Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask my friend to stop turning up at my house every single day? (very long sorry!)

178 replies

NewRags · 05/05/2016 11:44

Ok so I have a male friend, I'll call him X to save me typing my friend all the time!

I apologise for the seriously long post but I'm trying to avoid drip feeding.

So my OH and I have known X for many years, we all grew up in the same village, went to the same school (although not at the same time he is 6 years older than me but the same age as OH), went to the same local pub etc etc.

He has fallen out with various people over the years because he is a very big gossip/stirrer and people obviously don't take too kindly to this including my OH who doesn't have anything to do with him other than being polite/civil if they bump into each other.

He has a really annoying habit of just turning up at my house rather than texting/ringing first - hasn't really been much of an issue up to now as I am rarely in my house and if I wasn't at home he would just drive off, but I go somewhere every evening and X used to go there maybe once or twice a week at the same time as me.

I don't want to state where it is I go in the evenings (it's not a pub or anything like that!) because it might out me but I have to go there every evening at roughly the same time there is no alternative to this incase someone suggestions not going there. I HAVE to keep him on my side for reasons which I won't go into - falling out with him would be serious bad news for me.

So X is single and a few years ago (when me and my OH had just started dating) he helped me out a LOT with different things - I never asked him to, he always just happened to be around when I was struggling with something and this saved me a great deal of effort and time for which I was massively thankful for.

Anyway, he used to confide in me for different things, mainly his love life, and took my listening as a wrong signal and asked me out on a date - I let him down gently by saying sorry you're a nice guy but I only see you as a friend and you're not my type I'm dating Y (my current OH) to which he then wanted to know what Y had that he didn't. Got very offended and avoided me for weeks and made things very difficult for me.

Fast forward to now- he had been relatively normal up to 3 weeks ago, was happy me and OH are still together but had this annoying habit of just turning up to my house every weekend without fail when he knows I'm really really busy and only have a few hours on the weekend to do things I want to do, whether it be cleaning the house or just relaxing for 2 hours max. He would turn up and stay for those entire 2 hours just gossping/stirring and going on and on about his lovelife or lack thereof.

So about 2 months ago he met a woman, turned up and told me all about it, I was genuinely really happy for him and didn't hear from him much during the 3 weeks they were together but then it went horribly wrong he tried pushing it into something more serious really quickly, she freaked out and backed off.

Since then he has been calling me daily/texting me/turning up at my house on a daily basis and going on and on and on about how they split up, insists I read all the messages between them, replays all the scenarios and we have the same conversation every single day.

He he has now met another girl which happens to be an ex girlfriend of my OH from years ago. Told me he happened to bump into her even though she lives 20 miles away and he wasn't anywhere near her home town and then she went back to his and slept together... I find this really hard to believe but that's not the point - he keeps begging me not to tell my OH as he thinks he will get really mad (he won't!) yet rings me to talk about her when he knows I will be with my OH.
He now wants me to go to this girls place of work to "check her out" on his behalf to see if she's his type - I have no idea what his type is it seems to be anyone that will listen to him for more than 5 minutes. I also find it hard to get my head around why someone would need "checking out" after they've already slept together?

I'm getting fed up of him quite frankly, I'm fed up of him turning up unannounced at my house every day - I'm rarely there but my neighbour has told me he has often sat outside for an hour or more and that would coincide with phone calls asking where I was. He waits for me in the evenings at the place I go, and then goes on and on, if I say sorry I'm busy gotta dash he will follow me in the car then go on and on, turns up at my parents house if I'm there.
I work from home twice a week and he came round last week and let himself in because I didn't answer! was most put out when I said I was working and waited outside my house until I'd finished and tackled me when I was leaving the house. And if all of that fails he will ring me constantly. I can't not answer as it might be important and he will start off the conversation with something that seems quite genuine and then ramble on about his love life or start gossiping.

He constantly looks for compliments - sent me a message on FB yesterday which said "oh I don't think I'll be seeing this girl again I'm FAR too ugly" obviously wanting me to say no you're not etc.

Luckily my OH knows what X is like and doesn't seem him as a threat whatsoever but that's not really the point - I wouldn't dream of hounding a male friend if they were in a relationship! OH knows I am in a difficult position with regards to not offending him also.

I think most people in this situation would have asked X to stop this but he gets massively offended if you say you can't talk and goes into a strop and then proceeds to make things awkward for me.

He rang me yesterday, I didn't answer as I was in a meeting so he then text me asking why I wouldn't answer so I said I was busy and what is the problem? He just said nothing is wrong I just need to chat to you so can you answer. I just said no sorry I'm really busy to which he said fine I'll see you later then.

He doesn't seem to get the message, I've tried hiding in my house when he turns up (I really shouldn't have to!) but he will try all the doors in my house, goes round the back, rings me, waits outside etc and its all to gossip or tell me about his latest love conquest and I've had enough. If I say I'm really busy don't have time to stop and chat he won't take this as a hint to leave he just says he will talk whilst I carry on doing whatever it is I need to do. Last week I thought I had found the perfect answer - I said I wasn't feeling well and wanted to just try and have a sleep so he said ok I'll just wait downstairs for you then!

I also feel incredibly guilty as he has helped me out a lot in the past and don't really want that thrown in my face either and I feel like a right cow for not wanting to speak to him all the time when he obviously doesn't have anyone else to talk to.

It's not as if I didn't give him the time of day to start with - when he broke up with the first girl initially I was there for him every single day for 2 weeks, gave him advice which he completely ignored - I told him to delete her from Facebook because he kept checking what she had posted then sent me screenshots and wanted me to analyse it in detail as to what she was trying to say. Apparently " Just popping to the shops with friends" is a cryptic message saying she wants to get back together Confused and wouldn't have it when I said it wasn't anything other than just popping to the shops with her friends.

So I need to somehow tell him in a way which won't offend him and make him go off on one, that I can't cope with the daily bombardment of messages/phone calls/ turning up.

Any ideas please? and thankyou for getting this far!

OP posts:
GDarling · 05/05/2016 12:38

I had this problem a few years ago, everytime she knocked on my door I would put my coat on and say that I'm just going out, in a hurry, as my best friend is sick and she needs me NOW! It took a couple of weeks, but now I'm 'Leech' free.

MillionToOneChances · 05/05/2016 12:39

But she's willing to forego the chance of help with the big picture in order to maintain her privacy. She just wants help explaining in a way which won't offend him and make him go off on one, that I can't cope with the daily bombardment of messages/phone calls/ turning up.

AyeAmarok · 05/05/2016 12:40

Oh my God, I'm exhausted even just reading that. I can't believe you're living like that.

That so so, so far beyond the realms of normal social behaviour it's scary.

RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 05/05/2016 12:40

If the OP doesn't want to tell us then fair play to her - no reason why she should splash her private life all over MN. I'd love to know what it is but that's because I'm nosy!

OP personally I would lie to give myself some breathing space to sort out the other issue. Then cut ties gently but firmly.

PNGirl · 05/05/2016 12:42

I was also going to guess that he owns the place you stable your horse and the nearest alternative is 30 miles away.

In that sort of scenario you may just have to calmly explain as others have said and maybe try and involve your OH's feelings to help him see that this is not normal.

He clearly still fancies you though and thinks he is very important in yours and your OH's lives if he thinks your OH will be fussed about him seeing a very old ex!

AppleSetsSail · 05/05/2016 12:42

I am dying of curiosity and really need to finish a bloody power point.

DeltaSunrise · 05/05/2016 12:43

I'm not saying she has to divulge the information, but as she is asking for advice it would help the answers she is given.

The simple answer here is to tell him to back off, go to the police for stalking/harassment or cut him off completely. But op is saying she can't do any of this because of this "something" so what else can we advise if we don't know what the something is.

Pointless really.

P1nkP0ppy · 05/05/2016 12:44

Firstly he's nothing short of a stalker and secondly could you get legal or specialist advice on the situation so you know your legal rights?
I think it sounds like he's seriously unhinged and potentially dangerous if he has such a tight hold over you.

NewRags · 05/05/2016 12:44

OK I'm going to quit with the cryptic posts and hope this doesn't come back to bite me in the ass!

So I have a business I run part time - he has all the facilities as he inherited them all. There are queues of people lining up ready to take over if I don't want it anymore (this isn't coming from him by the way to make me feel like I'm privileged or anything like that)
There is nowhere else around me where I could set it back up, I don't have the money and would cost thousands so this particular situation is absolutely perfect for me, its 5 miles from home and moving it to another area where it would be successful would be at least 30 miles away which would mean I could no longer run it as I do this in the evenings and weekends around my full time job. I absolutely LOVE running this business I have put so much effort into it and it's going really well- I'd be gutted if I had to give it up.

We fell out in the past (because I wouldn't go on a date with him) and he kept doing stupid things like changing gate padlocks, putting large vehicles in the way, so I couldn't gain entry, leaving doors unlocked, leaving stuff out in the rain, really annoying childish things and since that episode I've been looking for somewhere else but sadly there isn't anywhere. He apologised for being such a dick afterwards and everything went back to normal.

Before this he was fine, we just rubbed along although the gossiping was annoying it didn't really affect me as he wasn't hounding me on a daily basis.

Sorry I feel quite embarrassed that the explanation probably hasn't outed me as much as I thought it would Blush

OP posts:
FirstWeTakeManhattan · 05/05/2016 12:46

But she's willing to forego the chance of help with the big picture in order to maintain her privacy

The OP of course shouldn't share anything here that she feels uncomfortable with. I actually said

Have you recently shared these reasons with anyone for new perspective? You may need someone telling you that these reasons aren't as binding as you think

I was suggesting that the OP talks to someone in rl who might have a new perspective.

It's not clear to me if the OP is only reluctant to share here (understandably) or it applies in rl as well, in which case, she's not getting any new suggestions or perspective on the situation.

SeeYouLaterAlligator · 05/05/2016 12:46

So this thing that would have you driving approximately 120 miles per day for that he is able to provide...I take it your OH doesn't require it personally? Does he have this hold over you whereby the potential fallout would have a catastrophic effect on you both personally and professionally?
If this is the case, I'm guessing it is why you haven't called the police and had a restraining order put on him because you actually 'need' him and he knows this.

MillionToOneChances · 05/05/2016 12:46

I have a very close friend who is a bit like this. I found I had to be honest with him and explain that I am quite a solitary person who needs my quiet time. No phone calls late at night, no interrupting my quiet contemplation time... And in return I make a point of contacting him at times that are convenient for me to talk. Albeit when I know we'll be interrupting before hours have elapsed.

Not sure that will work here when he has a habit of cornering you, but perhaps explaining that you need your space - and exaggerating the extent to with this also affects your other OH - might help.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 05/05/2016 12:47

OKay, massive x-post with OP Grin

RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 05/05/2016 12:47

I'm sure it won't OP but think it's pretty mean of people pushing you to explain your situation. Especially as your original analogy and the stable one are both reasonable equivalents.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 05/05/2016 12:48

An equestrian facility? He sounds awful OP. He's no friend to you, he really isn't.

fingles · 05/05/2016 12:48

Maybe she keeps her horse in a field he owns, and there are no other fields available (except those for sale for £50k) within 30 miles?

I think we know enough to see her difficulty.

op, I recommend telling him to bog off with the creepiness, and if you lose your access to Thing X, you'll have to deal. But I speak as someone who travelled 30km to school and back daily for 8 years!

NannawifeofBaldr · 05/05/2016 12:49

Do you have a proper, legal co tract for use of the facilities?

Are you paying for them?

NoSquirrels · 05/05/2016 12:49

I think the OP's been clear enough, tbh - this guy has some connection to something which will cause her genuine financial hardship in some way. It could be

She's a carer for his mother and lives in a cottage on site
She uses the tennis courts at his manor house to give lessons to earn her living
She stables her horses at his parents' large equestrian facility
Her houseboat is moored on his uncle's riverside
She teaches pottery from a fully equipped studio in his garden
His aunt's hot air balloon business is her sole source of income

There could be a gazillion reasons. The point is, whatever it is this guy can disrupt her living/earning situation significantly if he gets the hump.

The question for the OP is whether she really believes this is a significant threat? It sounds like this guy "has the ear" of someone, rather than being the one in charge, iyswim. So the risk might not be that risky after all.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 05/05/2016 12:50

I'm sure it won't OP but think it's pretty mean of people pushing you to explain your situation

No one here is being mean. Everyone is trying to help the OP.

NoSquirrels · 05/05/2016 12:51

Oh, X-Post!

LittleBlueRidingBoot · 05/05/2016 12:51

Sounds like he is trying to make you quit voluntarily for some reason.

NewRags · 05/05/2016 12:54

Nope that's the rub - we don't have a legal contract setup, I was so eager to get to it before the others that I just went along blindly - I KNOW I'm an idiot! and technically I don't pay him - he has something for free every month.

I know I'm stupid for not getting things done legally please don't bash me too much for that! Everything else is done legally though so I have no worries about him calling the taxman or reporting me to anyone.

OP posts:
RebeccaWithTheGoodHair · 05/05/2016 12:54

Different perspective then I guess because it seems to me the OP was pretty clear several times she didn't want to elaborate!

TradGirl · 05/05/2016 12:55

He sounds like a complete wanker. Personally I would rather work 30 miles away from home than have a vindictive narcissistic arsehole ruling my life but that's just me.

Investigate your alternatives asap, get a plan B in place and then tell him he needs to give you some space. If he starts throwing toys out of the pram tell him you're going but if you go from his property, you're leaving his life. He needs you more than you need him, it sounds like you're his only 'friend' if that word even applies in such a fucked up situation.

NewRags · 05/05/2016 12:55

NoSquirrels your post actually made me laugh - thankyou for that! Grin although I do really like the idea of a hot air balloon business!

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread