Anyway. I now have a fear of stairs (at night). And switches (I sometimes have nightmares were I’m in the dark, constantly trying to switch a light on. One of these involves a VERY dim neon strip light that just keeps blinking and buzzing and never quite illuminates the surroundings).
EvilPumpkin said:Apparently it is not possible to switch lights on or off in dreams.
EvilPumpkin said:There is a thread on here somewhere explaining that.
hallybods said:I suppose the fear of stairs may come from the fact that they are often considered to be a passageway from one world to the next. Downstairs is the realm of the living and upstairs is where you travel to the land of dreams. So on the stairs you are not quite awake and not quite asleep either.
gncxx said:Xanatico said:At least it is one place where you can be safe from Daleks.
Not any more! Just like Piranha II: now they can fly!
OldTimeRadio said:But I've spent many of my happiest DAYLIGHT hours in second and third floor bedrooms (first and second, British).
TheInspector said:gncxx said:Xanatico said:At least it is one place where you can be safe from Daleks.
Not any more! Just like Piranha II: now they can fly!
They've been able to fly since The Chase from the 60s
Madam Life's a piece in bloom
Death goes dogging everywhere:
She's the tenant of the room,
He's the ruffian on the stair.
You shall see her as a friend,
You shall bilk him once or twice;
But he'll trap you in the end,
And he'll stick you for her price.
With his kneebones at your chest,
And his knuckles in your throat,
You would reason -- plead -- protest!
Clutching at her petticoat;
But she's heard it all before,
Well she knows you've had your fun,
Gingerly she gains the door,
And your little job is done.
Isn't the title of The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, a play by William Inge, supposed to be a metaphor for approaching death? Not immediately, but eventually?
I've spoken to my Mum to try and get some more info on this.
She stated it began when she was around 11 and ended at around 18 (when she fell pregnant with my older sister).
She stated he actually changed his appearance slightly over time. He always had the black cloak and black hat, but his face was skeletal to begin with and gradually morphed into a tanned skinned face with high cheekbones.
The dreams themselves started out with him going to grab her at the top of her stairs with her jumping to the bottom to avoid his grasp. This then morphed into the kitchen scenario.
Finally she stated in the last few dreams she had of him, he began calling her name, which he never done previous.
I wouldn't have given this a second thought unless it bore a striking resemblance to this seemingly common visitor! (He can bloody well keep away from me!).
There is most probably a thread on here about this but this sounds like a thing that happened to me as a kid and as a mum to my all my kids aged between 25 and 7. Basically being afraid to go upstairs alone or be upstairs alone, and being afraid of the man at the top of the stairs who follows you down. For years I would walk sideways down the stairs to avoid him. I never saw him but definitely felt his ominous presence. Anyone else?
... Come to think of it, there are also closets under many flights of stairs (*), and God only knows the things that live in closets.
In the UK, understairs closets are not uncommon. They are certainly a feature in the c.1930s semi-detached and terraced houses that my extended family and family friends tended to live in, in the North of England. From the same sample, they were reasonably often turned into extra water closets. The first house we bought in Leeds was of a similar vintage, and had even had a shower installed as well as a WC in the understairs space.Something just occurred to me, so I'd like to ask ...
In my experience closet or storage spaces beneath staircases were
- found only in the oldest houses occupied by my family, and hence rare / strange;
- used for storing items nobody would seek for years or even decades (i.e., held the oddest items); and
- the closets most likely to be declared off-limits to us kids.
Has anyone had experience with a more "regularly used" closet or storage space beneath a staircase?
Has anyone had experience with a more "regularly used" closet or storage space beneath a staircase?
...Has anyone had experience with a more "regularly used" closet or storage space beneath a staircase?
She frequents our bedroom still but that’s a story for another thread.