The first time I was admitted to a psychiatric unit my preconceptions were challenged. It was not scary, or at least not most of the time. It was, however, boring, something I hadn't really expected, and above all, it was odd. Experiences that staff and more seasoned patients took for granted were to me surprising, even bizarre, catching my attention and making me a participant observer of my own care. Here I have curated several objects representing the closed environment of the ward. This essay is based on various encounters that I have had. Details of individuals and institutions have been combined, altered, and anonymised out of respect for patient privacy.