Times have changed I guess and many no longer know their neighbours
You are lucky suphew, as is your elderly neighbour.
We have a good system going with some of our neighbours too and keep an eye out when someone is away and clear each other's mail boxes. One neighbour has just lost his job. He wanted a trailer and noticed we had one tucked away in the back yard, obviously unused for a long time, so asked if we were wanting to sell it. Grant suggested if he cleaned up our back yard (very much in need of it!) and took away the old batteries (we paid the dump fee) stacked all over the place, he could have the trailer for free. We now have a lovely clean area and neighbour will get a trailer (as soon as we move the dead Isuzu out of the way so we can get it out) :roll:
Grant often does computer work in exchange for goods. We have a reasonably steady supply of whitebait, wild pork and venison, lamb chops and roasts, fruit, vegetables and seasonal fruit cake (from friends who are Jehovah's Witness or something who don't recognise Christmas so we can't call it a Christmas cake :lol: ). Many of our customers are elderly with a limited income but many grow their own fruit and veg, something Grant and I have discovered we suck at :roll: )
One person swaps computer expertise for her wonderful Dutch apple pie