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Original poster

What quirks do you have?

212 replies

MalcolmsBrokenWalrusMoneybox · 14/12/2018 19:19

I recently came across thinker Alain de Boton, and was very taken with his statement that each of us is "deeply crazy".
With that in mind, what quirks do you have?

A family member once mentioned that he was always up by 6 and since then, I used to set my alarm for 5:58 so I would "win" obviously I never told him that!
Likewise when working from home, if I was still in my pajamas at say 7, and I'd hear a neighbour going off to work I'd get almost a feeling of jealousy - they'd got dressed before me!
I've mellowed a little.

What secret or not so secret quirks do you have?

OP posts:
kalinkafoxtrot45 · 15/12/2018 08:49

I hate telephones and especially the ringtones. The ringer on my phone is switched off when I’m not expecting a call. I also hate alarm clocks and have set mine to the gentlest and most inoffensive tone I could find, though usually I wake up a few minutes before it goes anyway. People who have their ringtones or phone alerts on while taking public transport should dry in hell, it sets my teeth on edge.

I also have a hatred of cooked egg yolk and I can’t eat anything it has touched.

Original poster
MalcolmsBrokenWalrusMoneybox · 15/12/2018 12:16

I carry around a novelesque idea that I'll randomly meet someone and become great friends because... they will have heard my uncommon music as I'm driving around and it's something they love too!

But I hate really loud music coming from cars so I probably have it at a volume no-one would hear anyway.

That probably stems from student days when I heard someone playing the same music I had through a window and got all excited.

Half a lifetime later it's probably time to shelve that idea.

OP posts:
AppleJuiceFlood · 15/12/2018 12:26

I have very few quirks but mine would be...

When a patient dies (I’m a nurse) I open the window to let their spirit out. This has to be done!

I can’t drink anything cold from a mug, only hot drinks can be drank from a mug, cold drinks have to go in a glass.

I can remember exactly where I was when I heard a song when driving and will picture that place in my head when I hear it again. It’s like a photo in my mind. Most odd!

Wingbing · 15/12/2018 12:33

@bunintheoven88 i’m Glad i’m not alone with my symmetrical itching Smile

AviatorShades · 15/12/2018 12:34

AppleJuice- opening the window to let their spirit fly free was something we did at the residential home for the elderly I worked at one winterSmileFlowers

ForalltheSaints · 15/12/2018 12:35

Sitting on the left hand side of any cinema, theatre or church if at all possible.

AppleJuiceFlood · 15/12/2018 12:45

Aviator I think it’s a common nursing/caring quirk. I am not at all superstitious but it’s the only thing I am superstitious about. ☺️

TipseyTorvey · 15/12/2018 13:08

I'm finding this thread fascinating! My DS has just been diagnosed with ASD so I've been reading loads of books and it's made me think he's probably got it from my side. I can't approach fish counters without having palpitations, which is a shame as I like fish. I can buy it pre-packaged though. I have misophonia and want to kill anyone rustling bags or chewing or sniffing. If I get irritated by noise i start hitting my ears. I count steps all the time and get irritated if I end my journey on an odd number so have to do a little skip to make it an even. I think I seem normal to most people most of the time tho😂

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 15/12/2018 13:11

I have to touch things in threes, so if I'm at school and pat a child on the shoulder gently I have to do it twice more. I have to tickle the dog on each cheek three times first thing in the morning, and she stands by the side of the bed waiting for her morning fuss.

I sleep exclusively on my left side on the left of the bed, and can't cope with being touched in the night for any reason. Even our cats know this and sleep next to me without ever being 'on' me.

I hate even numbers - radio and tv volumes are always odd.

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 15/12/2018 13:12

Also, DS13 has ASD and I've always assumed he's inherited some of his quirks from his Dad but writing this list makes me think it's more than likely come from both sides.

FissionChips · 15/12/2018 13:13

I have a few-

I walk the same routes, will actually climb over an object in my way if possible rather than navigate around it. If I don’t manage to climb over then I have to walk have to walk around to its opposite side and double back three times to even it.
*I only eat room temperature foods, foods must not touch. No ‘bits’ or mixed textures. Very bland food. No slimy foods.
*No one is allowed to sit in my spot on the sofa.
*Extremely low tolerance for lights and noise/crowds. I will just drop my basket in the floor and exit the shop.
*Things must not be moved from their designated place and should be angled correctly.
*The stepping on cracks and uneven roads. It must feel the same on both feet. I’ll stand like a weirdo
touching my foot on a stone or whatever until it feels right.
*Clothing. Seams and skin hugging clothes really upset me.

ilovepixie · 15/12/2018 14:48

Applejuice

When my dad died the nurse opened the window. Now I know why!

AppleJuiceFlood · 15/12/2018 15:47

ilovepixie I’m sure he’s flying free now. Flowers
I remember being taught it as a student nurse and I thought it was such a lovely thing to do. Hope someone opens the window when my time comes 😉

GandalfsRing · 15/12/2018 16:00

Deodorant is to be applied in sprays of 3 to each armpit (left first)

I have to count out loud when going down some stairs.

There’s a lady on my bus home from work who gets off at the same stop as me. I sit at the back and will wait to press the bell until the moment I see her lean forward to press it. I win every time.

I put a single quilt inside a double cover and can only sleep cuddling the fat bit with the bit with no quilt in over me.

wanderings · 15/12/2018 16:19

Since childhood I've loved any activity involving being blindfolded - pin the tail, guess who is speaking in a funny voice, even the dreaded team-building exercises much derided on Mumsnet, such as a "trust walk". Wink I actually like the feeling of not being able to see a thing, and not knowing where I'm facing, just after I've been spun round. Closing my eyes is not the same - I could peep at any moment! I remember being delighted at primary school when we did an experiment to test our directional hearing, blindfolded so there was no cheating. A couple of years ago, I saw went to the play "All that Fall" where the audience is blindfolded. I'm now trying to find out which escape rooms cover your eyes first.

Even though he thinks it's plain weird, my DH indulges me, and regularly covers my eyes for surprises, games, and my favourite thing of all, wrapping my presents in front of me. I feel very cheated if he does one without me there!

Buxtonstill · 15/12/2018 16:49

I always have to sit on the right on public transport. Planes. Buses, Taxi cabs. Dh knows to automatically get in the left side in a cab!

Buxtonstill · 15/12/2018 16:52

I meant to say I sit on the left. Doh.....

LEMtheoriginal · 15/12/2018 17:10

@Squ1ggle i do that when crossing the road also!

I have a weird phobia of white picket fences and refused to even view houses that have them.

I will not wear anything that i have put on back to front or inside out. At a push i will remove the item of clothing and put something else on so i can wear it but it makes me uncomfortable.

I try to avoid retracing my steps. I never walk home from work the same way i walk there.

There are bound to be more. I suffer from anxiety though.

RetiredNotExpired · 15/12/2018 17:15

I'm a relaxed housekeeper: I try never to run out of any of the essentials but if we do, we do (it's only me & DH). He's even more laid back than I am.

But I get very agitated if my stock of toilet rolls gets below 4 (not including two in use). I have no idea why this is; I don't recall any, umm, unfortunate situations in the past....

ChampionThreadKiller · 15/12/2018 18:05

Pegs have to be the same colour on each item I peg out.

Bank notes have to faced in my wallet and when I do the banking where I work.

When I'm waking with someone I know, I walk on their left (unless it's my son and then I put myself between him and the trafffic but will cross over as soon as possible so that he's back on my right side).

NutElla5x · 15/12/2018 18:18

I don't like the numbers 3,6,9,12 etc so volume must be on 43 not 42 because 4 + 2 =6.Alarm must be set for 6.31 instead of 6.30.I also have unlucky colours,but that mostly applies to underwear,so I feel happier wearing white,nude and pink rather than black,blue and red which is a pain in the arse because I prefer black Confused

greenpop21 · 15/12/2018 18:22

A family member once mentioned that he was always up by 6 and since then, I used to set my alarm for 5:58 so I would "win"

You win? You are officially weird. I would be thinking , "How lucky am I to still be in my warm bed!"

greenpop21 · 15/12/2018 18:24

I can’t drink anything cold from a mug, only hot drinks can be drank from a mug, cold drinks have to go in a glass.

That's not a quirk, who drinks cold drinks from a mug anyway?

RaspberryRipple1963 · 15/12/2018 18:41

MotherOfTheNoise I know 2 people who can't bear different items of food on their plate touching,although they don't go quite as far as separating lasagne layers! Grin

ohwellinthatcasetryprunes. I'm the same! I simply have to have my back to the wall,facing into the restaurant/coffee shop,otherwise I feel 'on edge'. I think it's a fear of someone coming up behind me.

Bigonesmallone3 I love marmite and cucumber sandwiches! Also marmite and tomato.

sueelleker · 15/12/2018 19:26

SpeckledyHen; I do the same thing-only hot drinks though, I don't have any problems with cold ones.