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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Bit weird or not?

804 replies

Foxysoxy01 · 20/12/2017 18:10

I'm not sure if I'm being a bit ridiculous so could do with some advice or a good talking too!

Bit of background needed but this may be quite long, sorry Blush

Where I live it is quite rural. I have a dog I walk morning and night around the same time each day but not same time on the dot. I sometimes walk on my own (with dog) sometimes with someone else (more often than not in the evenings)

There are two walks both rural with no street lights and nothing other than the odd tractor, walker, horse rider etc etc. Just to add neither of these walks lead anywhere other than one to a house that then branches off to a longer walk.

So the track I went down today has a house at the top, one a bit further down then nothing till the big house at the end where it branches off.

The middle house (although closer to top of track than middle) goes garden, house, gateway, garden, shed, fence, big tree with the track running along side.

So that's the background now what happened.

I have walked past the middle house, down to big house and am on my way back. I see someone coming and get dog back on lead. The person notices me and moves quickly from right hand side of track to under the big tree (just off left hand side of track) just behind shed of house. Person lights a fag and turns around facing tree.

I find this bit odd but carry on as I get next to him he is still just off track under tree and facing the actual tree. I'm getting a bit on edge as this is clearly a bit strange behaviour.

I say good evening (admittedly I might have sounded a bit nervous) the person turns round while lifting their hood up so I cannot see their face.

I walk past quite briskly! (I'm not sure if IABU but something about the person did frighten me)

As I get nearer the middle house gates I see they are not in as car is not on drive (there is a mid 30's woman on her own living there) I stop and turn to look thinking I wouldn't actually hear if the person ran up behind me. They are still under tree looking straight ahead (not at me, but across the track into side with hedge)

I carry on and as I get to the next house I look again but can't see him and I was not about to walk back and see if he was still there.

Now the whole behaviour of this person was off. They very clearly did not want me to see their face. They were either an incredibly burly woman or a man, fairly thickset about 6ft obviously in black and just quite terrifying.

I am home alone tonight and just a bit worried I suppose that he was either waiting for a person walking (maybe not with good intentions!) or to break into the middle house? Or the thought did cross my mind if was he waiting for my but chicken'd out.

The woman that lived on her own is I suppose fairly vulnerable as her house is a bit away from any others and she is on her own (the house is quite large and obviously worth a fair bit of money so you would presume there could be antiques etc)

This all happened about an hour ago now so it was dark.

I'm not sure if I'm just being silly or should o go and check if he is still there? Phone someone? Or just ignore it all.

Writing it all down makes me think I am over reacting and the bloke maybe just wanted a walk but it really didn't feel like that at the time. His behaviour seemed odd and his body language was quite menacing tbh.

What do the collective of MN think?

Sorry it was so long!

OP posts:
Janetjanetjanet · 22/12/2017 19:59

It is like a Famous Five plot actually.

Five go Wild in Warwickshire.

Foxysoxy01 · 22/12/2017 20:15

Honestly if you don't like the thread or think I'm a troll them report me/this thread.
But leaving Hmmmm on my thread is actually really annoying. I didn't realise how annoying it is when people poo poo your threads tbh.

Back on topic now.... so far it's quiet this evening.
I think this thread could be quite identifying as it is but even more so if I put my county?

Think of a long road we are at the start of the road a bit further on is a house then a bit past that is a track to the left. There is a house on the corner where track meets road. Down the track is a house who's garden runs along the side of the track with a shed and tree at the end. Further along the track is a big house with the track splitting off to make a driveway to house and then a longer walk over fields.

For the second walk start from outlet house go along road, pass track on left and go a bit further. Second track goes off of the right hand side of road. There are a few trees then fields, little copse and then more fields.

My house is surrounded with woods. The woods split me and neighbours. Houses are all along the road (spaced out) some closer to road, some further back. Think small village but spaced out.

I can't really explain it any better than that.

We have locked up early but left all outside Christmas lights on. Have also pulled the car right up to the house. The dog seems more settled tonight.

OP posts:
threehoursin · 22/12/2017 20:19

I always wanted to live rurally until I read this thread Xmas Grin

OhLittleBoreOfWhabylon · 22/12/2017 20:20

It'll be to do with the solstice

You'll be ok now until midsummer, when I suggest you go away on holiday.

Remember The Wicker Man?

Beware bonfires.

froshiechipandbrickie · 22/12/2017 20:26

I can't really explain it any better than that.

That was actually a pretty great explanation (imo).

Is it possible that someone’s just trying to prank you? Or is it some Christmas ‘ritual’? (How long have you lived there, would you know something like that existed / has been done before?)

Foxysoxy01 · 22/12/2017 20:40

Well I shit you not, we have just had a massive bang on the back (which is like the front) door.

It was really loud. Sad
Nothing else since but was only 10 mins ago.

I think it must be someone pranking us but I'm just not sure why and that's what's worrying me a bit.

OP posts:
MaggieFS · 22/12/2017 20:46

Oh bloody hell. Did your security lights come on? I'm glad you're not on your own OP! And I'd be on the phone to the police - surely this is intimidation or harassment now?

SoozC · 22/12/2017 20:52

How's the dog behaving? Blimey, OP, what a weird thing to happen. Is there no reasonable explanation for the noise, like something falling?

Foxysoxy01 · 22/12/2017 21:00

The main bulb in the living room has just blown. WTF is wrong with me I nearly screamed when it went dark.

Have spoken to lovely friend and her and her lovely DH are coming over. Apparently we are going to sort this tonight.

God knows what the bang was, it sounded heavy but there was no damage on the door when we went and looked.
The even stranger bit....the bloody dog didn't make a noise!

We wouldn't have been able to see if the lights came on from the living room.

OP posts:
MissDuke · 22/12/2017 21:00

Argh I have been thinking about this thread all day. It really has creeped me out. This morning I was getting ready for work at 0600 and I had all the nights on inside and out! OP hope all settles now after the bang on the door. Definitely doesn't sound sinister as they are making their presence known. I am sure you are right that local teens are just being daft.

MissDuke · 22/12/2017 21:01

Sound slike maybe something was thrown from afar then? But no sign of an object an the ground??

Kookietoo · 22/12/2017 21:04

I’m glad your friends are coming over, Foxy, this is all very creepy. I wonder why the dog didn’t bark? How do your friends think you will get it all sorted out tonight??

froshiechipandbrickie · 22/12/2017 21:08

Someone might have banged your door? But yes, I don’t think they’re trying to burglarise you. Announcing their presence like that would make them rather shitty (or very considerate and sporting) burglars.

But I’m still glad someone’s staying with you and your DH. Do you have an alarm system?

froshiechipandbrickie · 22/12/2017 21:08

Or security cameras?

ObscuredbyFog · 22/12/2017 21:09

There's also the thought that whilst your attention was diverted on the area the bang came from,(distraction technique) they could have been leaving something for you to find elsewhere.

I'm so pleased you have friends coming to help.

In the meantime, if you've not already got one, download a Torch app onto your and your DH's phone. that way even if the power goes off, you'll have a light to hand whilst you find real torches etc.

JeremyCorbynsBeard · 22/12/2017 21:09

I've been thinking about this all day too. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was probably bored kids. I used to live in a place not unlike the area you describe, and we used to walk dogs when it was dark and leave messages for each other near bus stops or any other sort of landmark, so it could just be something like that.

The bang on the door is probably kids daring each other too.

Hope it all gets sorted soon foxy

FitnessFad · 22/12/2017 21:15

Gosh I hope you manage to get this sorted. This is no longer a 'one off', something is going on.

Prusik · 22/12/2017 21:15

Such a series of weird events

EvilDoctorBallerinaRoastDuck · 22/12/2017 21:19

I'd call 101 and report.

sakura06 · 22/12/2017 21:19

This is a creepy series of incidents. I'm so glad you've contacted the police. I sincerely hope it's just kids messing about. Stay safe OP.

Eatingwormswithwine · 22/12/2017 21:21

Go to the back door and shout out that you’ve called the police, if it’s kids, they will leg it. Can’t do any harm?

Betsy86 · 22/12/2017 21:31

Am totally involved in this thread need to know the outcome so yes its a placemark... but also really an hoping theres a zero threat explanation for u op xx

SoozC · 22/12/2017 21:36

How long was it between the bang and you checking the door? Maybe it is kids and they ran and picked up whatever it was (I'm thinking a hiking boot for some reason) before you opened the door.

I agree it seems less sinister now and more likely bored kids. I'd be sat up in a dark room looking over the back door area with my phone, getting ready to photo or video.

I hope your lovely friend and her DH help you find something that points to there being a perfectly reasonable explanation. I shall be stalking this thread regularly for updates...

majorfwp · 22/12/2017 21:36

Omfg I've just read the whole thread and am now petrified. In my urban house surrounded by neighbours with DH downstairs, living in a different country to OP and still am scared shitless reading this!

Stroller15 · 22/12/2017 21:38

Same at Betsy86, totally involved and equally hoping for a no threat explanation. Stay safe OP!

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