the roadsides.  We are The United States of Trash, or is it just New Jersey, or is it just Cumberland County?  February is depressing enough without having to see that.  I wouldn't mind picking some of it up if the weather was nicer, but it is an overwhelming task.

Finished a book: Major Pettigrew's last stand, by Helen Simonson.  I like the title and greatly enjoyed the book.  Major Pettigrew is an older British guy who becomes interested in a woman from another country (Pakistan).  Despite the local prejudices, he follows his heart where she is concerned.  There is also a story of the family guns and Major Pettigrew's relatives, which include an adult son and his girlfriend.  I picked this book up at the Vineland Public Library book sale.

I picked up another book, The London train, by Tessa Hadley.  I read a story by her in the New Yorker which caused me to search for her at the Vineland Public Library (FIC HADLEY TESSA).
Another story taking place in England.  It almost seemed like two unrelated short stories, but I think the two  characters meet on the London train.  About a man, his ex-wife, his current wife and his daughter from the first marriage, who leaves school and gets pregnant and lives with a Russian couple.  The second part is about a woman and her situation.