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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What would YOU think about my OH's behaviour?

130 replies

HotPots63 · 21/10/2017 21:10

Sorry this may be a bit long. think I already know what I should do about this,but I'm just asking for MNer's opinions. There are 3 issues in question here.
My OH (I can't even bring myself to call him DP any more) went back to his home country in Africa nearly 4 weeks ago to visit his family,for the first time in nearly 18 years. He said he was going for one month,so he would have been due back this coming week. I spoke to him on the phone this Monday just gone,and he kindly informed me that he will be staying for 3 months,not one,and will be back about a week and a half before christmas. He swears that it was a 'spur of the moment' decision,not pre-planned. I have my doubts. I was upset enough about him going for a month,so my gut feeling is that he knew it was for 3 months,but didn't tell me because he knew it would upset me even more. I just feel so let down and pissed off about it all. I was so looking forward to his return then he drops this bombshell.
The other issue is his behaviour prior to him going away. He had told me back in August that he was planning on going,he just wasn't sure at that stage exactly when it would be. I accepted this,but said could he please give me a bit of advance warning and not drop it on me at a minutes notice (he has form for being a bit of a last minute merchant). He assured me he would. Anyway,he turns up round at my place on the evening of the 18th September and says he's going on the 21st! As if this wasn't bad enough,he then asked me for all his clothes so he could get packed. I said that a lot of his stuff was in the dirty washing,they wouldn't be washed and dried until the following evening,thanks to him not giving me enough notice. He had the nerve to grumble about this,saying he had told me he was going. I said yes,he HAD told me he was going,but not exactly when.
I have since also found out that I'm pretty certain that he's lied to me about which airport he flew from. i.e. that he went from our local airport which is literally a 15 minute bus journey from where I live,even though he said he was going from an airport which is about 30 miles away,and impossible for me to get to on public transport (I am without a car at the moment).He said that if he had been going from our local one,I could have gone with him to see him off,but that it wasn't practical from the one he was actually going from. Out of curiosity,a couple of days after he left,I looked up online which flight he'd taken. I knew which airline it was and he had said it was a direct flight with no stopovers. But no direct flights operate from that particular airport to where he was going. In fact there were no flights to the particular airport he was going to,on that day,full stop. So I've come to the conclusion that he DID actually go from the local one,but told me otherwise to put me off going with him. Now,if he hadn't wanted me to go with him for whatever reason, (hating goodbyes etc) I would have accepted it. But why lie about it? I have not said anything to him about this during our phone calls,but it is bugging me. I feel like he has told me lie after lie. What would you think? And what would you say/do when you saw him? We've been together for 2 years and 7 months.

OP posts:
snowglobe67 · 21/10/2017 21:36

Consider it over and move on with your life. Three possibilities come to mind:

  1. He's with somebody else or going there with somebody else.
  2. He's involved with something dodgy.
  3. He wants out of your relationship and this is a weird way of doing it.

Whichever way I look at this I can't really put a positive spin on it, sorry!!

Do you have kids with him? Hopefully not so you can go out and enjoy yourself and forget him.

NotTheFordType · 21/10/2017 21:37

Why the hell are you washing his chuddies? I assume you don't run a launderette!

There's definitely something shady going on and I also suspect he may have moved back home to get married, but be planning on keeping you as a booty call option.

bimbobaggins · 21/10/2017 21:38

I was just about to say he’s probably away with his wife.
I can’t see if you live together?

MyBrilliantDisguise · 21/10/2017 21:40

No, he came round for his washing, so he doesn't live there. Bloody cheek expecting you to do it!

Can you call him at his family's house? I'm another who thinks he's either not there or is there with someone else.

HotPots63 · 21/10/2017 21:41

No we don't live together. He shares a flat with his cousin,and comes round to mine on Saturday nights and goes home Sunday evening,and stays maybe one night during the week. I'm not financially dependent on him,although he does give me some money each month for his evening meals that I do for him and for doing his washing. He works full-time,but I don't work at the moment due to chronic health problems and I receive disability benefit/ESA. My flat is a council property and in my name only. He has no kids,I have one adult DD,who doesn't live with me. The only family he has over here are various cousins,a few aunts and uncles and nephews and nieces. His father died many years ago,and his sisters,brothers and mum all live in Africa. No,I don't know that he actually left the country,but when he phones me the number is preceded by the word 'Ethiopia''. It wouldn't do that if he wasn't actually there,would it? But I am suspicious regarding his job. When he said he was going for a month,I didn't question it as he said that he was using up all his year's holiday allowance in one go. But 3 months? He wouldn't be given THAT much holiday. I do think something doesn't smell right,that he's hiding something. I was half expecting to be told that I'm over-reacting to his behaviour,and that there's probably a perfectly reasonable explanation for it all. Anyway,I know now that it's not just me. I'm prepared for the possibility that he's gone for good. I just find it strange that after being together just over 2.5 years,that he'd just bugger off like this. Why not be honest and tell me it's over? Thank you all for your responses. I'm off to drink a bottle of wine and eat chocolate in front of the TV. Sad

OP posts:
RadioGaGoo · 21/10/2017 21:42

I don't think it is unreasonable to be upset if your partner is leaving the country for a month.

NoCryLilSoftSoft · 21/10/2017 21:43

Umm, he has left you. I suspect there is another woman and that she is very likely pregnant. Due roughly a few weeks before he has said he will be back.

formerbabe · 21/10/2017 21:45

I suspect there is another woman and that she is very likely pregnant

This thought occured to me too.

AnyFucker · 21/10/2017 21:46

It doesn't sound like you were remotely "together"

It sounds like you provided a weekend hotel service with laundry thrown in

Whst did he call your arrangement ?

ReanimatedSGB · 21/10/2017 21:47

Well, he's left you, and TBH it sounds like he was using you for home comforts before this, rather than considering you his partner.
Move on.
Do you have friends nearby? Any social organisations you belong to? TBH you sound a little isolated, which can make you easy prey for chancers.

Hangryhangryhrmm · 21/10/2017 21:48

I smell a rat, cut our losses

Oly5 · 21/10/2017 21:48

I’d dump him. He’s a liar and to fuck off for three months and expect you not to care is not on.
You can do better than this.
And he expected you to do his washing?!

scrabbler3 · 21/10/2017 21:50

What a cowardly thing to do after more than 2 years.

Look after yourself, OP.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 21/10/2017 21:50

Is it possible for you to call his workplace to ask to speak to him? If so they might say that he's left or that he's coming back. Either way, you'd know then.

Same with his cousin's house. Do you know his cousin?

ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 21/10/2017 21:51

This sounds horrid, what a git to leave you hanging like this. I'd Skype and ask to be introduced around, his reaction to that idea would tell you everything FlowersWine

Whisky2014 · 21/10/2017 21:52

So ask him about his work situation. Anyway, he is a liar and is up to something. You are well rid.

HotPots63 · 21/10/2017 21:52

No,he doesn't have access to my money! I had no problem at all with him going to see his family for the first time in 18 years! I think it's natural to be upset that your DP is going away and you won't see them for a month. What I DO have a problem with is the way he dropped it on me at such short notice,despite assuring me he wouldn't,and then seemingly lying about about how long he was going for. Regarding the airport issue,he said his cousin was giving him a lift and seeing him off,and I have no way of proving otherwise. It's just a case of waiting now I suppose. I'm not going to put my life on hold for the next 2 months. When he phones I'm going to act normally. And if he DOES come back,then I will have it out with him. But tbh,I can't see any future for us after this. Oh,and he hasn't taken everything of his from my place,he's left some winter clothes as he said it would be too warm for them over there,and a few bits of paperwork.

OP posts:
C8H10N4O2 · 21/10/2017 21:54

It does sound like its time to move on. But if for the last two years or so your weekends have been focused around this person have you been able to maintain other friendships and groups?
I agree with PPs suggesting a focus on rebuilding or boosting your general social connections - its a good confidence booster.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 21/10/2017 21:54

why didn't you tell him to do his own fucking washing?

This ^

and trust me - he isn't worth he steam off your piss.

He's making use of you. You are worth much more than this. Chuck him out of your life and give yourself the chance to find someone who treats you with love and respect.

MyBrilliantDisguise · 21/10/2017 21:54

Why has he left them with you and not in his own place? That might be a start, taking them back to his flat?

NoCryLilSoftSoft · 21/10/2017 21:56

When he phones I'm going to act normally.

You’re going to take his calls? And carry on the relationship? Confused goodness woman, go and find yourself some dignity and tell him to shove his winter clothes up his hole.

nellytheelephant21 · 21/10/2017 21:56

Have you ever been to the flat he 'shares' with his 'cousin' ? If not then most certainly someone else is , agreeing with pps

StickyTapeDispenser · 21/10/2017 21:58

No words, other than ‘hugs’ op.

Flowers and Wine

HotPots63 · 21/10/2017 22:00

Great idea about phoning his workplace MyBrilliantDisguise.

I know his cousin and I know where he lives,but I'm not keen to approach him as I when I met him,he was very 'off' towards me,and I think he doesn't approve of me. I suspect he would lie to cover for my OH.
Thank you all for your kind words,in particular scrabbler.

OP posts:
elevenclips · 21/10/2017 22:01

End it.sounds like he's fed you a pack of lies.

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