Are me and my family being stalked/ used?? Freaked it by people who know us moving for the second time- are we being followed??

[Newmermaid4]

We have a couple who are friends via my university mates over ten years ago who are moving out of London. We have always been friendly with this couple and they have always said they like to move out of London. When we lived in a small village they phoned me up to enquire about it then moved there for a year or so as a trial. They moved back to London which was a relief as they are the type of people who borrow things and wouldn’t give them back, and are known to be “spongers” by some of the wider circle of friends. We moved to another small village and they came to visit before returning to London to do up their house. It is a very small village ( Hamlet in fact). I now have had a text to say they exchanged on a property 500 ft away. I am freaking out as they previously liked our carpet and bought the same for their house in London, have moved twice to small villages we live in and to be honest I didn’t really like the wife as she’s not my type and shallow plus is quite rude. When they visited us she left a used nappy from changing her toddler in our chiminea which I later found, walked up my stairs with her muddy shoes on even though she’s the sort of person who’d insist on people taking their shoes off in their house etc...When they were invited to lunch at our house they cancelled at short notice to go out with “new local” friends and she defriended me on Facebook so I wouldn’t see pics of that but I saw what she’d done.. I am worried they are expecting me to welcome them and I just wish they would go away as I don’t want to be used again. Should I say something??

[Taraswell]

Actually what?
Seriously though ... What?
You sound unhinged

[BlueGingerale]

I’d ghost them. Just don’t talk to them anymore.

Moving to a hamlet where you live - without discussing it with you first is seriously creepy.

[user1473878824]

You are being ridiculous. Hope you never move to Clapham OP or you’ll find everyone you ever went to university with is stalking you.

[BillHadersNewWife]

When they visited us she left a used nappy from changing her toddler in our chiminea

😂 😂😂

This honestly reads like a line from an Alan Bennett play.

[BillHadersNewWife]

A Chip in the Sugar

A Cream Cracker Under the Settee

A Used Nappy in the Chiminea

[Redglitter]

Should I say something

I cant even start to imagine what something youd say

[ConfessionsOfTeenageDramaQueen]

Don't say anything just back off. Take time to reply to messages, avoid seeing them etc

[DonKeyshot]

Don't "say" anything.

Don't welome them and when you encounter them, or they come knocking on your door, don't invite them (in) to your home and make it clear from the outset that you regard them as neighbours and, as such, you'll nod and smile and occasionally stop for the odd pleasantry but you won't be socialising with them.

[Shalom23]

Alan Bennett references

[Newmermaid4]

It does! we inherited the chi ones from the previous owners... not my thing at all!

[Newmermaid4]

Chiminea* sorry predictive text... yes- inadvertently very Alan Bennett...

[3luckystars]

My sister is great with ideas for getting rid of people like this. I'll ask her what she recommends for you. (It will probably involve a rosary beads, and some sort of costume, but her methods work)

[Newmermaid4]

Sorry.. “stalking” perhaps the wrong word...
Am probably sensitive about this as did actually have experience with being stalked in past, police involvement and everything. They recommended I could move so maybe that’s affected me about this kind of thing...

[joystir59]

Just stop being friendly with them. Become distant and unresponsive. You don't owe them anything. You are allowed to choose your friends.

[katewhinesalot]

Be civil, polite but unfriendly.

[CrumpetyTea]

seems odd- doesn't sound like stalking in the sense they are willing to drop you for new friends.
what didn't they like about the original village? seems odd to reject that and then go this hamlet - it would seem to indicate that you like different kinds of places

[Beautiful3]

Just dont say anything. If they knock just say sorry I'm off out now, put your jacket on and go to the car.

[isabellerossignol]

They sound pretty unpleasant, and strange.

But I'm also a bit bemused by the fact that you've been friends with them for so long and yet you say you don't like the wife. I can't even start to imagine how being friends with someone works when you don't like them. Just get rid of them, you're not friends. Be polite but distant.

[3luckystars]

If they are sponges then they wont like being 'sponged'. Set up a few timeshare opportunity meetings, or mlm/conjob/pyramid scheme introduction nights at your house, asking for start up fees etc. They will run a mile.

You could also start inviting them to loud and enthusiastic prayer meetings at your house. Good luck.

[ThePawtriarchy]

Say ‘that’s nice, we’ve just put an offer in on a house in xxxx’ and see if they quickly change their minds.

[ThePawtriarchy]

Or tell everyone in your village that they’re swingers and she’s in two MLMs before they arrive.

[GCAcademic]

If they are sponges then they wont like being 'sponged'. Set up a few timeshare opportunity meetings, or mlm/conjob/pyramid scheme introduction nights at your house, asking for start up fees etc. They will run a mile.

That’s a good idea. Or keep asking them if you can borrow a few hundred pounds. They’ll soon start avoiding you.

[JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth]

That's a really good idea from pp to tell them you're planning to move soon. Also why not just cut them off starting from now? Unfriend and unfollow on social media so you don't see their annoying updates. Block their number. And treat them politely but distantly when you see them. They're clearly weird so start as you mean to go on

[Horehound]

Just ignore the txt.