Disclaimer: The following blog reflects my personal opinions and views on the subject discussed. It is based on my own experiences, perspectives, and interpretations.
So here’s the deal: Imagine you’re trying to run a business, right? You’ve got a vision, you’ve got your products, you’re doing everything you can to make it work. You pour your energy into it, hustle every day, and just when you think you’ve got a good groove going, you’re hit with something unexpected. Now, I’m not talking about the usual hurdles like supply chain nonsense or trying to convince people that your product isn’t just “another thing they don’t need”—no, no, I’m talking about something a little more… loud. Very loud. And completely unnecessary.
You see, while I’m in the middle of trying to build this thing, right here, in my home, there’s a neighbour above me who seems to have confused the concept of “quiet hours” with an impromptu rave. I mean, seriously, it’s like they’ve decided that the best way to spend their evenings is to set up a subwoofer that could make the Earth itself shake—because, you know, why not?
It’s not just annoying; it’s a constant reminder that no matter how much I try to create something positive, there’s always someone who can ruin it with a few too many decibels. This, by the way, is where I’d normally launch into some nice metaphors about how some people seem to find joy in others’ discomfort, but I’ll spare you that. You get the idea.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not some kind of unreasonable person. I don’t mind a little noise every now and then. Life happens. People live in flats. But when this “little noise” becomes an everyday thing that affects my work, my focus, and my peace of mind, we’ve got a problem. It makes it tough to be productive, to focus on my business, to make a living. It’s not exactly the ideal setup for crafting something that people will want to buy or engage with.
But, oh no, the story doesn’t end there. Enter the even bigger problem: the local council. Tewkesbury Borough Council, in all its wisdom, has basically been sitting back, letting this mess continue, without doing a thing. Yeah, that’s right. They’ve been non-responsive. Unhelpful. Absolutely nothing gets done. It’s like trying to get help from a brick wall that doesn’t even know it’s supposed to be helpful.
And the worst part? It’s not just about the noise. It’s about the total lack of respect for my space, my time, and my livelihood. It’s about how they’re directly disrupting the work I’ve been pouring my energy into. Every single day that they don’t take action is another day where I feel like my business is being suffocated by forces beyond my control. Not because I’m not trying, not because I’m not putting in the hours, but because I’m left alone to deal with a situation that’s clearly spiraling out of control.
There’s more to this though. There’s things I want to do. You know, like taking my blog posts and turning them into a book. Or actually putting more energy into marketing so I can reach more people and grow the business. But here’s the thing: when I’m sitting here, trying to focus, and the boom boom boom of the neighbour’s sound system is rattling my thoughts out of my head, it makes it a lot harder to do anything productive. I can’t just push through that level of disruption, and frankly, who could?
And let’s talk about the money side of things for a second. Every time the noise gets unbearable and I have to leave to go somewhere quiet just to get a moment of peace or think straight, I’m shelling out for drinks at cafes, coffee shops, or wherever else I can escape to. I’m not saying it’s the worst thing ever, but maybe, just maybe, Tewkesbury Borough Council should start covering the costs of these little outings I’m having to make to keep my sanity intact. I mean, if they’re not going to fix the problem, perhaps they could at least foot the bill for the drinks that keep me going. It’d be a nice gesture, don’t you think?
Look, I’m not looking for miracles here. I’m not asking for the moon on a platter. But if I’m going to be fighting to make this work, the least I can ask for is some kind of support from the people who are supposed to help with this stuff. I’m just asking for some peace and quiet to do what I need to do—whether that’s making my business better, launching new projects, or even just getting a damn moment of focus. But if that’s not going to happen, well, at least we know that I’ll be getting a lot of “out and about” time—and the council can start chipping in for that.
So, here’s to hoping something changes, because as it stands, I’m not just battling a neighbour with no sense of decency—I’m also fighting a council that can’t be bothered to lift a finger. And frankly, that’s a lot of noise for one person to take.
Let’s just hope someone hears me over the racket.
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