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AIBU?

To think there is something a bit strange about leaving your curtains shut all day, every day?

68 replies

ExtraFancy · 15/03/2008 14:19

I live opposite some flats, and over the past year or so (I've got a small baby, I don't get out much) I've noticed that the majority of the windows always have their curtains drawn. Well, except for the flat occupied by the granny in a vest who stares at my house for several hours a day...

I always open all the curtains in my house as soon as we get up for the day - it feels wrong not to. Seriously though, there are some flats over there that never have the curtains open, but why not? This is destined to be one of life's little mysteries, isn't it?

OP posts:

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WallOfSilence · 15/03/2008 14:22

Perhaps they are out at work and don't want anyone staring in their windows?

Maybe they get up too late to have time to open curtains?

Maybe they are vampires?

Maybe their flats are too messy they wouldn't want anyone seeing in?

Maybe they don't like the girl opposite, with a young baby, who stares at them every day

AliciaJohns · 15/03/2008 14:22

i used to work in an office where everyone kept the blinds shut all day. Drove me mad. I took to sneaking around when people were away from their desks and opening them. maybe my ex colleagues are all living opposite you...

Weegle · 15/03/2008 14:22

maybe they leave for work before it's light and get back after dark?

perhaps the sun shines directly in, making their rooms too hot so they have thin light coloured curtains (we had this)

many possible reasons - think you've been thinking about it too much!

KatieScarlett2833 · 15/03/2008 14:23

Maybe they work nights?

lovecat · 15/03/2008 14:23

DH refuses to draw the curtains if he's in - doesn't want people 'looking in at him' despite the fact we have sheers on the L/R window and he can't be seen lying down on the sofa anyway...

I hate it!

Mamazon · 15/03/2008 14:26

mine are often shut in my front room because i ruch out in tehmorning to get on the school run and often don't even go into the front room before we go out.

Then when we come home the sun is just at the right height to reflect off the tv so they get shut again within minutes

cory · 15/03/2008 14:27

No, the little mystery is why you haven't not found anything more interesting in your life than staring at your neighbours' curtains. There is no rule to say you can't have both a baby and a life.
Also, if you have a baby that has stayed small for the past year or so- don't you think you should be spending more time feeding it and not just curtain-twitching?

charliecat · 15/03/2008 14:28

My bedroom curtains rarely get opened, neither do my kids bedrooms. We dont do it automatically in the monrn and by the time we get back in its gonna be dark again soon
So waste of time really.
Downstairs I do open when I realise they are still shut and what WILL the neighbours think;)

WallOfSilence · 15/03/2008 14:33

Cory, no need to be so cheeky, is there?

bigbumhole · 15/03/2008 14:34

Maybe they grow cannabis in their living rooms. Or maybe they are socially retarded people who don't like day light or the outside world.

clumsymum · 15/03/2008 14:34

ExtraFancy, I agree with you, the guy who lives across the road from us works from home (as I do), and he has the curtains closed all the time too, even the room he uses as an office (which is at the front of the house.

If hee's away, his wife opens the curtains before she goes to work, I think he closes them again if he comes home.

Mind you, the wife always closes the curtains early evening (six ish), even in the middle of summer when it's bright & sunny till 8 or 9.

I think it's most odd, because I crave natural light.

Oh, and I don't think it's at all odd that you notice this.

ExtraFancy · 15/03/2008 14:42

LOL bigbumhole

I think I am just a nosey bugger. I used to like looking in people's houses from the top deck of the school bus

cory thankyou! I shall get right onto it!

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lardylumps · 15/03/2008 14:43

My next door neighbour never opens his curtains and has bars on the windows.... and we only ever see him about once a month. Hear him all the time though so know he is there. DP and I think he is either a wanted man or has the queen?s jewels in there...

ExtraFancy · 15/03/2008 14:44

A wood pigeon has made a nest in a tree outside the flat, I want to look at it with some binoculars but I think Old Vest Lady might ring the police...

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terramum · 15/03/2008 14:44

I leave our front blinds shut most of the day because people walking past stare into the lounge otherwise. The room is dark even with them open so it makes no difference anyway.

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 15/03/2008 14:45

I keep my living room curtains shut all day.

unknownrebelbang · 15/03/2008 14:49

Ours are often left closed.

My mother would be horrified.

ExtraFancy · 15/03/2008 14:57

Maybe it's because nobody has net curtains any more...

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smurfgirl · 15/03/2008 15:01

I keep the living room curtains shut because our house faces straight onto the street and people are so nosy!

Mouselady · 15/03/2008 15:02

Sorry. I open my downstairs curtains at 6.10am on weekdays and 6.40am on weekends. And I open the little windows at the top so the rooms air.
My mornings are very routine-driven BECAUSE I LEAD A VERY BUSY AND FULL LIFE. And now the mornings are getting lighter, it's nice to begin the day by letting in the light. One day there may even be sun.
Happy to post my full 6am-9am routine for those who need hints and tips on becoming borderline prissy and neurotic.

ExtraFancy · 15/03/2008 15:06

smurfgirl fair enough! I used to live in a basement flat in London with a big sash window, and used to get a bit freaked out that people could see in.

I've got no shame though, I sit in the nursery/front room breastfeeding my DS and I'm sure the odd passerby has seen me. Not to mention the postman/paper boy/Sainsburys delivery driver etc etc.

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soopermum1 · 15/03/2008 19:36

personally, i have something deeply programmed in me, probably from my mother, that says draw curtains every morning. i go out to work full time so i'm not there to appreciate the open curtains and light, but it just feels wrong not to do it.

DH on the other hand loves closed curtains and no ventilation. think he used to be a vampire in a former life.

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Flynnie · 15/03/2008 19:47

Have to open curtains downstairs first thing in the morning....dont want the neighbours to think that we sleep in all hours but upstairs with dcs napping they mainly stay closed otherwise its open...close...open...close...all day long!

unknownrebelbang · 15/03/2008 19:50

I don't care what the neighbours think.

tbh DH does sleep all sorts of odd hours, but our neighbours don't care anyway - he does the same job as DH and also sleeps all sorts of odd hours.

cheeseontoast · 15/03/2008 19:57

In my last house I never got round to putting up curtain rails. The curtains in the L/R were pinned up closed for 4yrs with drawing pins

In my defence, the house needed a lot of work and they weren't a priority

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