4am Every morning - what are neighbours doing?

[KnobZombie7]

New neighbours moved in before the summer in the flat next door. The water pipes in our building are shocking and make such a lot of noise and we're occasionally woken up at 4am with the sound through the wall of them turning their taps on for 2 seconds then turning them off again. This can go on for up to ten minutes sometimes. On/off, on/off...They don't work night shifts. I usually drift off back to sleep straight away. Didn't think much of it until...

Early this morning at 3.45, I was awake and decided to stand outside their door to see if I could get some clues as to what they do at 4am. Because I was bored. And nosey. I was as silent as a mouse. Sure enough, the taps were turned on/of, on/off for a while then I heard a noise like water being sloshed around in a big bowl right behind their front door. This went on for about 2 minutes then all was quiet again.

What do you think they are doing? I assume there are bowls by their front door that they fill up with fresh water at 4. But why? AIBU to think this strange?

DP says it's a burglar deterrent but why refill the water and why refill it at the same time each day and at an antisocial time? And why not just let the tap run and fill the bowl in one go?

Any ideas? Please help otherwise my nights will be spent loitering around the communal area and trying to figure it out myself.

Could they be muslims?(muslims come in all races and ethnicity's) isn't one of their prayer times during the night? And they have to do ablutions with water before praying

Could be their washing machine. Mine has a timer and I can set it at night to come on 3, 6 or 9 hours later. I can sometimes hear when it comes on if im awake because the pipes rattle. Slightly odd having it by the front door tho 😂

I feel like I really have to know what it is now!

My boiler is on the other side of my kitchen but from the front door sounds very close... it's really not!

Standing outside their door is very creepy. Realistically I don't think you can ask what they're doing - is there a way you can try and sleep through this?

Ritual washing by the door maybe, could it be to do with sunrise?

The on/off of the taps to regulate the temperature.

This is so intriguing. Are their drains blocked/sink not draining, so a quick cool down wash as this heats kept them awake: running water into washing up bowl to dispose of out window later? I had to do this while waiting for plumber to get 'last resort' acid as nothing else worked on dodgy Victorian age pipes.

The pp who refuses to have water in a bottle and needs it ‘fresh’ at 4am, disturbing neighbours with ancient clunky pipes is really selfish.

sunshine I did try that given the pipes wake everyone but my teeth are too sensitive for water that cold.

I'm genuinely excited to know what this is now. I love a little mystery with some potentially weird behaviour thrown in.

OP, you've got to find out! Please!

I love this too, and I'm also intrigued about the family who all go out together once a week from 3-5am!

You sure they aren't Muslims? Morning prayers are just after 4am at the moment.

They sound Muslim. Wudu is a washing ritual before prayers.

Agree with Headhurts. Fairly sure they are getting up for prayers - the timing is pretty much spot on for this time of year.

They probably lied about their religion because they were worried they would get trouble. Sad world.

Please update if you find out.

I think they are in cahoots with my neighbours who all get into the car at 3 am (mum, dad, two older teen/20s and one younger teen) and go somewhere coming back at 5 am at least once a week.

@SimonBridges I feel we need more information on this, I want to find out where they go now. You should start a new thread so we can all take guesses

I agree. Much weirder than turning taps off and on.............

They might be giving all their cats a little drink

Sorry op I'm more interested in Simonbridges neighbours! Omg!!

Haven’t read the thread yet, google Dintsar, water offering bowls.

Not sure what it could be but I guess it will be something really boring.

when they moved in they told us they were Buddhists

There is your answer.
Dawn prayers and washing your hands is required before Buddhist prayers.

My neighbours have been doing this for the last 5 years, even when the youngest was about 9.
They are very odd.

The going out at 3am thing, not the washing thing.

I think it’s the filling of 7 water offering bowls if the tap is on and off a little each time. Or sloshing from a jug into bowls?

SimonBridges any chance the kids/young adults could be competitive ice skaters? If they are of a high level, their training schedule could well include one extra early morning session per week.