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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

OMG lost as to what to do

249 replies

Cynthiathequeen · 24/12/2016 00:51

Name changed. 20odd year old DC has just hosted a pre party at ours. After their v noisy departure went into the room they had been in to check for forgotten candles etc. Found a hand written note on headed note paper from one of this country's most august body's. It is an addendum note and asks the recipient to send the note writer their "term time address" plus more, but never stepping over a line.
I have no idea of sender or recipient, but they all went to a school which arranges many work placements in said body.my DC has been one of them. A number of the school alumni have ended up working there as a career
All individuals are 21 plus but I am at a loss. Unhappy the note could be pressure on someone not yet properly mature. i accept I probably cannot intervene, don't think it is my own DC, so just your thoughts please?

OP posts:
TwentyCups · 24/12/2016 01:46

Well, all I can say is I must be much drinker than I thought.

aceorchard · 24/12/2016 01:46

Hi,

To OP:

Please clarify what an 'august body' is. I think I, along with the majority of readers, are flummoxed. Maybe you could take a photo on your phone and upload this as an attachment to your thread?

Having gone through the interview process for one of the UK's intelligence services I can advise you now that this is not how they communicate. And even if they had done so, if your child was in the position to receive this kind of communication from MI5/ MI6/ GCHQ etc. they wouldn't have left it lying around for you to find it as you're advised by the relevant authority throughout the entire process to tell as few people as possible about it.

My guess is it's down to some sort of murder mystery game your DS/DD has been playing with their friends during pre-drinks. It's very easy to make something look like headed notepaper for the sake of a game and for something like this to cause a bit of a freak-out situation.

If in doubt, just ASK. When one goes through the British Intelligence Services interview process, as I said before, you're advised to tell only your closest family, which as their mother, includes you. I know this might sound a bit radical and far-fetched, but just think about ASKING what it's all about when you get the opportunity (Christmas morning probably ain't the most opportune moment, FYI).

Merry Chirstmas all!

MavisTheTwinklyToreador · 24/12/2016 01:49

Cynthiathequeen are you terribly drunk?

CondensedMilkSarnies · 24/12/2016 01:50

Can someone explain please Confused

Manumission · 24/12/2016 01:50

A Cotswolds scandal condensed

Original poster
Cynthiathequeen · 24/12/2016 02:04

Everyone on here. Thank you so much.

It really happened and I really over reacted.

To the person who asked if I am drunk, sadly not, wish I could be, but recovering from an op ( maybe it's the meds)

To those who felt posh on here I am delighted, if that made you feel good.
I come from a working class family in a very unglamorous part of the country.

Happy Christmas

OP posts:
Bettyspants · 24/12/2016 02:05

I'd like a teapot full of tea with gin on the side and write some discreet and important messages...and receive them via pigeon.

Don't worry op. What ever it us it's too easy to over think. Just ask! With gin and a slice a lemon ❤️

CondensedMilkSarnies · 24/12/2016 02:07

Nope still non the wiser

Bettyspants · 24/12/2016 02:07

Oops that want implying you were drunk, just my tipple and it sounds very mysterious! Not sure I understand it at all dilute the explanations but if I found it my imagination would run wild....

PhilODox · 24/12/2016 02:16

The only bit I didn't understand was "fomo".
What does fomo mean?

MavisTheTwinklyToreador · 24/12/2016 02:16

Cynthiathequeen well sober or not, this has been a fun thread, cheers! Sorry we weren't much help, I don't think we really grasped what you saw as the problem.

Hope your op recovery goes well and thanks for putting up with us. :-D

Manumission · 24/12/2016 02:28

Glad to hear you feel better about it all OP Smile

SemiNormal · 24/12/2016 02:38

The only bit I didn't understand was "fomo". - Fear Of Missing Out

Rubberubberduckduck · 24/12/2016 03:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EnidButton · 24/12/2016 04:32

I can't work out if my brain fog is messing with my reading comprehension again or if this thread is genuinely difficult to understand.

I have learnt what an August body is though, which will come in handy.

cardoon · 24/12/2016 04:37

Don't think I'll ever get back to sleep now Grin

whattodowiththepoo · 24/12/2016 04:38

August body is either a political or legal term used to refer to a certain group of people working in one of those fields.

Caper86 · 24/12/2016 04:41

Don't quite understand but you do sound quite over dramatic.

GinIsIn · 24/12/2016 04:48

OK let me see if I have this correctly. OP's daughter and some of her friends have interned at the Houses of Parliament, and are currently in their last year at uni. Someone at the HoP sent a letter to one of said friends, which wasn't addressed or signed so could be to any of them from anyone including a cleaner or someone who works in the cafe, saying 'let's write letters instead of emailing, it's more private' (oh the irony!) OP has taken a lot of medication and somehow is now convinced that her daughter/daughter's friend is being groomed as the next Christine Keeler/Anna Chapman, on the basis of one short note. Have I got all that right? Confused

OP what did you feel the note was an addendum to, and what did you need to google?!

puglife15 · 24/12/2016 04:54

Ok numbnuts.

Someone from a fancy pants powerful organisation has written to someone else, presumably one of the friends of OP's young adult DC, on headed paper.

The letter mentions fun times they've shared and how writing letters is "discreet", implying there may be something to hide.

OP is concerned that the author of said letter is someone in a position of power, and is potentially abusing said power to manipulate or coerce the young adult recipient, possibly romantically.

Manumission · 24/12/2016 05:00

BUT; OP doesn't know who the letter is to; She doesn't know who it is from; She doesn't know what the references are and she says herself that it doesn't cross a line and she overreacted.

It's quite possible (likely?) that it's a communication between two willing twentysomethings who are romantically involved and that the need for discretion is occasioned by work protocol or a spouse.

Not great but no cause for panic and not much for OP to do.

puglife15 · 24/12/2016 05:13

I want to know about the forgotten candles. And why their departure was so noisy.

Manumission · 24/12/2016 05:18

Maybe they were burning the first page? Grin And then whooping?

manhowdy · 24/12/2016 05:21

I am too thick for this thread. Especially at 5am.

TheoriginalLEM · 24/12/2016 05:29

yeah because if you were like all august and needing to be discrete like, you'd send your "love letter" on headed paper innit Grin

no wonder this country is going to the dogs!

Do you think they could be participating in a Ch4 documentary/reality show, like the hinted or spies? and not very good at it??