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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:
ObscuredbyFog · 23/12/2017 21:52

IF you have already completed, then you're home and dry.

If not however, this harassment could be to intimidate you into dropping the price, but HOW would that help the hoping-to-return locals who offered too low. Unless your actual buyers are part of their family somehow and they want the place for a song then they'll transfer ownership.
That sounds way too far-fetched though.

This could be worthwhile telling the Police, "a couple who used to live in the village wanted to move back and had been to view our place. We didn't accept their offer as it was quite low."

Your Estate agent ought to have their details and the Police could at least grill them as to what's going on and find out who they are related to.

QueenOfThorns · 23/12/2017 21:56

Obscured, surely a more likely scenario is that someone ‘accidentally’ lets slip to the buyers what’s been going on, hoping that they’ll pull out and the OP is forced to sell at a reduced price to the local couple?

skippykips · 23/12/2017 22:05

Op, I have read through this thread this evening! I am petrified. To the point I have got out of bed and checked all of my locks!
With. All the weirdness going on, how are you? Are you managing to relax during the day or are you completely on edge 24/7. I really hope you stay safe!

MaggieFS · 23/12/2017 22:06

I was just about to say the same, Queen, dirty tactics to put a buyer off so OP is forced into taking whatever offer she can get to move on time / not lose and onward purchase (if there is one).

SoozC · 23/12/2017 22:11

Well, it seems you've found the reason for the behaviour. I'm glad your move date is soon but horrible for you in the meantime. I will keep my fingers crossed that they get bored of the behaviour and nothing further happens with your buyer and you can move just fine.

Do please still consider some kind of surveillance and definitely keep the police updated with all you've heard. I'm angry on your behalf that people can behave like this and wish there was something I could do.

Foxysoxy01 · 23/12/2017 22:12

skippykips, I'm doing alright thank you Smile

I actually feel less frightened now because we know who it is. Although I wish I'd never watched the Wicker Man!

The silly fucker neighbour has lit a huge fire in his garden in the last 20 mins! We saw a red light from his garden through the trees and I will admit to being rather frightened about what was next. We went out and he has lit a quite big fire pretty close to his boundary.

I don't know why he would think it would frighten us. It's quite away from our house and as much as I think they all seem demented I don't believe they would burn the house down (where would native buyers live then)

OP posts:
Sassenach85 · 23/12/2017 22:15

Jeeso at least you have an explanation now but they all sound crazy! What is that village movie with Simon pegg and they are all murderers? Sorry not helpful!

Foxysoxy01 · 23/12/2017 22:15

What is played big on my mind a little is that they must have watched me and DH when we went on our walks so they knew to leave baubles/be there at the right time etc.
I mean obviously it was scary before but you could play some of it off thinking it might have been wired but not connected. It clearly is all connected and they put a bit of effort into it all.

OP posts:
Foxysoxy01 · 23/12/2017 22:16

Sorry for all the typos, my phone hates me and I'm bone tired.

OP posts:
Sassenach85 · 23/12/2017 22:19

Well in that movie the police are in on it too! I honestly would never have thought people could behave this way in real life! If there is one positive here it's that moving house is a definite winner! I wonder now if you cast your mind backnif any weird things have happened that now might make sense? Apart from the last few days obv

skippykips · 23/12/2017 22:21

Op, Im really not trying to frighten you more. Can you be 100% sure it is who fag man says it is? I know he said to watch your back and your name was mud in the local. I just don't understand what they have to gain from it. I may be missing the point though!ThanksWine

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 23/12/2017 22:30

There is a chance that the baubles etc aren't connected and the first incident with the lurker was coincidence, but that one of the villagers is on mumsnet and saw this thread. Thus they capitalised on an opportunity, given that you were already slightly spooked.

Equally, if you're fairly routine in your dog walks, they weren't necessarily going out of their way stalking you - walking past houses routinely at the same time most days won't have gone unnoticed in a small community, even in an entirely innocent context. I know what times and routes some other locals tend to walk dogs / ride out, and I'm not a mad, lunatic stalker (honest!).

They may be absolutely bonkers, but don't drive yourself nuts worrying about it - they may just be opportunistic, or less well organised than you're giving them credit for.

Foxysoxy01 · 23/12/2017 22:31

I don't know really if fag man was telling the truth. I'm not sure why he would lie but then I'm so tried by it all I don't think that I'm thinking clearly about it all now.

OP posts:
UnRavellingFast · 23/12/2017 22:34

Really freaked reading this. Hope you're ok.

GardenGeek · 23/12/2017 22:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skippykips · 23/12/2017 22:39

Im not saying fag man was lying. They may have been a little ticked off. IME people in locals tend to exaggerate everything. It could just be a coincidence though and the people doing this awful thing to you are not the natives!
Lets hope you have a quiet night tonight. Try and get some rest.
You do have a terrifying story though. Im in bed right now. DP snoring his head off and I need to get up to go bathroom. Your experience has scared me! I live edge of city but the edge of being rural. The rural area starts at the bottom of the main road. I have a busy pub right opposite my house. Yet I am still scared to get up! No idea how you have coped!

AIBU to wake DP to escort me to bathroom 😂
Maybe I am. Time to suck it up!
But seriously OP stay safe! Keep torch close to you at all times. (Good defence weapon)

CandyMelts · 23/12/2017 22:40

Creepy AF, people are so bloody weird

guest477337 · 23/12/2017 22:46

That's me not sleeping tonight. I hope you sort it op

StarWarsFanatic · 23/12/2017 22:46

Sassenach85
What is that village movie with Simon pegg and they are all murderers?

Hot Fuzz

Glad you have an explanation now OP and hope that the sale has gone through.

KrisCringleWinterWonderland · 23/12/2017 22:51

That's insane of them. I'm sure you'll be glad to see the back of that place!

Tika77 · 23/12/2017 22:55

This is one of the reasons I couldn’t move to the country or even a village. These bloody closed communities where I know I wouldn’t fit in. Once my husband and I went to a pub just to the village next to us we were considering moving into. And it was that case of all the locals staring at us the whole time.
I really hope things will be calm tonight. I guess they might be as you’ve found out the reasons.
And suggest don’t post too many details here as they could be reading this thread.
I really wish you both get a decent sleep tonight.

Foxysoxy01 · 23/12/2017 22:56

The sale has gone through but I'm not sure in all conscience if I should let the new buyers know there have been a few issues.

There has been loads of weird noises coming from neighbours house. Whooping and screaming loads of shouting. Them all stops for a couple of mins then starts again. The dog is going mental and we aren't quite sure how many people it is.

OP posts:
UnRavellingFast · 23/12/2017 23:01

Perhaps call police and say you are worried next door is being attacked given the recent creepy circs! They sound like complete idiots.

UnRavellingFast · 23/12/2017 23:01

Neighbours not police btw 😂

SandyDenny · 23/12/2017 23:03

I wonder why they would light a fire at night, do they have lights around their house? isn't there a risk that the fire would get out of control and they won't be able to see what's going on - doesn't sound safe to me

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