I am seeking rational explanations for something that appears to be woo as I think that a ghost in our house is far less likely than a human with irrational behaviour or a faulty tumble dryer.
My clothes regularly go missing. I live with my DH and DS (6). 90 per cent of them are of a type, always black, jersey type/stretchy fabric, so far mostly leggings (8 pairs now) , but also two dresses, a pair of black jeans and two sets of lounge wear PJ type things.
I am the only female. My DH does the washing and has a system that means that all the stuff (bar the jeans) that goes missing will in one of his particular type of washes. The stuff always disappears after it goes in the wash.
Our house is locked at all times, but we are guilty of leaving the back patio doors unlocked at times but the garden is not accessible without climbing through several other gardens.
We have two neighbours, one is adjoined completely as we are in a semi. She is a lovely bubbly woman, who is either at work or caring for her parents and she lives alone. We have a good, very friendly relationship with her. Think ideal neighbour.
Our other neighbours house is joined as we have lean-to structures that are connected. Our tumble dryer is in this lean-to. They are a couple, late 50s/early 60s. Very quiet, don't talk to me at all, but the husband will chat to my DH. I say hello if I see them and the husband will acknowledge it, but the wife stares at the ground. The husband is obsessive about his property maintenance. Always out cleaning, trimming, maintaining in all weathers. Every day he washes his car. Every day.
Anyway, I am just trying to give you a clear picture. We have been there 7 years, and this activity has only been really noticeable for the last few years but seems to have increased the last 12 months.
In terms of other things that could be interpreted as woo, I have a bracelet that disappears from time to time, from my jewellery box and then reappears in another place. Last time it found it on the drive. There are odd bumps and unexplained noises, like any house, but I have felt touches, like a hand on my hip or my foot when in bed and alone. Yesterday, a picture came off the wall with such force it damaged the (brand bloody new) paintwork.
I guess I used to put it down to absent mindedness, or just one if those things, but so many items have gone it has become an inconvenience. For example, one set of lounge wear I specifically bought for a hospital stay, and it disappeared a day before my admittance.
My DHs stuff never seems to be touched, or my DSs. My husband is not Mr Perfect but he is no gaslighter. My DS lives in a world of robots and play, and I would have noticed him getting into stuff. We have a huge spayed tom cat, and I considered the possibility of him dragging it off but don't think this is likely. He also is pretty chilled and lazy.
DH has finally agreed to look at motion activated cameras, so we will install these soon, just wanted to as MN for their views beforehand. He is only now taking it as seriously as I have managed to get across to him someone, rather than something, could be coming into our home.
What do you think? Does this happen to anyone else?