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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that this 'relationship' is not going to go anywhere?

68 replies

StableButDeluded · 21/05/2016 11:45

OK, I just want to know if I'm overthinking this, as I'm old and haven't dated for centuries.

Met a seemingly lovely chap a couple of months ago. Have been out on a few dates, all good. Unfortunately he lives a couple of hours drive away so difficult to get together during weekday evenings. But twice now we have arranged that he was going to come and stay at mine over the weekend, and both times things have happened that have prevented him coming. Nothing inherently wrong with that, just bad luck...but it's the way he has behaved towards me at the time that I'm questioning.

Last weekend, I didn't get told until the Friday afternoon that he couldn't make it. Apparently the boss told everyone last minute they 'had' to work all day on the Saturday. Prior to that, I also hadn't heard from him at all on the Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.
No text or phone call. No reply to the couple of texts I sent him. And when I finally got a reply on the Friday, it was a brief text just saying he had been 'busy with crap at work' all week and that he had to work so couldn't come.
Nothing inherently odd about that obviously, except that up till then he has been texting/phoning every day. His choice, I haven't expected him to, he just started doing it and I went with it. He's also been pretty forthcoming with the compliments, how lovely I am, how he enjoys our time together etc etc, so I guess I feel I have been given the impression that we are possibly entering girlfriend/boyfriend territory.
Anyway, I was disappointed obviously, as I can't see him every weekend due to my child sometimes being at home (he often stays the whole weekend at his dads) and a bit Hmm at the idea that he didn't even have time to send one text or make one phone call for three days....but fair enough, life gets in the way sometimes.
Fast forward to last Monday now, all seems back to normal, and we plan the same thing for THIS weekend. Same thing happens, Tuesday and Wednesday, no replies to texts. They were read but not replied to. No phone calls either. So again, it's Thursday now, and I'm wondering what's going on and if he is still coming for the weekend. So I texted and asked outright if he was OK , and if he was still coming. I got the reply 'Stable sorry but I lost a dear friend on Tuesday and I'm not dealing with things very well, I understand if you want to move on, it's not what I want but this is not fair on you xx'
So...Obviously I was shocked, and replied with sympathy, said it was fine, and of course it wasn't an issue that he couldn't come. But I was again a bit Hmm that he just went totally silent on me for three days, and couldn't simply pick up the phone and tell me so I knew where I stood. And I thought the comment about moving on was odd, I hadn't said anything to imply I didn't want to see him again.

Anyway, last night I rang to see how he was doing, and because I just thought he might want to talk. Got no reply, so left a normal text message saying basically that.
Got a text later, saying 'Stable sorry, I've lost my friend, I'm dealing with stuff, I don't need this shit'.
Eh??
Now, I took 'this shit' to mean ME and the fact I have texted and offered to talk. I was pretty hurt and surprised at that, and I rang him back to say so.
He answered the phone and said (again) that he'd just lost his dear friend in an accident with a drunk driver, he was trying to 'sort stuff' out and help the wife etc. He then got very upset, said t that I'd taken that comment the wrong way and 'this shit' meant the stuff he was dealing with, NOT me ...and then said 'I can't be thinking about women right now'.

'I can't be thinking about women right now'???
Am I being totally unreasonable in the circumstances to think that's a weird thing to to me? Suddenly, I'm just random 'women'. Not Stable, not even A particular woman. Women in general.
And am I unreasonable to feel hurt and rather offended, and to think that that's a bit of a red flag about where I would stand in the overall picture every time he has a problem IF we were in a proper relationship?

As I say, I'm old (48) and haven't dated for years, maybe I AM being unreasonable. Maybe my standards of behaviour and politeness are too high, but I would never have said to him 'I can't be thinking about men right now' if the situation was reversed. I just don't get that he's all over me one minute and I'm wonderful, amazing etc etc, then the minute he has something that's stressing him, I'm not even worth a text or a phone call.
I'm confused. Sorry for the long post by the way, but didn't want to drip feed later.

OP posts:
ChopsticksandChilliCrab · 22/05/2016 03:23

Even if I gave him the benefit of the doubt over the reasons for not coming I wouldn't be able to get over the sheer rudeness of the responses. Who speaks to anyone like that?

Baconyum · 22/05/2016 03:40

My first thoughts were

Married

Player (did he lose interest soon after you slept together? No need to tell us but a question for you to think about)

Met someone else but not sure if they're interested in him so keeping you on back burner

And no I don't believe the dead friend either. That was thrown in cos you were 'bugging him'

I date casually but I don't suffer fools it IS brutal out there now

icedcherrytea · 22/05/2016 03:41

Read the book 'he's just not that into you' was a definite eye opener for me! X

Whippet81 · 22/05/2016 06:01

I had the same thoughts as Baconyum.

Whippet81 · 22/05/2016 06:02

Just to add - don't feel like you've been naive or whatever - you haven't done anything wrong.

It sounds like awfully hard work to me and I would just stop replying - but I know it's disappointing when you like someone and thought it could go somewhere.

TheDowagerCuntess · 22/05/2016 06:36

I have an utter abhorrence of being the 'runner', and that's exactly what this guy is making you be. The one who's doing all the running.

Like others, I suspect the death of the 'dear friend' is a load of old tut, but regardless. He's making you run around, contacting him and following up. It's not a good look.

He may be straight up - unlikely - but it doesn't even matter. It's really not meant to be this difficult.

winkywinkola · 22/05/2016 06:41

Ignore him.

Sod being polite.

He's been really rude to you imo.

Being polite and receptive to him is just asking for trouble.

Mrsfancyfanjango · 22/05/2016 07:06

My first thought was married!
Dump him OP, you deserve better than that, he's stringing you along. I speak from experience, if he's not moving mountains to see you chances are he doesn't want too.

Wine Chocolate

bertsdinner · 22/05/2016 07:10

I agree with ClashCityRocker, I think something/someone else closer to home is developing.
I wouldnt care for the way he sort of blames you for misinterpreting his message "you took it the wrong way". I think the old friend death thing is a load of bollox.

LagunaBubbles · 22/05/2016 07:19

You don't need to be polite to this man and you certainly don't need his mind games. You hardly know each other and thus had started, can you imagine what he would do if you were actually in a relationship with each other?

StableButDeluded · 22/05/2016 07:48

Morning all, thanks again for all the good advice. Quick update, I sent a brief text last night to say that on reflection I agreed with his suggestion that I should move on. Yes, yes, I know I didn't need to but I just wanted to see what happened, as all this has been a big eye-opener for me, I wanted to see if he would suddenly become more interested as some of you had suggested.
Well, back came a text almost instantly. ' oh I'm sorry you feel like that Gorgeous, that is not what I wanted to hear, I am still sorting this death xxx'
interesting how he can suddenly reply instantly to a text AND I'm 'gorgeous' again.
I didn't reply and have blocked him. I don't even feel a bit disappointed, and I'm glad I posted about it. I know I probably look very gullible but I don't mind, it's really shown me what to be careful of if I date anyone else in the future.
Thanks all, you lot are fab Wine

OP posts:
juneau · 22/05/2016 08:24

'Sorting this death'???? WTAF? Unless he's the next of kin he'll have nothing to do with 'sorting' anything - and particularly not on a Sat night. My money is on the fact he was down the pub watching the FA cup final!

MardleBum · 22/05/2016 08:30

God, that sounds so fucking smug and glib. I think you have your answer.

wombthereitis · 22/05/2016 08:32

What a shame to have your first dating experience post divorce be such a dud! I know you're saying you think you've been very naive but you sound very sensible to me OP. You saw through his bullshit and cut him out. Good for you. Hope it's onwards and upwards from here for you Smile

MardleBum · 22/05/2016 08:36

Yes i think the first time this happens to you it rocks you a bit, but it makes you stronger and less naive for next time, more able to see through the bullshit and swerve anyone who just wants to dangle you while you stroke their ego for them. It's a learning curve and a useful one.

StableButDeluded · 22/05/2016 08:44

Yes, I was very Hmm at the 'sorting this death' comment. the way he phrased it and the fact that he could possibly be soooooo busy 24/7 with it.
I know he's not the best at text communication, he's far more articulate in real life and I can't imagine him saying that sentence in person. Some people are very blunt in texts. But meh, that's irrelevant, even if it's all true it's still wouldn't bode well for the long run. I don't want someone who'll shut me out every time they have work problems or other stresses.
Idiot. Grin

OP posts:
BrienneAndTormund · 22/05/2016 08:45

What a weird response! If he was genuinely grief stricken I can't imagine he'd have relied at all, definitely not like that. And the 'sorting this death' comment is really weird.

charliedontsurf · 22/05/2016 08:56

He sounds like a total wanker! You're well rid by the sounds of it.

I know how hard it is, I had almost the same situation before and the guy ended up saying a friend had died too. I don't think I believed him and I don't think I believe your guy either.

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