AIBU?
Pest elderly neighbour asks me to film my child with his camcorder?
SprogPlusPup · 27/06/2017 20:29
Hi,
I had a good relationship with my elderly neighbours, until I stopped commuting to go on maternity leave. Ever since, they he has become a complete pest whereby I cannot leave my house, front or back without him coming out and calling to me to start a conversation. My husband works away a lot (is a cameraman) and the behaviour is definitely worse when he's away - to the point where it's verging on obsessive. He will also knock on my door two times a day and due to the layout of my house, he can see through my door glass that I'm in.
Last week he cut a whole in our garden fence - when I asked him what had happened he said he'd created a 'serving hatch' for me.
Today, upon leaving my house, he asked if he could join me for rhyme time at the library, which I reluctantly allowed to only have him later knock on our door again, camcorder in hand, asking me to film footage of my daughter crawling. I was to keep the camera and use it to capture her up to her 1st birthday. I explained my husband's job and that it wasn't necessary as we have plenty of cameras and he refused and continued to tell me how to use it.
Now is it just me, or is this strange?
Also - I can't sustain this level of his interest - what do I do? I'm becoming very fed up and not using my garden because of him.
SprogPlusPup · 27/06/2017 20:36
@serfTerf -- he has no children of his own, is very kind - before children would lend us ladders etc. He wanted to show us his holiday DVD. I'm obviously not going to film my daughter, but just wondering whether to be suspicious of him, or whether people just think it's an old man with no mates.
@playOnWurtz His wife lives in there with him too!
He seems to have had feuds with quite a few other neighbours on the street (they've ll been here for years) so I don't really see them speaking to others much. His level of interest is new - getting in touch with me 2-3 times a day is definitely increased activity - but I was never about before. when working away.
PeaFaceMcgee · 27/06/2017 20:38
What? He made a spy-hole, wanted to go to a baby group, wants his own footage of your little girl and stays away when your husband is there? 
I think you'll have to say something to him at least, and maintain just a breezy 'hello' type thing after that.
Just because he's at your door and can see you, you still don't have to answer.
SprogPlusPup · 27/06/2017 20:41
@justmadeperfectflapjacks
Yes - he has no family, only a godson -- and I think this is why I've been so patient and nice. When someone comes to the door everyday with strawberries or cherries, it's hard to say 'no thank you'...but perhaps I need to start.
SerfTerf · 27/06/2017 20:41
just wondering whether to be suspicious of him, or whether people just think it's an old man with no mates.
It doesn't matter one way or the other. Too much is too much and this is way too much (repeat this to yourself.)
You need boundaries for everyone's benefit, regardless of motivation.
Politely assertive is fine. You can do it.
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