Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is odd?

35 replies

lastnerve · 16/07/2012 15:08

Every now and again usually a couple of times a week a bloke pulls up in the car park just outside where we live. (he doesn't live here)
and stands outside his car has a fag and stares at either some greenery near the end of the car park, or a house near the end of the car park. Its a dead end so not going anywhere. stands for ages then gets in the car and drives off.

happened again very early this morning, but happens anytime of the day.

its feels very weird but I can't articulate why.

OP posts:
Kayano · 16/07/2012 15:10

It's my dad, drives anywhere to avoid my mum finding out he is smoking again

Even wears a latex glove.

It's mortifying

Sorry. Just shout 'John, go home and fess up' at him. He will never return

mumineedawee · 16/07/2012 15:10

Sounds to me like he can't, for whatever reason, smoke at home.

Or he just needs a couple of minutes to himself and has probably just 'popped' out of home.

Doesn't have to be weird.

Lovemy3kids · 16/07/2012 15:11

Does seem odd behaviour.....maybe he is a sneaky smoker and trying to keep it this way so other half doesn't find out? There is always the chance that he is keeping an eye on someone else in your road.....maybe start to record on paper the dates, times and duration of his stay, see if there's any pattern?? Alternatively, contact your local police station and ask for their advice.

Kayano · 16/07/2012 15:14

Contact the police for someone clearly trying to have a sneaky fag? As if they don't have enough to do

fruitysummer · 16/07/2012 15:15

We live near an airport. I know several people who drive up to look at the planes.

I find it really weird, however they just want to escape for 5 mins and find it peaceful to just sit in the car and do nothing.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

Lovemy3kids · 16/07/2012 15:18

Kayano - there's no harm calling the police for advice....isn't that what we pay our council tax for....and at this stage....we don't know that it is ONLY for a sneaky fag that he is popping out for!

Original poster
lastnerve · 16/07/2012 15:22

Hmm perhaps ,

OP posts:
MamaMumra · 16/07/2012 15:24

Have driven miles away to have a sneaky fag. Always look very suspicious.

somedaysareatotalwasteofmakeup · 16/07/2012 15:27

I certainly wouldn't call the police.

Perhaps he just finds it a quiet spot to go and have a fag, perhaps he stops there after popping to the shop to buy his daily fags?

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 16/07/2012 15:29

Another one here who thinks he is just hiding his smoking from his wife and / or kids!

somedaysareatotalwasteofmakeup · 16/07/2012 15:29

I am laughing at making notes at times he's there comes across very Norris from Corrie.

LentillyFart · 16/07/2012 15:29

.maybe start to record on paper the dates, times and duration of his stay, see if there's any pattern?

Dear God - it's a bloke having a sly fag not some drug crazed axe murderer sizing sites to bury the bodies. You sound like a bit of a curtain twitcher and that is not a good thing in case you didn't know.

Ephiny · 16/07/2012 15:38

Maybe he doesn't want to smoke inside the car? This is really not a police matter.

Original poster
lastnerve · 16/07/2012 15:38

He's most certainly staring at something though, and its not everyday.

OP posts:
AmazingBouncingFerret · 16/07/2012 15:46

He's staring at where he hid the bodies.

LentillyFart · 16/07/2012 15:48

No - you're right OP. Call 999. And Crimewatch. Tell them you're onto something here and they should just drop everything and listen.

Come back and let us know how you get on.

whatthewhatthebleep · 16/07/2012 15:55

tis a bit odd I think...driving into a dead end street and always parking in the same place....whats there except houses?...and why would a fly/sly smoker be deliberately returning to the same place????
could have a fly/sly fag anywhere...would you choose the same deadend all the time or just stop somewhere and have a fag en route to or from....I def think it's odd behaviour
I might be reporting someone regularly hanging around....why is he doing it???...is it for some other reason...maybe he's intimidating/watching/whatever an ex partner or something...you may be reporting something significant...no harm done if it turns out to be nothing....

Salmotrutta · 16/07/2012 15:56

He grew up in that house and he and his Dad planted the greenery when he were nowt but a little nipper.
It reminds him of happier times and he likes to go and stare wistfully and remember.

I feel sorry for him actually ...

Freddiebump · 16/07/2012 15:58

He's probably staring at the greenery so as not to appear rude by looking at the houses around him! I agree he's just stopping for a crafty fag away from family. I do the same after I've left my dad's on a Sunday; I don't smoke in front of him, and don't smoke in the car, but after a couple of hours there having Sunday dinner, and a long drive home, I'm afraid I do precisely this and pull up round the corner from my dad's, get out the car and have a much wanted cigarette. In fact, I seem to stop at pretty much the same place every week. And there's houses. And I make a point of not staring into the houses so usually look towards the park. Better change my route in case I get taken down by the cops next week!

Salmotrutta · 16/07/2012 15:58

whatthe - he's hardly being covert though is he?

And if he was trying to intimidate someone they presumably have seen him and reported it?

Salmotrutta · 16/07/2012 15:59

Ooh Freddie - better watch out! Grin

HecateHarshPants · 16/07/2012 16:02

Secret smoker. I bet you.

I have about a dozen different smoking hideyholes dotted here and there, depending which direction I've headed in. They are my regular smoking spots but I am not there every day.

minimisschief · 16/07/2012 16:03

maybe hes a killer going back to the place he murdered his victim to relive the memories

Lovemy3kids · 16/07/2012 16:08

LentillyFart - I am by no means a curtain twitcher - haven't got the bloody time - the OP asked for advice....was all i was giving. Maybe he is a secret smoker (which i initially said), but if he isn't then what happens then?! Surely there's no harm in keeping times and dates etc to see if there is a pattern? Don't understand why I am being slated so much for voicing my opinion. Surely the OP wouldn't have posted anything if she didn't think it was odd?!

whatthewhatthebleep · 16/07/2012 16:08

I live in a cul-de-sac and believe me...this would be noticed by a few...it wouldn't be long before the nosey neighbour would be out there investigating his being there....it's odd and thats that...it's right that you wonder and right to want to be sure something is nothing...why would it be ok to ignore and after the fact people say 'oh yea, I remember that guy hanging around lots of times...it was weird but I didn't do anything'
I don't see how erring on the side of caution is a bad thing tbh...I would phone police if it went on repeatedly...