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Odd BiL

80 replies

WattsandAwl · 07/03/2020 16:08

Name change. Pom bears, wolef, Brian yoni, etc.

DH's brother is staying with us for a few days, while there's some structural work going on at his flat.

I just need to come here and vent.

He's harmless, but odd to the point where I wonder how I'm going to get through this!

He arrived afternoon, rang the doorbell and shouted through the letterbox to not worry as he was going to cook dinner as a thank you. I opened the door and he turned around and and said he was dashing off to Asda.

Three hours later he came back and made baked bean toasties with a "side order" of pickled beetroot. DH, I and DS (14) and DD (12), sat down and genuinely enjoyed the eccentricity of it.

BiL then presented (with a flourish) a flan base. We all just sat there bemused as he ran back into the kitchen. He then ran back in and tipped a tin of pears onto it, saying "Shit! That was supposed to be apricots". BTW, DH never swear in front of the DC, but we just sat with fixed smiles.

We ate it, but BiL just sat and angrily berated himself for buying the wrong tin.

Later on, he said he had a film for the "grown-ups" to watch. Apparently nothing offensive, but the children "wouldn't get it".

We were all sitting in the living room chatting, when he jumped up and said that he could hear the ice cream van. He couldn't. We live on the edge of a very rural and very tiny village. We've never had an ice cream van here.

BiL pressed £10 into DS's hand and told him to run outside and treat him and his sister to whatever they wanted. He said that they should catch the bus and go swimming afterwards. There is no bus.

In the end, DC went upstairs anyway, so BiL took the opportunity to put on is DVD, which was King Ralph, starring John Goodman.

Not my cup of tea, but DH and I sat and watched it. All the time BiL was excited (shuffling in his chair and saying "nearly there now") about a scene that we absolutely had to see, as it was so hilarious.

It wasn't remotely funny. An African king was visiting the court of King Ralph, leading to outdated and cringey 'humour'.

BiL rewound the scene for us twice, as he didn't think we "got it". He was doubled up with laughter the whole time.

After that he got a wodge of paper out of his bag, called the DC downstairs and asked if we know any origami. We all said that we didn't, but would like to see what he can do. He said he didn't know any and was a bit disappointed about that!

DD woke up in the night a bit frightened because there was 'screeching' coming from his room. It was a recording of monkeys that he likes listening to because it reminds him of "happy days" in which he volunteered at a woolly monkey sanctuary. Unfortunately he's now made a recording for DD, as he thought she would like it.

There are so, so many little oddities, but too many to go in to.

He's a lovely, kind and intelligent man. He works very hard for a refugee charity and is very passionate about looking after everyone who is vulnerable. But this is going to be a tough week!

OP posts:
mummmy2017 · 07/03/2020 17:35

Just enjoy it, I think he is just nervous and trying too hard to be liked

ShesGotBetteDavisEyes · 07/03/2020 17:38

He just sounds eccentric! I really hope he's not on mumsnet, could be quite hurtful as your post is very outing...!

Lunafortheloveogod · 07/03/2020 17:42

Aw I’m gutted.. my mad relatives are all mean old sceptical bats Grin.

I’m sure he’ll get grating after a while but I’d have died laughing a good few times by now. Have you suggested an evening of YouTube origami tutorials?

DeeCeeCherry · 07/03/2020 17:45

He's a lovely, kind and intelligent man. He works very hard for a refugee charity and is very passionate about looking after everyone who is vulnerable. But this is going to be a tough week!

Awww just bear with his oddities for a week. Sounds like he entirely lacks social skills but isn't a horrible person. That's good at least. & although you've listed his strangeness you've not done it in a harsh unkind way so you'll be fine, I think. I bet your DCs like him, he sounds fun in albeit in an odd way. You can look back on it all with a grin when he's gone🙂

katy1213 · 07/03/2020 17:48

He sounds wearing but his social skills maybe went rusty at the monkey sanctuary. Just hope he doesn't visit too often.

WattsandAwl · 07/03/2020 18:00

He's not on Mumsnet, I'm sure of that.

The DCs think he's funny, but are also a bit embarrassed of him. DD's going to a birthday party tomorrow and begged me to stop him from taking her (as he had offered). I can understand that, especially for a girl of that age. He once took DS to a friend's house and insisted on chatting to the friend about why some electrical appliances aren't suitable for use in out-buildings. DS was mortified. He said there weren't any out-buildings and he doesn't know why he was talking about it. BiL also gave the child an Argos catalogue that he had in the boot of the car. Again, DS said he doesn't know why.

OP posts:
WattsandAwl · 07/03/2020 18:01

I meant he gave the catalogue to the child's parents.

OP posts:
Cornettoninja · 07/03/2020 18:07
Grin

I understand why he’s hard work to actually live with but he sounds like a fantastic person to know. It’s always be exciting getting a birthday present off him!

RiftGibbon · 07/03/2020 18:11

You had me at the recording of screeching monkeys.

WattsandAwl · 07/03/2020 18:12

His presents are very odd. He bought me a bright orange electric guitar that he'd seen on eBay, one birthday. For the following Christmas he bought me a portable amp in case I wanted to go busking.

I'm not at all musical and have no desire to play the electric guitar. It's still in the house though in case he mentions it.

OP posts:
HowDoesTheCow · 07/03/2020 18:14

Perhaps next year he'll get you your very own steam train.

WhatchaMaCalllit · 07/03/2020 18:15

I am genuinely laughing out loud at buying you the electric guitar and amp in case you decided to go busk! That's feckin hilarious 😂 🤣

FilledSoda · 07/03/2020 18:17

There must be something wrong with me because while all the posters are saying , how lovely , how funny etc I'm thinking he would make me a bit nervous. What would happen if you said ' there is no ice cream van'?
Or if you didn't want to go to dinner ?
I think I'd just be worried he wouldn't deal well with reflection iyswim.

nosleepp · 07/03/2020 18:22

He sounds ace!

The80sweregreat · 07/03/2020 18:24

I agree he sounds hard going to be honest.
I know some people are eccentric but he sounds incredibly eccentric!
I don't think I could cope but I am old and set in my ways.

WillTheyEverSleep · 07/03/2020 18:24

@FilledSoda exactly what I was going to say. The only person I know who was like this was my aunts xh. If his eccentricity wasn't accommodated or someone dare say no to his funny ways we saw a really nasty side to him that I would rather not experience again. He is her ex for a reason now.

WinterCat · 07/03/2020 18:25

Better a polite guest who means well than many of the other ones that MN threads are so often full of.

WattsandAwl · 07/03/2020 18:32

When he realises he's misjudged things, he gets cross with himself. Like the tinned pears/apricots mix-up. I can't ever imagine him being aggressive.

I've heard that he's been a little bit bullied before, but seems to have a thick skin and is very up-beat. He had a boss who took advantage of him, but apparently he (Bil) took him (boss) to a museum and now they're friends. It was his other brother who told us about that.

OP posts:
The80sweregreat · 07/03/2020 18:35

Your dh and the other sibling are not like this I assume? Is her like your mil or fil?
Is he quite young ?

WattsandAwl · 07/03/2020 18:35

Right, we're off to the restaurant. Apparently the couple like to eat at 7pm.

BiL's got his anchor shirt on.

Wish me luck.

OP posts:
WattsandAwl · 07/03/2020 18:38

No, DH and the other brother are very sensible, reserved people! Their parents (both deceased) were also very quiet and 'under-stated' folk. All nice people.

No, he's in his fifties, so not young. He's the middle son, DH is the youngest.

OP posts:
Lllot5 · 07/03/2020 18:45

Well I like the sound of him.
I mean I’m glad he’s not staying with me for the week, but at least you won’t be bored.

The80sweregreat · 07/03/2020 18:54

Maybe doing such a tough job and his life experiences has made him realise you can't take life too seriously! He may be behaving this way because he knows he can ; with others he may be a bit more reserved?
A few people on my mums side of the family are a bit odd : they are quirky and come across a bit strange but nothing as you describe here! It would be a dull world if we were all the same though of course.

Modestandatinybitsexy · 07/03/2020 18:56

This is brilliant! Hope you all have a lovely - and entertaining - dinner!

Princessfaffalot · 07/03/2020 18:58

He sounds brilliant!

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