Saturday, May 8, 2010

Flats

When  we  were  away  we  stayed  in  a  block  of  flats,  something  we last  did  for  a  few  months  when  we  were  first  married  while  our  house  was  being  built,  did  not  enjoy  it  then,  it  was  like the  neighbours  were  in the  next  room, and  I  remember my washing  kept  getting stolen  and  that  was  30  years  ago  I  am  sure  that  tumble drying  is  now  mandatory  in  blocks  of  flats............  as  I  looked across  the road  and at  the  blocks  of  flats opposite   my  imagination  started  to  run  riot  as  I  sat  and  imagined  what  the  people  were  like in that  lived  in the  block  of  flats........  what  they  do........  what  their  lives  are  like......  what  they  are  like.......


For  me  the  first  tell tale  sign  is  their  curtains............  no  really............  you  can  tell so  much  from  someone  curtains................  now  one thing  is  for  sure  that  if  you  live  in  a flat  you  HAVE TO HAVE  lace  curtains  because  if  the  light  is  on,  it   really is  like  a   massive  3D TV  screen  and   unless you  have  a  body  like  Mr  and  Mrs  Universe.........  your  neighbours  really  do  not  want  to  see  your  rolls........ they  do  not  want  to  see  your stomach  at  your  knees......  they  do  not  want  to  see your boobs  at  your  belly  button......... they  do  not  want  to  see your sun baked  skin.........  really  ..........
If  you  really  look  you  will see that  all the  curtaining  is  different,  you  have  the  windows  where  the  curtains  are  drawn  each  day  in  the  shape  of  a  "Y"  with  a  nice  decoration  holding  them  together,  these  are  the  Precise  people  they like  things  to  look  nice,  they  like  order  and  precision  in  there lives  they  like  everything  in  the  right  place..... everything  orderly.
Then  you  have  the  curtains that   don't  quite  fit  windows.....  these  people  obviously  move  from  flat  to  flat never  really  settling  down,  the  Nomads,  they  don't  bother  to  get  curtains  that  fit  because  they  will  probably  move  again  in  a  couple  of  months  anyway........ and  probably  in the  middle  of the  night  with  out  the  knowledge  of  the  landlord.....  I  remember  once  years  ago  we were going  to the theater in  Johannesburg......  when  it was still safe.....  and as  we  were about to cross the  road  a  truck  came  past  losing  some  pots  and  pans  which still had  food  in them...............  adds a new  meaning  to the  saying  eat  and run................

Then  you  have  the  curtains that   fit  but  are  only  holding  on  by  one  or  two clips.  this  is  obviously  the  single  guys  really  just  don't  care  about  anything  except party........  party........  party........  so  are  probably  not  home  enough to  care  or  notice  their   curtains  sad  state,  the  curtains  plea  to  be  rescued  from  their  shame  of  not  being pit   up  properly..................
Then  we  have  the  family  curtains  that  are  drawn  neatly  every morning  to  the  side,  that  are  drawn  in the  evenings  as  soon  as  it  goes  dark,  curtains  that  are  lined  so  no one  can  see inside  no  one  can harm  those  inside ...........  the  family  is  protected  by  the  circle  of  the  curtains  at  all  times  it  holds  them  together.....  it  gives  them  comfort,  reliability,  peace  of  mind.
Then  you  have  the curtains  that  are  never  drawn.......  that  are  never  opened  and  one  has  to  wonder  at  what  is  going  on  behind  these  curtains  what  are  they  hiding........  what  dark  secret  are  they  trying  to  keep  from  the  world  that  they  cannot  allow  the  light  to  come  in and see there  shame............  they  could  be  vampires.........  too much  Twilight  for  me................  they  could  be............

Then  you  have  the  exhibitionist that  never  close  their  curtains.........  that  let  it  all just  "hang out"....  I  think that  somehow  they believe  that  because  they  are  on the  3rd, 4th,  5th  floor  that they  are  high  enough  that  no one  can  see them..............  wrong..............
For  me  the  saddest  part  of  flat  life  is  seeing  the  children........  standing  at  the  window  staring  out  at  the  sea...........  wishing .............. wishing ........  wishing...........

3 comments:

  1. Too funny...I didn't know that anyone else shared my thoughts about curtains!

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  2. I ran around my house looking at the curtains to see what message I was sending...no one can see in my windows actually..no really, they can't! I love your observations and fun posts! Every time I drive by an apartment (flat) I'll always check out the curtains!

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  3. So pleased I don't need curtains - only peekers here are roos, birds and the odd possum. I felt sad about the closed curtains. Too many people passing away in flats in Aussie cities without anyone even missing them. Loved your observations, definitely food for thought.

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