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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand what was going on

86 replies

dealer · 10/05/2011 20:24

I'm a delivery driver. Today I stopped in a road which had several deliveries. Another van was already there, it was sign-written as from the business in the next village which I know supplies peppers to major supermarkets.

I saw a man get out of the van with some 3-packs of peppers and started to knock on doors. When people answered he handed them a pack of peppers. If no-one answered he tucked the pack behind a plant pot or wherever, as if he were delivering phone books. No-one that answered the door looked surprised, just opened the door and took the peppers. Annoyingly, no-one I was delivering to was in so I couldn't ask them. When I ended up at the same door as this man I attempted to chat, but it became apparent he had a speech problem and I couldn't understand him. He seemed friendly, and smiled and waved as he moved down the street.

So, have I missed some pepper distribution scheme? It all just seemed most odd to me

OP posts:
discobeaver · 10/05/2011 20:26

I reckon it was a marketing thing, free peppers.

Or the occult.

discobeaver · 10/05/2011 20:28

Wait. Perhaps you had ingested too much hallucinogenic wasabi at lunch, the guy was actually distributing phone books, and had a perfectly normal chat with you, which you interpreted as speaking in tongues/speech impediment.

I'm torn now between explanations..

Crevix · 10/05/2011 20:32

initiation into secret cult? hallucingenic properties in peppers you know. go back and se if the whole village is dancing nekkid and partaking of carnal rites.

Original poster
dealer · 10/05/2011 21:06

Well, I have to go there every day, so hopefully see some more interesting sights tomorrow.

OP posts:
Original poster
dealer · 10/05/2011 21:08

Where would the carnal rites be happening? There isn't a village green. Maybe the methodist church car park?

OP posts:
discobeaver · 10/05/2011 21:12

Local Conservative club? Won't be anything unusual for them probably.

PomBearEnvy · 10/05/2011 21:22

Mixed peppers? red peppers? yellow peppers? or Green Peppers??????

MadamDeathstare · 10/05/2011 21:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OddBoots · 10/05/2011 21:30

Oh goodness, this thread has really tickled me, thank you for sharing your bafflement.

"Someone left a gift of courgettes by my mailbox once. It was very unsettling." - that was enough to set me into utter hysterics, thank you too MadamDeathstar

Original poster
dealer · 10/05/2011 21:50

Mixed peppers.

The most alarming part was that no-one else seemed alarmed, so a very surprising result if an experiment into reactions.

People just opened their doors and took the peppers. No conversation was seen to be had, although not possible since the bloke couldn't talk. One person only opened the door a tiny amount (maybe the chain was on?) and snaked her arm out for her peppers. Alright, I guess it's good to get free peppers, but I'd definitely question it if someone came to my door.

I've worked this area for 3 years and I'd never seen the pepper man before, so how come they seemed to be expecting him??

OP posts:
Original poster
dealer · 10/05/2011 21:51

Hiding them behind plant pots seemed very weird too.

OP posts:
macdoodle · 10/05/2011 21:54

oooh I'd like a box of free peppers please !

Finallyspring · 10/05/2011 21:55

I am loving this thread already

takethisonehereforastart · 10/05/2011 21:56

This reminds me of a conversation I had recently.

Man knocks on my front door. I open it.

Him: Fishman.
Me: What?
Him: Fishman.
Me: What?
Him: FISHMAN! (somewhat firmly by this time).
Me: No-one of that name lives here (equally firmly with a hint of eye-rolling and an unspoken "get lost weirdo").

I close the door. There is some shuffling at the letterbox and a menu for deliveries of fresh fish lands on the doorman.

Me: Ahh.

starrychime · 10/05/2011 21:58

Thank you OP Grin. Very few things make me laugh out loud but this thread (and Russell Brand's Ponderland) are exceptions! Maybe there had been a mailshot beforehand to announce imminent arrival of said free peppers, hence no surprise? However this doesn't explain why peppers would be getting distributed Confused

zukiecat · 10/05/2011 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
dealer · 10/05/2011 22:01

A what?

OP posts:
cheesesarnie · 10/05/2011 22:04

Grini want a pepper man.like the suggestion it was you who was the weird one!

takethisonehere-i love it!the fish man keeps coming here and wont take were all vegetarian as an answer!im going to try that next time.

Jenstar21 · 10/05/2011 22:05

Love it. I wish a random fruit & veg man would come round here.

I am chortling out loud (and being looked at weirdly by my other half) at being unsettled by courgettes. They are the most evil vegetable, so I understand your concern.

Slubberdegullion · 10/05/2011 22:06

Maybe they are the quality contol pepper testers?

MirandaGoshawk · 10/05/2011 22:07

Maybe they weren't peppers? Since you were in your van, could you have been mistaken? Perhaps they were, er, tennis balls?

Not that substituting tennis balls for peppers in your OP would make any more sense.

MirandaGoshawk · 10/05/2011 22:07

Mis-shapen tennis balls.

budgieshell · 10/05/2011 22:08

I'm reading this and waiting for the punch line.

zukiecat · 10/05/2011 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

purplehonesty · 10/05/2011 22:11

lol at peppers and fish.
Reminds me of my first day at work....customer comes in, I am expecting her.
Me: Hello Mrs Fish
Her:Bird
Me: ok....(you are odd)
Me: So Mrs Fish, what can I do for you
Her: Bird
Me: Sorry?
Her: Bird
Me: Where?
Me: Oh....sorry I may have got your name wrong