Friday, July 19, 2024

Window Wankers

Some of you may remember me complaining about the apartment occupants to my immediate front having their windows open, well mostly the one a metre from our balcony. This went on from the student tenants, to the last owner occupiers and now to my disappointment the newest owner occupiers. I just don't believe it! 

Of course what they do with their windows is their business and if a neighbour opening a bedroom window is the worst of my neighbourly worries, I am lucky but I just feel so unlucky. 

'Ere you lot, look up the building, all windows closed. 

Look down, all windows closed, as one would expect when it is freezing cold. 

But not my neighbours, windows open, albeit not much. 

Meanwhile, the painting is progressing nicely. The only sanctuary is my bedroom and ensuite, but that will soon change. Some undercoat oil paint has been used and it pongs and I can taste it. As the nun said to the bishop, 'It left a nasty taste in my mouth'.

58 comments:

  1. I love that last joke and will try to remember it!

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    1. Don't encourage me Pixie. Others won't approve.

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    2. What's the difference between love, true love and showing off?


      Spitting, swallowing and gargling:)

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    3. You are too wicked Pixie. To the naughty chair.

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  2. Well, that blogpost title certainly grabs attention!
    Perhaps that permanently open window is broken so they can't close it. Try wafting some of your pongy paint in their direction and see if that makes them close it.

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    1. JayCee, the home exhaust ventilation comes out above the nearest open window. What a good idea.

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  3. I well remember that paint pong and taste. Such a shame that unlike the nun it can't be simply spat out.

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    1. EC, yes, you just have to wait for you mouth to get rid of the taste.

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  4. Why is the open window an issue? Is it about noise?

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    1. I'm wondering this, as well. At any rate, I prefer my outdoor view, however overgrown the surroundings. lol

      I still recall the entryway to our subterranean apartment being painted waaaay back in the early 1990's tainting an open food package in the cupboard. Pulling out the stove to clean before our move we discovered that the inside wall didn't reach the outside cement flooring (!) and hence understood why gnats plagued us the previous summer.

      I'm glad we only stayed a single year but still can't eat Oreo cookies. Just as well, I suppose. Heh... We got our deposit refunded and never looked back. Be well!

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    2. Boud, I feel like my and their privacy is being invaded with the nearest window a couple of feet from my balcony. I can hear people in the room talking when I'm on the balcony, catching most of what they are saying. As I said, it is their perfect right but I also think it is very strange to have open windows in winter, when most people have their homes sealed up as tightly as possible.

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    3. Darla, see above. I've tried an Oreo but I didn't like it at all. That apartment you've described sounds 'interesting'.

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    4. Isn't that just apartment living? tbh I feel the risk to privacy is more to the window-openers than to you on the balcony, but they seem OK with it.

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    5. Plug in your ear buds and listen to some podcasts instead of their conversation.

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    6. MC. Yes it is and I think you are right about risk.

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    7. But River, I am an eavesdropper. I like to hear conversations.

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    8. Then you can't complain about the open window.

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  5. I was expecting a while different kind of window story!

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    1. Bob, that hasn't happened but a couple of levels down I did see a bare topped woman in bed without covers on a warm night. I don't have to close blinds for privacy but those at the front do.

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    2. LOL -- Bob, I also expected this story to go somewhere completely different, given that title!

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  6. Before I arrive in Australia, the "home" is always going to be a tiny studio apartment. I don't understand why the new arrivals really want to spend huge dollars living in a chicken cage either.

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  7. What is the problem with the window being open? Aesthetic or pong? As for oil paint , we ended up sleeping on a mattress on the kitchen floor, the doggies thought that was fun,

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    1. Privacy really Anon. See my comment to Boud above. Dog heaven with the adults on the floor.

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  8. Yikes! The smell of paint is never fun, and sometimes seems like it takes forever for the fumes to go away. Sending lots of hugs your way. RO 🤗

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    1. Hello RO. At least paint is not as bad as it used to be. The smell much reduces after a couple of hours. Thanks.

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  9. I think you deserve a medal for staying there while the redecorating is ongoing. I would be hightailing it to a motel or airbnb. I fear I would be the neighbour with the window open a smidge. I do like fresh air.

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    1. Merlot, I thought that was what we would have to do, but no. The lead painter is being very thoughtful about giving me space to use. I don't like letting the cold in and increasing my heating costs.

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    2. You are being a bit naughty today. Hope the neighbours are not too noisy or do you hear there bedroom antics. WE even had that in the suburbs when I lived at Daisy Hill. In summer when all the windows are open we could hear the neighbour across the road having an enjoyable time in the bedroom. Hope the smell of paint goes soon. Use 'Glen 20' to help.

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    3. Not noisy Diane, and it is rare I hear anything from any neighbour. Perhaps you should have popped over to your neighbour with a water pistol and cooled their ardour. Glen 20 hey. I think we have some.

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  10. Perhaps you could just look in the other direction and not see the slightly open window. Oil paint does smell stronger for longer, but the finished job will last longer.

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    1. Yes, I could turn the chair a bit. I don't normally look that direction anyway. I believe the painters are using oil paint as undercoat where there will be gloss used, such as woodwork.

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    2. Oil based undercoat? Is there such a thing?

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    3. There used to be as I've used it myself. It seems it will give a good adherence for the colour water based paint.

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  11. Blame the city planners for allowing buildings to be built in such a way that the lives of others can be heard and seen too easily.

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    1. I do JB and I am the first to say this building should have never been built, much as I like living here.

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  12. Andrew, you will have to open all your windows..lol... just kidding!

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    1. Margaret, our windows all face the bay, with your cold southerlies blowing in.

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  13. The bishop is usually with the actress. I wonder if French nuns have to dispense with their wimples as Muslim women in France have to ditch their hijabs according to the law.

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    1. A bishop would never associate with an actress YP. An actress could not be trusted to give an honest opinion of taste. Nuns are pure and honest. It is quite a long time since I have seen a woman with a wimple and I have no great desire.

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  14. I was going to say you might have to open some of your windows to alleviate the smell but I see you don’t.
    Are you able to put up some sort of trellis on that side of the balcony so you don’t see the open window and as River suggested try earplugs/phones and listen to podcasts/music if you’re out there

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    1. Cathy, the exhaust fan system does a good job. At this time of the year, cold, I don't spend much time on the balcony but at times I do use earbuds. Such trellis as you describe would not be allowed, even though it would work.

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  15. You could give them something worth listening to. A nice sound track.

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    1. I've thought of that YP. Some nice 50s and 60s tunes broadcasting from my balcony.

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    2. How about the Katz's Deli scene from When Harry Met Sally?

      Will Jay

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    3. Sorry Unknown. I've not seen the film.

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    4. bagpipe music is always a winner. Or a nasty rap.

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    5. Both would work, Strayer, and in reverse.

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  16. Replies
    1. I can't see how Hels. It is about open windows.

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  17. If it was my bedroom I wouldn't want to be so loud that the neighbours could here me while they relax on their balcony. But people are loud these days on their phones in public so they don't care who hears them. Blast some music at them the next time, Andrew.

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    1. Your advice is noted Pat, but I don't want to be un-neighbourly. They have probably never given the matter a single thought.

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  18. Saute garlic nightly, and let them in on the smell via the ventilation duct and perhaps the window will close.

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  19. Ah neighbors! Best wishes for a good resolution

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