Wuff, that's how it should be...unfortuntely things are hardly ever as they should be and mny people these days haven't a clue about ettiquette....that applies to some adults in particular. I agree that fine dining restaurants are not suitable for children...unless of course, as you describe, the children hav been schooled in proper behaviour. One restaurants I've been taken to on specil occasions actually has a policy of "no children"..but in order not to breach discrimination ettiquette they have a special chidren's dining room with waiters dressed in colorful uniforms. There's also a fine dining children's menu. The children are called 'maam' and 'sir' and have their chairs pulled out for them....they have their non alcoholic drinks served in lovly glases as if it were champagne or wine....it really delightful. They also have themed evenings. There's a dining etiquette that the children are expected to observe..and how to hold and use the cutlery. Parents are given a little booklet about it.. I thought it a good way to instruct the adults under the guise of instructing the children. It works well and the restaurant owners are to be commended for such a novel approach to...well, it "manners" isn't it? And not many know the mening ot the word these days. The children come away from such an experience feeling important..and I think some parents learn a few things too. There's nothing worse that not being able to go out for a dignified meal because other people don't realise that some places are just not for children..especilly their chidren. Its one thing being well-to-do and completely another having manners. My dear old Mum was the eldest of 12 children...their Dad was an Engine Driver, but he insisted that each and every one of the children learn manners.. As disadvantaged as they were, they "dressed" for dinner in their best always clean, pressed, starched clothes,,, darns, mends and all, and he'd inspect them all before they were allowed to be seated. Mum's Aunt Laura taught her to..."be a lady" and educated her about the arts, taught her how to dance, how to set a table for a three course meal, how to dress, how to be polite, and..how to cook and manage a home...so she would be able to "mix it with the best" and not be thought out of place. How things have changed...its all more relaxed. Manners and respect for others seem to have..."Gone With The Wind"..regarded as outmoded and old fashioned. Pity! Wonder how we can get a gracious, respecful society back?

Yes the eastern states have been copping it. Snow etc, I am not a fan of cold. In the west has not been as bad, just a bit of a whinger when I think how cold you guys have had it, even Brisbane. I am waiting for those new solar panels with battery storage capacity (tesla) to come down in price in the next few years, before we retire I would like to have them in and paid for.

The way that sound travels is a science. I would suggest that you engage an acoustic engineer to assess the situation and make recommendations and research flanking sound transmission. If it is voices and TV noise that you can hear it may becoming via the windows or vertical ducts that contain plumbing, rather than through a concrete slab. If they were tap dancing on their parquetry then it would transfer through the slab. I would be looking to identify the travel path of the sound before spending big money on sound insulating your ceiling, and losing height, which may not solve the problem. They could also be slightly deaf and speak to each other loudly! Best of luck Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls and Dr Retro Virtual Visits via Zoom

oklouise: I appreciate your idea. Sounds good. This is the access which is on the northern side of our lot. Access to the back of the property. The lot is E-W rectangular plot. The access upto the gate would be frequented by meter readers from the front of the property. The gate comes as shown after the down pipe with the hinge on the pole affixed to my wall while the other pole goes butting with the retain wall and as the fencing guy has told me he will put in non expandable grout to hold the pole in place and there would be a bare 5-10mm gap between the neighbour's wall and the pole. The gate would open inwards into our property so as u look into the photo the gate open inwards right. Also I could not gather the concrete bit maybe concrete language is hard for me to understand. i will ask my landscaper but if youcan shed some more detail for the approach that would be very much appeciated kindly. We are not planning to concrete but if that is a way then we can think. We are actually planning to put in thick liimestone steppers and decorative stones. Any other fair ways/ideas for landscaping on this stretch is welcome