The writing on the wall [Welcome to my perfumed garden]

uh... freaky! I can imagine how this must unnerve you. It's probably one of those things where you either start to doubt you own sanity or rethink your view on "what's possible and what isn't in this world". You showed this to your spouse? Is this magic marker? It seriously wasn't there yesterday?

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It appeared during the evening sometime, I *know* it's new because it's on the wall facing the loo; I'm a girl, I sit down to pee so I face that wall many times a day ::G::

It looks like pencil to me, it's definitely not a marker or anything ink-based.

It is weird. I'm trying hard not to jump to a paranormal explanation, but... ::shrug::

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Is that white stuff among the black a light reflection or actually there?

Well, if you didn't see it before but nobody can have put it there in the space of time you are currently thinking about, the only logical conclusion would be that it was there before, but invisible, right? A chemical reaction with the steam from your shower perhaps? Does it follow any of the contours of your tiles? A fast growing, very strange mold? Hey, does it glow in the dark? *g*

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"Is that white stuff among the black a light reflection or actually there?"
Actually there; the tiles are limestone, not ceramic.

"the only logical conclusion would be that it was there before, but invisible, right? "
But... how? The pictures don't really show it properly, it really does appear to be pencil on the stone. I don't think it's a mould - the tiles have only been up a few weeks. Steam from the shower...? But why has this only just happened?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm open to all logical explanations but I'm just not seeing one yet, that fits.

::Is starting to panic:: LOL!

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But why has this only just happened?

I have no idea. But some kind of chemical reaction is the only explanation that makes any sense to me, especially since the tiles are still new and the "writing" seems to have appeared from 'behind' the white stuff. Maybe you can ask the guys who did the tiling or sold you those tiles if they've ever heard of something like this before?

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I did the tiling. The white stuff is just the powdery surface of the limestone; there are no stains on any of the other tiles, and this is distinct and dark and nothing like any marking on any of the tiles, which, as you can see, are very pale. Really - I don't think it's come from within the tile - the limestone is sealed with a chemical water retardant, so moisture can't get in.

It definitely looks like pencil marks on the top of the stone. the most logical explanation is something rubbing on the tiles, but what? It's high, at the side of the sink - not in a place where either I or Mark would rub against it. And what would make that lind of a mark???

I'm still struggling for a logical explanation!

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I'm really glad you seem to be taking this as more of an intriguing and fun thing than anything to be overly worried about. I think, I would be pretty weirded out.

Got two more ideas: You probably didn't carry anything long or high around in there, that might have touched the wall there? Or maybe it was some weird kind of caterpillar or other insect? But why then only there indeed? And what'd it do to leave that kind of mark?

On the other hand, I'm sure you've thought of everything that even makes any remote kind of sense, so ... ::shrug:: I'd really like to solve this puzzle (or know it solved) but I think I'm out of ideas now. :-(

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Hee! Me too. I'm chilled, man... (o:

I'm really not worried. Although this is an oldish house (1839) I've never sensed much in the way of a presence here (unlike the house I grew up in O:); I'm sure it's something logical and mundane but I'm not sure we'll ever find out what. It is strange.

But I'm not freaking over it anymore (o;

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It's really weird. If it were mould or some stain on the wall it wouldn't just show up overnight. Have you tried scraping it off or something?

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"Have you tried scraping it off or something?"
No, I'm still intrigued and puzzled by it; I don't want to risk spoiling it yet. (o:

If any more apears, 'll be sure to let everyone know. But if it ends up saying, 'some pig' I shall be quite cross. (o:

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I just tried rubbing/scratchingit off. It got darker and more indelible. ::wibble::

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I'm sure there's a logical explanation.

I'm sure there is.

The fact that I have not the faintest idea what on earth the logical explanation could be... has nothing to do with it.

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Heh heh. I've half a mind to sell the picture to the tabloids. They love this stuff.

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Curiouser and curiouser! =>}

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Indeed!

The more I look at it, the more strange it seems. ::is deeply puzzled::

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Ooh, eek! Very freaky! I wish I was there to have a look!

Don't fret, lass. These things happen, as you and I know...

Can you make out anything at all that might be letters? Because I'm sure it is easier to see it there than on the photos. And have you tried to erase it, to see what happens?

By the way, I am literally just in the door from Scotland and I have so bloody much to catch up with online, I think it may be beyond my capabilities, especially as I am teaching in a couple of hours.... ::looks forward to a long quiet day online tomorrow or maybe some mooching around on the net when I'm done tonight::

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I've looked and looked! Is it a message from the great beyond.... Bwahahahahaha!

It looks vaguely like A dd bb S - sometimes it looks a little like like 'adios' - but that's too freaky for me to even consider! Erase it? no. I'm still enjoying its presence in my home.
It's not the first time I've encountered something like this, though. Last time it was in a copy of the Radio Times (now that *was* weird!)

As I'm sure you can imagine, I've spent quite some time glaring at it over the past 18 hours and I still can't figure out what's going on. I'm very intrigued. ::smiles enigmatically::

Welcome home, honey. I hope you had a spankingly good time.

"::looks forward to a long quiet day online tomorrow or maybe some mooching around on the net when I'm done tonight::"
Sounds good. (o:

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Wow, that's really weird...you don't think it could be some idiosyncratic reaction with the tile glue and steam...but then why just there and just that line...

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I know... I know... I've been through every permutation of possibles. it still just looks like someone wrote on my wall, you know? As I just said in the other thread, I tried rubbing it off and it got darker - which is weird, as there's a waterproof sealant over the top of the tile. if it were down to water and steam, you'd expect the tiles around the shower to react - that bit doesn't get wet.

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Now, that's REALLY weird! Why would it get darker? So clearly it's not something put on the stone, or it sunk in and stained the stone...

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I think the oils from my finger may have darkened it, but the fact it won't rub off, aside from being a nuisance (the bathroom is brand new, I want to sell the house this year!), is more puzzling than ever. Whatever could have caused this?- and with it being on the wall facing the loo, I'm having to look at it *all* the time. ::G::

It's driving me crazy trying to come up with an explanation!

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I don't want to freak you out even more - and I admit I tend to be tuned into seeing such things by the very nature of my job - but can anyone else see a skull in the tile immediately to the right?!!!

Practicaly though, they are new tilea aren't they, it's probably something coming out from the stone.

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Ali! I wish you hadn't said that because yes, I can! I'm sure it's just an odd coincidence of how the natural markings of the stone are placed. Honest.

o.O

::plans to check under her bed tonight::

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The really weird thing is, it seems to be looking at the writing in horror! Creepy

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Honestly, I don't think it's something coming out of the stone - you have to see it, really, to appreciate how different it is from the markings on the stones, and how not-natural it appears. The tiles are 1/2 inch thick with a sealant over the top - there are no other tiles with these strange markings or anything like it. If water was causing it, you'd expect the tiles over the bath to be affected - this is a long way from any water.

As for the skull... ::sigh:: ::G:: Yeah, we saw it. Now that *is* just a coincidental marking in the stone!

The 'writing', AFAIC, remains unexplained.

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The dark markings are really bizarre, Gilly. I can't imagine how on earth that's turned up. I'm no help, I know. :o(

And the white streak beneath the writing looks like a snake to me. Totally odd.

I really do hope you find a reasonable and plausible explanation soon.

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LOL. It's just so intriguing! And not knowing... it's driving me crazy! I've been through all the obvious/logial reasons and none of them fit.

I tried rubbing at it and it just got darker - it's a brand new bathroom, I got it done for the express purpose of selling. How am I going to explain this to a prospective buyer? (o:

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:;gulp:: I can't believe how calm you're being. I'd be kinda freaked out by now!

Do you know the history of the house?

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"Do you know the history of the house?"
Pretty much. It's a cottage, one of a row built to house workers at the mill that used to be over the road, built 1839.

From censuses and the like, we know all the families who've lived here over the years - we even had a visit from the daughter of a man born here. I grew up in a haunted house so I know how it feels, and I've never felt anything much here before. It's a mystery.

If it had been accompanied with banging doors and shimmering lights and cold spots and all the rest, I'd be freaking big time, but it wasn't, so I'm not.

I'm sure there *is* a logical explanation, but I've no idea what it is.

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Well, in my lunch hour I showed it to the cream of Nottinghamshire's archaeologists, including one Wiccan. The general diagnosis was "I dunno, that's kinda weird man!"

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Ooh. How unexpected!

(o:

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Are you trying to make some kind of comment about my archaeological co-workers?

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Limestone usually has a lot of organic (remains of fossil snails etc) and anorganic (metal compounds for example) inclusions which you don't see on the surface until they have time to react with water. Such a chemical reaction can cause dark discolorations which can take on bizarre forms, depending on the origin and form of the inclusion that reacts. The reaction starts where the inclusion sits and transports through the tile until it reaches the surface, the only requirement for that is, that water reaches the location where the inclusion sits.

If a tile is properly glazed, usually nothing happens since water can't reach the inclusions but if the wather gets in from an not glazed side (flipside, perhaps) or through micro-cracks in the glaze, a reaction can happen and discoloration can "suddenly" appear on the surface. Of course, the process has started a lot earlier before you see the final result "suddenly" appearing, it's just the moment when the reaction finally reaches the surface and then it can appear pretty fast.

I'm not an expert and granted, the black tracks on your tile have a really odd and bizarre form, but that's the only possibility I can think of that could explain them - aside from great-grandaunt Molly's ghost trying to tell you something. ;-)

PatK
:-)

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Welcome to my perfumed garden

The writing on the wall

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