What meteorological phenomenon (phenomena) affects you this day ?

[kennyc]

We have overnight freezes the last two nights, first of the season....

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

It's quite windy here today - and overcast, but not too chilly (or if it is, I'm not feeling it, which may be more accurate...). And I'm currently sat here watching a bloke standing on the apex of a roof on a nearby house having a ciggie. In fairness, I think he is standing on a plank (hard to tell, from this angle). He appears to be taking a break from single handedly (if he has help, they're staying well hidden) building a loft extension (no, I don't just sit and gaze out the window, being nosy and watching my neighbours, but my computer desk does face the window... )

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

It's quite windy here today - and overcast, but not too chilly (or if it is, I'm not feeling it, which may be more accurate...). And I'm currently sat here watching a bloke standing on the apex of a roof on a nearby house having a ciggie. In fairness, I think he is standing on a plank (hard to tell, from this angle). He appears to be taking a break from single handedly (if he has help, they're staying well hidden) building a loft extension (no, I don't just sit and gaze out the window, being nosy and watching my neighbours, but my computer desk does face the window... )

sure you don't.

i could easily do the same thing, since i have a new neighbor across the courtyard who doesn't have curtains yet (news flash : last night she had friends over ! lord, they were noisy !), but since i feel more exposed than voyeur i've closed mine. *sigh*. i hate living in half-light. i must find a solution for this.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

sure you don't.

i could easily do the same thing, since i have a new neighbor across the courtyard who doesn't have curtains yet (news flash : last night she had friends over ! lord, they were noisy !), but since i feel more exposed than voyeur i've closed mine. *sigh*. i hate living in half-light. i must find a solution for this.

Stick a post-it note on her door saying, "I love the pajamas but could you buy some blinds, please!"

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

sure you don't.

i could easily do the same thing, since i have a new neighbor across the courtyard who doesn't have curtains yet (news flash : last night she had friends over ! lord, they were noisy !), but since i feel more exposed than voyeur i've closed mine. *sigh*. i hate living in half-light. i must find a solution for this.

A combination of voile panels and venetian blinds work very nicely. Keep the blinds down, but twist the slats so they're open - and between the lines and voile people outside can't really see in with any clarity - they'll be able to see silhouettes, but not details. Maybe unless they come right up to your window and press their noses against it - but then if that happens I think you'll have bigger problems than nosy passersby, given I suspect most people passing by wouldn't be tall enough to rub their nose on a 4th floor window...

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by kazbates

Stick a post-it note on her door saying, "I love the pajamas but could you buy some blinds, please!"

maybe i'll try that.

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

A combination of voile panels and venetian blinds work very nicely. Keep the blinds down, but twist the slats so they're open - and between the lines and voile people outside can't really see in with any clarity - they'll be able to see silhouettes, but not details.

actually i really don't like venetian blinds. and i think a solution like that would make me feel claustrophobic. i need a lot of light and i like having the windows open most of the year (unless it's really cold). when they were renovating the façade of the building i had to keep the curtains shut for a couple of months straight and it was incredibly depressing (and it killed my bonsai ficus, which was a gift from an ex that i was rather attached to. i'm still bitter about that). i was thinking of some thin curtains that would let the light in, but then i noticed that some other neighbors have those, and at night with the lights on they might as well be completely transparent, you can really see *everything*.

Maybe unless they come right up to your window and press their noses against it - but then if that happens I think you'll have bigger problems than nosy passersby, given I suspect most people passing by wouldn't be tall enough to rub their nose on a 4th floor window...

very true ! (spiderman ? is that you ??)

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by kazbates

Stick a post-it note on her door saying, "I love the pajamas but could you buy some blinds, please!"

hey, guess what ? i noticed this evening my neighbor was putting up curtains. ironically, they're the voile type that i was thinking of getting, and i confirm, you can see every detail through them when the light is on. however, they should prevent her from seeing out at least, and that's what really counts, since in fact it's not so much her pyjamas i'm concerned with but rather her (or her boyfriend) seeing that i don't wear any.

[montsnmags]

It got to 33C yesterday and barely dropped below 20C last night but we still don't have the humidity for it to feel summer-warm. It's a bit windy at the mo' and probably not overly pleasant on the beach unless you're a southern tourist. The spa is always pleasant however, and it's rewarming now. I just want the summer rain to start.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

actually i really don't like venetian blinds. and i think a solution like that would make me feel claustrophobic. i need a lot of light and i like having the windows open most of the year (unless it's really cold). when they were renovating the façade of the building i had to keep the curtains shut for a couple of months straight and it was incredibly depressing (and it killed my bonsai ficus, which was a gift from an ex that i was rather attached to. i'm still bitter about that). i was thinking of some thin curtains that would let the light in, but then i noticed that some other neighbors have those, and at night with the lights on they might as well be completely transparent, you can really see *everything*.

The venetian blinds are a sod to dust not to mention it's a very tedious task. I haven't yet experimented with letting it build up so much that all I need do is twizzle the slats slightly so the dust slides off, althought i might come to that . Some net curtains are very good at stopping people seeing the details, but I find them far more claustrophobic, and fussy, than blinds (voile panels are fine, as are the panels that have solid bits and sheer bits). But then I also find most curtains with any substance claustrophobic (we have a blackout blind in the bedroom, and I even find that less claustrophobic than curtains!) We have two sets of white blinds, and one aluminium one - all of which reflect the light back into the room nicely when the slats are twizzled closed.

Also, it's harder for spiders to hide in the blinds (this might be why I tend leave them down and open ) than it is for them to hide in the folds of curtains. Trust me on this, it's the voice of experience :shudders:

But I suspect I'm odd in finding solid blinds less claustrophobic than net curtains

[zelda_pinwheel]

dust is another point against blinds. although i do have a feather duster, actually, and it would probably be somewhat easier with that. maybe. meh, probably not that much. and i hate dusting already as it is.

please don't remind me of spiders on curtains. :bone-jolting-shudder:

[montsnmags]

We bought this multi-pronged brush/duster for the venetians yesterday. I'm not sure how well it'll work, but hopefully a bit better than blade-by-blade.

[ShortNCuddlyAm]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

please don't remind me of spiders on curtains. :bone-jolting-shudder:

Ack - sorry!

Originally Posted by montsnmags

We bought this multi-pronged brush/duster for the venetians yesterday. I'm not sure how well it'll work, but hopefully a bit better than blade-by-blade.

I've seen those in Lakelands I think - be interested to know how well it works.

[Patricia]

Originally Posted by ShortNCuddlyAm

The venetian blinds are a sod to dust not to mention it's a very tedious task. I haven't yet experimented with letting it build up so much that all I need do is twizzle the slats slightly so the dust slides off, althought i might come to that .

Unfortunately, that doesn't work. My mother rarely dusted her Venetian blinds and the dust got rather greasy and stuck to the slats.
Eventually, she'd notice and we children were deputed to clean them. They needed a lot of washing and it took ages.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by Patricia

Unfortunately, that doesn't work. My mother rarely dusted her Venetian blinds and the dust got rather greasy and stuck to the slats.
Eventually, she'd notice and we children were deputed to clean them. They needed a lot of washing and it took ages.

That is our experience too. Yuck job, especially when you recall just how much of the "dust" is actually your own shed skin cells.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

hey, guess what ? i noticed this evening my neighbor was putting up curtains. ironically, they're the voile type that i was thinking of getting, and i confirm, you can see every detail through them when the light is on. however, they should prevent her from seeing out at least, and that's what really counts, since in fact it's not so much her pyjamas i'm concerned with but rather her (or her boyfriend) seeing that i don't wear any.

Scary.

Solution 1 ) - Move !
2) Tell them, politely, to move...
3) Knock a hole in a wall someplace else where you can have a window...
4) As three, but get a Velux plut in the roof...
5) failing the above, move somewhere gentele, rural, calm and with no souls within a mile or so .... (bonus - no shums, just cows, sheep and pigs!).

After a gale yesterday in which part of our willow blew down (can now understand why the willow used to be called a 'widow maker') - it's less windy today - but by crikey and all that is holy in this world - it's blitheringly cold and that's indoors, and I've got to go out and see what other damage has been done !!!!