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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Sitter says my house is spooky and someone is watching her AIBU to think WTF?

19 replies

ohwellherewegoagain · 30/10/2019 14:09

I have a very nice lady who comes in periodically in a professional capacity to feed and look after my cats when I am away. I have no complaints about her at all, she has been great. However, recently she said that she has a funny feeling when at my house, as though she is being watched, and was curious what happened there before? She is apparently quite spiritual and tuned in to ghosty type things. Myself and DH are straightforward scientific bah humbug types, I accept that some people believe in ghosts etc, but I don't. I feel a bit unsettled now - not that my house is haunted - it needs work and is quite large and could pass for a halloween haunt if you were that way minded, but I have never felt anything but comfortable here. Now that something has been suggested, I am wondering if she wants to be paid extra danger money? No, seriously, I don't think she does, but the suggestion of something going on has made me a bit unsettled. I am happy to sit on the fence on the issue, if she believes there's something, so be it - but i can't help feeling a bit bah about it all now, as though she's somehow less professional or a bit paranoid. WWYD? I plan to carry on as normal and ignore. With a cautious look over my shoulder from time to time, just in case......

OP posts:

AryaStarkWolf · 30/10/2019 14:18

Very tactless thing of her to say, could potentially make a person paranoid and uncomfortable in their own home

Smellbow · 30/10/2019 14:19

Check you're not being poisoned by carbon monoxide (really, often a source of "ghostly happenings") and then proceed as normal

Wallywobbles · 30/10/2019 14:27

I had house sitters that claimed all sorts of this kind of thing. Seeing ghosts. I just smiled and nodded.

CustardySergeant · 30/10/2019 14:28

"Check you're not being poisoned by carbon monoxide (really, often a source of "ghostly happenings") and then proceed as normal"

I agree with this. There's no need to do anything else, unless and until she refuses to come to your house any more, in which case you'll have to find someone else to look after your cats.

Ponoka7 · 30/10/2019 14:32

I'm not sure which way the vote works.

I think you should ignore her.

Tell her that it must be her that's haunted and because you have cats, the spirit cannot fully conceal itself, so she is noticing it at your house.

Start to look slighty past her, just behind her shoulder.

Fluffyscamp · 30/10/2019 14:35

Well I wouldn’t say I’m a believer and I’m not strictly a disbeliever either but if all that stuff is real and you have always felt comfortable then maybe whatever presence there is just doesn’t like your cat sitter and you are fine . There can be loads of reasons why places give off a bad vibe but if you’ve never felt it then don’t let someone else’s unexplained feelings spoil your home for you.

Shooturlocalmethdealer · 30/10/2019 14:35

Maybe she wants an out? Burn sage and pray if it makes you feel better. If she is uncomfortable tell her you understand and find someone else to look after the cats.

Original poster

ohwellherewegoagain · 30/10/2019 14:36

thanks everyone, to think WTF is not unreasonable, I think that's how the vote works Ponoka7

Interesting about the carbon monoxide. Fortunately boiler was switched off the whole time,....

OP posts:

CSIblonde · 30/10/2019 14:37

She'll be offering you a 'discounted' spiritual reading or sage burning ceremony next. Ignore.

Original poster

ohwellherewegoagain · 30/10/2019 14:39

OMG I think have just worked it out. I have a branch of sage hanging up out the back, which are herbs I am drying out from the garden. I didn't realise sage had amazing anti -spook properties. Could just as easily have been mint....I reckon she's seen this and come to the conclusion that I'm trying to ward off something menacing.....so I think Ponoka 7 has the answer with looking over my shoulder.....

OP posts:

ThreeLittleDots · 30/10/2019 14:40

Do you have a carbon monoxide alarm in all rooms with gas appliances or fires?

Excluding that or some sort of strange variable that you can't control for, she sounds bored to make shit up for thrills.

FizzyGreenWater · 30/10/2019 14:41

Tell her you're completely used to Bob, ScratchyJim and Mr Floaty and they won't harm her

ThreeLittleDots · 30/10/2019 14:41

I have a branch of sage hanging up out the back

Bingo!

Original poster

ohwellherewegoagain · 30/10/2019 14:48

This Tell her you're completely used to Bob, ScratchyJim and Mr Floaty and they won't harm her

OP posts:

JuneSpoon · 30/10/2019 14:52

My mil said this the first night she stayed at our new house. A presence flew in from the graveyard next door (we were actually next to a church but hadn't noticed the gravestones) and sat on her chest. We just 🙄🙄🙄 politely um hummed. I loved that place. It was possibly the best place I ever lived!

teraculum29 · 30/10/2019 15:03

white sage is used to cleanse the spaces aka houses of bad energy and ghosts etc
tel her that you smudged the house so there' s nothing spooky anymore

Witchend · 30/10/2019 15:13

Tell her that you had a friend who specialises in such things and she's spoken to the presence.
The presence is an old lady who was very fond of cats, so she comes out to check they're okay when you aren't there.
That explains why you haven't felt it too.

Ps You were looking for a new cat sitter weren't you?

Spidey66 · 30/10/2019 15:14

Halloween's tomorrow, not today.

Original poster

ohwellherewegoagain · 30/10/2019 15:17

I know spidey66 we were talking about it, and that's what brought the subject up.

OP posts:

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