What would you do?

Tool Man

Ok here’s the thing. My English neighbor (arrived here from Essex, is there really such a place?) Always makes those comments about our kids, our car, and so on even made fun out of me when I told him we used to be witnesses. And when I ask him what he means he goes “nothing just a friendly observation” It is always a friendly observation and it is driving me crazy.
Then the other day I’ve heard him talking to my wife about how beautiful woman she is and it must be hard for her to look after kids and a husband who were taught to use women only as slaves. And woman being woman she of course enjoys attention and in the end I’m the one who feels like an ass. But then he and his wife came here the other day with cookies for kids, bottle of wine and flowers for my wife. We sat there for an hour chatting and then they unwind about their problem of how hard it is to find good friends these days, it is as if they had pretty ban run and I feel for them but then again I'm confused. I mean I really don’t know what to do or think, I’m tired of going into defensive every time but I can’t relax completely either. What would you do? How do you know if they are real frineds? After many years as part of watchtower society I'm afraid I'm just not equiped for this. I thought this would be eaiser but it isn't. How do you know if they are real frineds? I mean after all we are first neighbours.

hillary_step

Tool Man,

The Brits are much less sensitive than your average North American, and sometimes, often, the humor can be misinterpreted.

Just remember, he is from Essex which is the territorial equivalent of a mispelled tattoo. You have nothing to fear.

HS

Mr. Majestic

Always makes those comments about our kids, our car, and so on even made fun out of me when I told him we used to be witnesses. And when I ask him what he means he goes “nothing just a friendly observation” It is always a friendly observation and it is driving me crazy.

What kind of comments......??? Might just be English humor........

FlyingHighNow

My dad's wife is British. Always criticizes Americans. She really missed out on us kids and she is such a nit picker that she is driving the grandchildren away, too.

Tool Man

Thank you hillary_step, I hope you are right. But I’m tired of being told how wrong I am for doing this or that, you know. And this guy is full of that.

Tool Man

Thank you FlyingHighNow, you nailed it. Nitpicker is a good word. I guess the only thing I want to find out in the end is if he is sincere or is he trying to replace watchtower and run my life for me in some way. I mean I'm just saying few things here but boy believe me there is whole lot more where that came from.

Mr. Majestic

But I’m tired of being told how wrong I am for doing this or that, you know. And this guy is full of that.

Essex boys can be a bit like that…..Just remember an old saying…..

"It’s not always those that know the most that have the most to say, and it’s not always those that have the most that give the most away….."

Not all of us Brits are insensitive……..just most of us………..

John Doe

I wouldn't worry about it--it's an intelligence thing. Brits are not quite as bright as North Americans. In fact, I hear they show The Simpsons and Family Guy over there, but they have to get actors to voice British accents and dumb down the dialogue a bit.

searcher

Always makes those comments about our kids, our car, and so on even made fun out of me when I told him we used to be witnesses. And when I ask him what he means he goes “nothing just a friendly observation” It is always a friendly observation and it is driving me crazy.

and then they unwind about their problem of how hard it is to find good friends these days,

Not surprising they can't find friends, I would point that out.

Hope4Others

Try to over look it for a bit till you get to know them better, they might really make you laugh and become good friends.

Cheers!

Hope4others

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