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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I'm going to have to move aren't I?

186 replies

AtlasObscura · 11/04/2019 17:36

Namechanged ....

I love where I live but do sometimes wish people would just fuck off and focus on their own lives.

This is a bit long but I need to rant.

Background - single mum of 4 children, all now flown the nest or at Uni

I work from home and wifi went down on Monday so I decamped to the nearest coffee shop in village to use their wifi. Spotted a few other neighbours there too with the same idea so looked like I wasn't the only one with shit wifi maybe?

Anyway, doing my thing and in comes a woman who I know to say hello to. A friend of a friend, not a close acquaintance at all and I know next to nothing about her. She's with another woman who I don't recognise at all.

They order lunch and then ask if they can join me. I should have explained that I was working (and there were plenty of other free tables) but instead said that it was fine so they sat down.

Friend of a Friend (FOF) starts asking me how I am and we exchange bit of polite conversation. She then starts asking me about my 4 children.

More than just a 'how's family' type question but a bit more searching and she seems to know more about them then she should given the fact we barely know each other.

Now for some more background:

About 18 months ago, a man stopped to chat to me on my dog walk. I know he lives a few streets from me but don't know his name or anything else about him but we often pass when out walking the dogs to say hello (as you do when you have dogs!). We've been passing each other in this way almost daily for the last 10 years at least.

On this particular occasion, he seemed more keen to chat than usual and asked me about one of my daughters in particular and asked how she was doing.

His comments made it clear that he knew which country she lived in at the time and which Uni she was at and a few other details that I can only assume he got from looking her up on her FB page.

It was bloody creepy (she was 20 at that time and he must be in his late 50's at a guess), so I ended the conversation and mentioned it to my daughter and she tightened up her social media accounts to top privacy level.

Anyway, it came about that FOF is distantly related to this man and so when she started asking me about the children in the cafe I was wary and deliberately vague.

She also seemed to know quite a bit about them though, they are all abroad at the moment in different countries either on gap years, or working or on an Erasmus programme so she started asking me questions about that, who was where and doing what. I'm still trying to be vague ...

She asked whether I missed them (of course I do)

Whether I resented them leaving me on my own in the UK (erm of course not, I am enormously proud)

Then she asked how I could afford to support 4 children and afford flights out to visit them etc and support them through Uni (massive assumptions being made here that it's me having to finance these things but essentially no one else bloody business)

So I gave a vague jokey reply about 'kids eh' and 'thank god for Easy Jet'

but this wasn't enough and they clearly wanted more info, FOF looked at me really expectantly as if to say 'well - how do you manage it'

So I'm feeling really on the spot at this point, I'm a really private person normally and now I'm cornered (quite literally in the corner of the cafe).

I didn't want to be rude so I decided to make what I thought would be a really obvious joke and hope that they'd get the hint that this conversation wasn't going anywhere .....

Me: you really want me to explain in detail how I afford to support my children?

FOF: yes, I'm amazed at how anyone can afford it (again, massive assumptions being made by her that it is me that necessarily covers all these costs)

Me: I'm a sex worker I'm not

FOF: Really??? Hmm

Me: yes it pays really well and it's really flexible although I was surprised that someone of my age and with my waistline would find the work

FriendofFOF : Are your clients anyone we would know?

Me: Well it's not the biggest village so yes I would imagine so.

I dont know why I continued contributing to the conversation as she clearly hasn't taken it to be a joke.

This all happened on Monday but she has now been telling everyone since that I am sex worker as the rumours have started and I can only assume that people actually fucking believe it.

I've been avoiding my usual dog walking route in order to avoid creepy neighbour.

I dont know what my AIBU is, I like living here, I feel settled here and it feels like home but I now clearly have to fucking move.

I'm a stupid, STUPID arse and shouldn't be allowed out in public - I don't know how to handle this as I am an awkward moo in social situations and I just know that any further attempts on my part will just end up making things 100 times worse.

Think of the love child of Miranda Hart and Mr Bean and you will just about be able to picture my level of social skill in public Confused

I just need to get this off my chest - apologies Sad

OP posts:
MyKingdomForBrie · 13/04/2019 12:19

The Flying Scotchman (something like a whiskey sour)

Alsohuman · 13/04/2019 12:21

Oh dear, there’s always one who’s had a humour bypass and an earnestness injection, isn’t there?

AwkwardSquad · 13/04/2019 12:22

I’ve got a vintage bartender’s cocktail book from the 1920s, OP. I’ve had a quick leaf through and can offer recipes for the Chorus Lady cocktail, the Locomotive, the Third Degree and the Maiden’s Blush Grin

AtlasObscura · 13/04/2019 12:29

MyKingdomForBrie

The Flying Scotchman (something like a whiskey sour)

Definitely along the right lines, thank you Smile - might need to be more English in theme though.

The person who has asked us to do this is organising a village fete with a vintage feel. Think bunting, tea dresses even though it will most likely be fucking freezing still and welly-wanging Grin.

Can anyone think of something Brunel related? I am stumped!

Shockers

Your sons football coach sounds like a very lovely and caring man Smile

OP posts:
AtlasObscura · 13/04/2019 12:35

AwkwardSquad that sounds amazing, yes please!

Recipe ideas would be fab too although no idea what budget is just yet. Anything British, Vintage, Steam related would be fab.

Lovely Friend is here and has reminded me that our local vicar is female and will be at the event so wondering if we would get away with The Vicars Knickers - I reckon it would sell well - just need a recipe idea.

OP posts:
GottenGottenGotten · 13/04/2019 12:44

Definitely along the right lines, thank you smile - might need to be more English in theme though

The flying Scotsman operated between Edinburgh and London, if that helps!

Shockers · 13/04/2019 12:47

AtlasObscura, he was!

How about ‘Head of Steam’, ‘The Fireman’s Pleasure’, or ‘Runaway Train’?

You need a smokey bourbon in there somewhere!

AwkwardSquad · 13/04/2019 12:51

I’m not sure how useful the recipes are going to be, given their use of some ingredients no longer in the standard drinks cabinet, but here they are just for fun :)

I'm going to have to move aren't I?
I'm going to have to move aren't I?
AwkwardSquad · 13/04/2019 12:52

And the other two...

I'm going to have to move aren't I?
I'm going to have to move aren't I?
Meandwinealone · 13/04/2019 12:52

The flying Scotsman is the most famous train ever! I think that would be a great cocktail

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 13/04/2019 13:16

Fantastic answer OP . First Class Smile

FOF sounds a nosy mare

AwkwardSquad · 13/04/2019 13:20

The Vicar’s Knickers... hmmmm. Gin, elderflower cordial, Prosecco (or English sparkling wine), lemon peel twist to garnish?

AwkwardSquad · 13/04/2019 13:22

Lemon peel twist with a blackberry or two would be perfect garnish, actually.

AwkwardSquad · 13/04/2019 13:31

It’s not exactly a cocktail but vanilla Stoli with Fentimans rose lemonade is lush. Also sloe gin with Prosecco.

NWQM · 13/04/2019 14:03

@AwkwardSquad - this is a big responsibility you've been given. The whole success of said vintage fete thingie could rest on this. Stop asking for ideas on the internet and do some proper research.

Ring Nice Single Man and organise a proper research trip to a cocktail bar asap 😉

AtlasObscura · 13/04/2019 14:20

AwkwardSquad - thank you SO much, your ideas are brilliant - will definitely do some more investigation.

I don't have any contact details for Nice Single Man so not sure what happens next or how.

Organiser texted me to ask whether we could do the themed drinks so I'm assuming he has also had same text message.

I think I need to get his number from her and pluck up courage to text.

I obviously feel that we should take our community volunteer duties very seriously so a few 'research and development' meet-ups will probably be needed Wink

His number is probably written alongside his name next to mine on rota but didn't think to write it down Hmm

Will get number now and send message!!

OP posts:
NWQM · 13/04/2019 14:32

Sorry @AwkwardSquad obviously meant OP. Got over excited there!

Right off to start virtual bottom drawer and check out hat options......

AwkwardSquad · 13/04/2019 14:54

Atlas, we’ve both been given very firm instructions to call Nice Single Man, so get with the detective work and let me know when you’ve got his number. You can call him first, it seems only fair Grin

Grumpelstilskin · 13/04/2019 16:55

@BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney You have so obviously little clue about the realities of the vast majority of sex workers. A cursory glance on a number of websites run by sex workers for sex workers will show you that these are not victims but women who work for themselves. Most see the humour in many of their day to day work. And I'm not relying on one anecdote but several years of providing a service to a rather wide range of women in that industry. While the official bio often reads at aged 27 and size 12, many are in their late thirties and forties and utterly removed from the sort of stereotype you seem to bandy about.

MyKingdomForBrie · 13/04/2019 16:55

Thanks @Meandwinealone!

BabyDarlingDollfaceHoney · 13/04/2019 20:14

So because they're not advertising it in their bio on websites they are obviously not being exploited? OK. I'm sure they do find humour in it. People can find humour in extraordinary things though and it is often a coping mechanism. You haven't even scratched the surface to take that as proof that they are in that line of work because on evaluation it was the best of many other options open to them.

LuckyLou7 · 13/04/2019 20:57

I think you may have outed yourself, OP and if you live where I think you live (cricket club bar, vintage and steam fayre etc) then I must warn you Nice Single Man isnt actually single. Be careful.

AtlasObscura · 13/04/2019 21:15

Lucky Lou 😃 I did wonder if some details were a bit outing, hopefully not!

OP posts:
Jellyfloodagain · 13/04/2019 21:23

I think that's hilarious the whole village now thinks you're a sex worker. Boo to nice single man not being single.

AtlasObscura · 13/04/2019 21:55

Oh no don't worry - he IS single - I can attest to that.

Whether he would be interested in me is another matter

OP posts: