Well, what can I tell you about Shaw Street?  We moved here nearly two years ago while I was heavily pregnant with my son, Teddy.  It’s just a regular terraced street in east Belfast with its own wee unspoken rules… writes Janette Myles.

These little rules included the fact that cars on the left can park mounted on the pavement but cars on the right park on the road.  We were never told this rule but it seemed like this was how it was done, so we just followed suit. Another unspoken rule seemed to be that mostly no-one spoke to you, you kept your head down and didn’t make eye contact and that suited everyone just fine.  Again, we were never told this but it seemed like this was how it was done, so we just followed suit… for a while.

I imagine that 40 or 50 years ago this certainly would not have been how Shaw Street looked.  It would have been a hive of activity with people out chatting to each other, neighbours helping each other out, in and out of each others houses and children playing games with each other.

So, I decided to try and make Shaw Street a friendlier place to live… I started by just trying to say ‘hi’ as people passed, or have things outside such as my recycling box or plants so there is a reason to be out there.

The first time I put myself out there I felt sick but now it’s just second nature.  I first made friends with Shanti, which was easy because she’s lovely.  I also have an elderly neighbour who has lived here since the 1940s and is in his 90s.  I had spoken to him once when he was ill and his daughter was visiting and I gave her my number in case she needed me to do something for him or her.  When the weather was bad I called over a couple of times to see if he needed anything from the shops - he returned the favour by getting me lovely blue socks!  You know, I really liked the thought that if my Granda was the Jack on his street that someone would check on him now and again.  I’m just being that person to someone else’s Granda.

We have also had some new people moving into the street and somehow it seems easier to talk to them.  Just knocking the door, introducing yourself and letting them know who you are and where you live makes all the difference.

So, Shaw Street is going to have a street party on Sunday 18^th July (whoop!).  I now have three really good friends that live here, Barbara, Gillian and Shanti (added your names girls so I hope you read this!) or three and a half if you count my husband.  The Shaw Street girls try to meet for coffee every couple of weeks and are going to co-ordinate our party.  We’re talking bunting, lots of sandwiches, juice and lots of neighbours who will hopefully become friends.  I don’t want to be a nosy neighbour but I do want to be able to lift my hand to say ‘hi; or if I need to borrow a dish or just have a chat that I can call to someone’s house.

Last Sunday, Shaw Street had seven people from five different houses outside having a chat and a giggle and I felt like I was starting to live in a community, rather than just a street.

I love living here.  Let the Shaw Street Redemption continue!