I know most of my neighbour's names. I've lived here for over ten years and the one that baffles me is the lady who lives opposite. She must be in her mid to late 70s now. Even after all these years I have NO idea what her name is.
She took in a parcel for me not long after I moved here and the courier had put a card through my door to tell me they'd left it with her. I went round during the afternoon and knocked politely on the door. Nothing. I knocked again a tiny bit louder and she came staggering round the side of the house with the parcel and as I was thanking her for taking it in for me, she literally just handed it over as fast as possible and disappeared before I'd even finished the sentence.
Her behaviour is very unusual. She goes shopping every single weekday morning at exactly the same time and every day, she comes home with bags and bags and bags of shopping. She lives alone with her cat so she gets cat food and litter as well as all these bags. We have no idea what she is buying - and of course its absolutely none of our business - but she buys an insane amount of stuff and we don't know where she puts it all. We even joke (just my partner and I) she has people hiding in a basement and is feeding them.
Years ago I spent 4 months in hospital. The day I came home she came out to greet me and asked how I was. I suspected she was just being friendly and making conversation but just in case she was fishing for info, I deliberately didn't give her any. She was carrying her cat in her arms and I asked his name. She told me two random letters, and I asked what they stood for but nope, they don't stand for anything. They are literally just two random letters, like XF (giving the cat's real name could out me or her!).
Every Saturday evening she dresses up and goes out. She leaves the house alone so I guess she is going to a local social event like dancing or bingo. She returns home alone a few hours later.
Her dress sense is utterly bizarre. She likes wearing the most odd combinations. I am not the fashion police and know she can and should wear whatever she likes. Her favourite outfit seems to be a football shirt with shiny faux leather trousers. She is often seen on cooler days wearing several layers of what many would consider 'mismatching' clothing but styles it out with a fluffy teddy bear hat which ties under her chin, complete with bear ears.
She takes her cat for walks on a lead. Not that unusual but it adds to her character!
I affectionately call her Crazy Cat Lady. Never to her or any of the other neighbours - just to my partner and my parents in our own home. If I sound like I'm bitching about her, you'd be wrong. I'm actually secretly fond of her and she makes me smile because she seems to be living this life that nobody knows about but her. Her uniqueness and authenticity is something a small part of me envies.