Sometimes officiating over such rudimentary day-to-day things like saying hello to your neighbours makes saying hello to your neighbours seem...dicky. Fact is though, that popping next door for a cup of sugar/screwdriver/whatever is now something only country folk do. Fact Number 2 is that our neighbours probably know us better than our friends (the neighbours will know about your penchant for playing Spandau Ballet on a Saturday morning, they'll know you got a new couch, had such-and-such over last Sunday...). So, it's worth saying hello, and, at the risk of feeling like a bit of a dick, doing so this Sunday (29 March) will mean you're participating in Neighbour Day - established a few years ago to resuscitate community spirit, and to look after the older folks in the 'hood.