Linda Hall: Door knocking sets knees knocking

Linda Hall

Here's a question for you. What time is it "not polite" to ring someone or knock on their door?

I ask because last week at 7pm someone pounded on our door.

I was reading a book and Mr Neat was plugged into the laptop either listening to music or watching trains - I'm not sure.

He didn't hear the knocking and I had to "unplug" him. He was rather startled and nearly leapt off the couch.

Anyway, I said: "There's someone at the door". The night was cold and, of course, dark.

The person was at the front door so I knew it wasn't anybody we knew as they always use the back.

Mr Neat called out in his loudest and most confident voice: "Who is that?"

They said the Lions Foundation, although next morning Mr Neat said it may have been the Blind Foundation - how he came to that conclusion I don't know.

I doubt it would have been either and we weren't going to open the door to find out more.

When I related this story to others some said they thought knocking on someone's door at 7pm was perfectly acceptable. Others said no.

I think if it was summer and we could see who it was fine, but 7 o'clock on a winter's night is not okay with me.

I have to admit I have a bit of an issue at the moment with people knocking on doors.

My mother had three different people knock at her door in one week offering services, window cleaning etc.

On the one hand I think good on these people for actively seeking work but we have had so many stories about people ripping off the elderly and the vulnerable that it actually scares me to think what could happen.

Recently I had a lovely little colourful note dropped into my letterbox offering me a window-cleaning service.

Great idea and if I ever wanted someone to clean my windows I'd pick that over someone knocking at my door, less intrusive and all the details I need in my hand.

Unfortunately, it's a sign of the times.

While my parents used to leave doors open when they went to the corner dairy, front doors open while in the back garden, and didn't lock cars parked in the driveway, I wouldn't dream of even leaving a window open, let alone the door, while I went out, even if only for five minutes.

Now it's getting to the stage where I am suspicious of people knocking on the doors and, as I've said before, if I'm home alone, even during the day, sometimes I feel the need to lock the doors.

What sort of security measures will my grandchildren have to take, I wonder, to protect themselves and their families?

It's a scary thought.

Now to the other part of my question. What time is it not polite to phone someone?

The answer to that question has changed dramatically in the last few years, with every person over the age of 10 now having a cellphone in hand day and night.

A lot of young people I know don't even have a landline and are constantly in touch with their friends.

Personally, I wouldn't phone anyone after 8.30pm-ish unless it was urgent.

Another question - do you answer the phone if it rings during meal times?

I do. Mr Neat doesn't.

I've noticed over the years that a lot of men don't actually like phones. I love a good old catch-up on the phone with family and friends.

My father certainly never "chatted" to his friends over the phone. In fact he didn't like the phone much at all and as it sat on the mantelpiece right above his chair calls in our house were short and sweet.

He would be astounded at how much time people spend on their phones these days.

* Linda Hall is Hawke's Bay Today's assistant editor.