To be concerned about my neighbours?

If you are genuinely concerned, knock; sooner is better than later.
If no answer, call the Police.
It is better to be over protective sometimes, especially when heaters are bring turned on for the first time after warmer months. Maybe the council was coming to attend to a strange heater problem.

My late father did not see his neighbour for two days. Her partner had murdered her. It was horrific just walking by that house after that. She lived for a few hours after the police went in, but he had cut her leg off, and the baby was there too, starving. If you are worried, knock, but there is zero sense in saying you will wait till morning. Either you are seriously worried or you are not.

They may be very sick/dying. In the latter, time counts.

When my dad contacted the police about not seeing his neighbour, the girl lived long enough to say who had done this to her, and why. It made a big difference in catching and sentencing the perpetrator as he was on his way out of the country. And many of the neighbours had seen the attacker going in there with his tools to do 'the job' but no one had thought twice about it, even though he forced a door.

I had offered to climb through the window as I was smaller but my dad said no. He told me later that he said no for that reason of not knowing what he would find. I'm very glad he didn't let me climb through the window. He never told what he saw or how he felt, other than that they were dead. But I subsequently found out the details. It was horrific.

Omg did your dad have ptsd? How horrific.

That does sound strange. I hope they're just away.

I suppose if they have the lurgy, they might just be letting the dog out in to the garden rather than taking it out for walks. But I agree that it would be neighbourly to call round there in the morning. I hope all is well.

At certain times if the year - including now - we get dazzled on a sunny day so sometimes close the curtains for days. However we are out and about and live in an urban terrace so we'd be seen too.

Maybe they've gone away without the car..Or you could just knock on the door..

Good luck with the knock.

You have reason to be concerned. I would go and knock right now. I understand English diffidence but they could be in dire straits. You don't have to make up some story about a missing parcel - just say you hadn't seen any movement or lights and were concerned.

I would in the morning, but not at midnight.

Co poisening was my first thought too, did you knock today? Please update if you can and let us know all is well.

They could be unwell, Lynn, a virus or oomething. If this persists and you are concerned, write them a note and put through their letterbox just saying you hope they are OK and do they want anything. Put your phone number on it. The chances are there will be signs of life there by tomorrow but you never know.

Do people really care about closed curtains I only say this as someone who never opens my curtains and doesn't socialise with my neighbours... OP no harm knocking if someone knocked on my door I wouldn't be upset

I never tell my neighbours when we are away but that’s just my own personal trust issues. If they have previously asked you to watch on the house and it was uneventful then yes I would be quite concerned!

Sorry if you have but go round. I'd be honest and say thought you might all have the lurgy and wanted to see if you were ok and if you needed anything.
If no answer then ask others neighbours, try get a number.
Failing that and if you are REALLY worried with a small child contact 101 ask for a welfare check. Cite your concerns. They will and should be thankful they have caring neighbours & if things aren't great then you've got support for a young child which is always the right thing. Police get these calls all the time and will no speaking to you how they prioritise.
Defo speak to other neighbours but I wouldn't sit on it. Better to be a caring neighbour than something to have happened with a young child and you didn't act.

I’d assume that they’re on holiday and got a ride to the airport so that they didn’t have to pay to park their car. It never hurts to knock, however!

Of course go round! The worst that can happen is that you'll look like a busybody but so what.
Hopefully they've gone on a break or maybe had to rush off to a family emergency, gone by taxi to an airport and closed their curtains for security. And the dog's in kennels. Who knows?

I'm in Ireland and I don't think people would be too hesitant to call round but it's a different culture of neighbourly nosiness concern here.

When awful things do happen, then folk queue up to condemn the neighbours for being callous uncaring bastards, so you can't win.

I hope they're all ok.

Crikey, I wouldn’t leave it until tomorrow especially now you’d said they mention if they go away.

From what you’ve described, no one may have been able to get up and open curtains etc from the night you last saw them.

If they answer. you could just say you were going to bed and realised you hadn’t seen them for 3 days and couldn’t sleep for worrying if something had happened so you had to check.

I would be touched my neighbour was worrying in that situation.

I think it’s good to look out for people & I’d definitely be knocking (could easily pretend you’re trying to track down a delivery if you don’t actually want to admit to being worried). Hope it’s all fine when you check tomorrow.

I don’t think it’s strange that you are concerned op.
Yes they could be away but it would do no harm to check

Do you have a village WhatsApp or similar? Could you track down a phone number or a social media profile to send them a message?

Given they’ve mentioned before when they’ve gone away, it does seem odd.

Many years ago (when I was a child) my mum hadn't seen our neighbour and her toddler for 3 days when she saw them every day. She was concerned. After knocking and no answer, eventually my dad decided to go through a window. My dad found her and her toddler dead with multiple stab wounds. Turns out her ex had killed them. Obviously I'm not saying it could be anything sinister, but it can be good to notice anything different.

My first thought too, boilers being put on this time of year, hopefully just on an impromptu holiday

Let us know how you get on tomorrow OP. It’s good you’ve got your eye out for them - I hope they’re ok.