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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Freaked out by footprints

123 replies

Letitsnow32 · 18/12/2022 13:41

We have a fresh layer of snow in our back garden that has been undisturbed until now. I went into my garden this morning to find fresh footprints in the form of a large circle. The footprints must be of a child based on the size and the prints look like the underside of wellies. I’m most freaked out because there are no footprints leading up to this circle or leaving, it’s just a perfect imprint where they have walked in a large circle. My garden is very secure, my neighbour to one side has thick prickly bushes against the fence and the other side has bird deterrent spikes along the full length (don’t ask), the back has a large office block, it would be impossible for anyone to climb over unnoticed. The rest of the snow is untouched. I can’t work out how this has happened without footprints leading from and to their entrance/exit site. It definitely wasn’t there yesterday as I check every day to see if the snow has melted. DD is too small to go outside alone, it isn’t from anyone in the house. There aren’t any children living nearby who may have sneaked in somehow. Can anyone come up with a plausible explanation before I abandon ship and put the house up for sale!?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Vanillapot · 18/12/2022 17:11

So the fox jumped perfectly into your garden tinkered around making a perfect circle on the last step jump straight out?

Rockersversuswalter · 18/12/2022 17:11

Don't forget Wayfinders, the shoes with animals' feet in the soles.

JoanOfAllTrades · 18/12/2022 17:16

Vanillapot · 18/12/2022 17:11

So the fox jumped perfectly into your garden tinkered around making a perfect circle on the last step jump straight out?

A Russian fox or perhaps one from Belarus, trained by the Olympic Gymnast Team coach could have achieved this mind-boggling feat of gymnastic splendour.

My money is still on the Asgard or Winky………

Gliere · 18/12/2022 17:30

Please post the photo @Letitsnow32 ! ❄

WishIhadacrystalball · 18/12/2022 17:45

MariosMagicMushrooms · 18/12/2022 16:10

Was the fox wearing wellies?

I was just going to say this 😂😂

WishIhadacrystalball · 18/12/2022 17:50

I’ve found him. Meet Fred…

Freaked out by footprints
Laurakiaora · 18/12/2022 18:46

SillyLittleBiscuit · 18/12/2022 13:44

Will Smith?

👏

KettrickenSmiled · 18/12/2022 18:48

JoanOfAllTrades · 18/12/2022 16:19

Many years ago, I used to watch a series called Stargate SG1 and they had little aliens called the Asgard who were like defenders of Earth (clearly pre-any Marvel heroes).

I wouldn’t be surprised (since the Asgard are very small) if they are thinking of staging a comeback, having read the thread on how bad the UK is and they tested the waters, so to speak, in @Letitsnow32 garden. Clearly, you are now meant to put an X in your window, because ya know, you want to believe…

However just in case the thought of aliens running naked around your garden, having been beamed down like Kirk from their spaceship The Enterprise is giving you the wellies OP, fear not, I have an alternative theory that doesn’t involve aliens but does involve small half-naked creatures. Yes, you guessed it. Winky, whilst aimlessly wandering, or rather, disapparating around the UK, still heartbroken over losing first (and second) Barty Crouch, followed by that charming yet fierce defender of the (magical) faith Dobby, clearly apparated into your garden, ran around it in a fit of panic and then disapparated out again.

Did you by chance hear a loud crack? if so, that probably wasn’t local yobbos stealing someone’s outside decorations, but more likely Winky leaving before being nabbed by the Ministry for using magic near Muggles! Also, if, by chance some local yobbos did make off with someone’s outside decorations last night, wasn’t it clever of Winky to time her escape at the moment that the yobbos made a lot of noise?

This is a marvellous piece of whimsy Joan 😂😍

Although am bitterly disappointed. Have been holding out for Winky. Scripting conversations around persuading her to accept her own room in my house, & have her friends round whenever she likes. Maybe even (whispers) ... payment. In non-hosiery based currency, mind.
Frankly it's a bit thick she's shown up for OP, whose mind only stretched as far as quotidian ghosts & aliens. What's a witch gotta do these days - her own housekeeping spells? REDUCTO!

KettrickenSmiled · 18/12/2022 18:50

blankittyblank · 18/12/2022 16:25

This is so weird? Why would a fox jump into, and out of your garden? That makes no sense. And fox footprints are tiny, like dots. How can they be confused for childlike wellies? Why do people bother making this stuff up?

Because snow footprints 'spread' depending on weather conditions - test it out in your own garden.
And foxes leap after small prey.

It makes perfect sense!

VouisLuitton · 18/12/2022 19:13

Sound’s like something from a John Lewis Christmas advert 😂

JoanOfAllTrades · 18/12/2022 19:23

@KettrickenSmiled

Should you really require Winky’s cleaning skills extraordinaire, I’m almost positive you can put an advertisement in The Lady or Town & Country magazines.

Something along the lines of:

Desperately seeking help! House Elf help! Wages negotiable, clothes required. Wages paid well for Winky. Other Elven invited to apply. Own space in boiler cupboard for the right Elf 🙂

If you have no luck from the magazines after 2 print cycles (which you totally should as I believe rich/posh/members of the Tory party all advertise for Norland Nannies in The Lady and who would prefer a norland nanny over a house Elf?), just put a postcard up in Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and the dingiest newsagents you can find!

Oh, and call the local high school and ask the principal to read the ad out during assembly because some magical creatures are trying to assimilate into muggle culture!

I'm sure this information has helped you no end 😊😊

KettrickenSmiled · 18/12/2022 19:56

Feckin' genius @JoanOfAllTrades - of COURSE The Lady - Madam Hepzibah doubtless spent many a happy hour perusing the "help offered" ads & disapproving of most of them 😂

blankittyblank · 18/12/2022 21:21

@KettrickenSmiled

Well none of the many fox prints all over our garden spread and ended up looking like children's wellies! In any case, photos or if didn't happen etc

KettrickenSmiled · 18/12/2022 21:25

blankittyblank · 18/12/2022 21:21

@KettrickenSmiled

Well none of the many fox prints all over our garden spread and ended up looking like children's wellies! In any case, photos or if didn't happen etc

As I said, it depends on weather conditions.

Bird prints are good ones to observe if you want to see the phenomenon.

Puzzledstill · 18/12/2022 21:30

CeliaCanth · 18/12/2022 14:43

Springheeled Jack?

@CeliaCanth omg I read this is a haunted Liverpool book when I was 12 my grandads book! Not thought of it until now

keepaweatheredeye · 18/12/2022 21:37

Can't believe no one's mentioned this guy yet

Freaked out by footprints
Wasajollyhappysoul · 18/12/2022 21:41

Has there been a pic?

Dolphinsinwellies · 18/12/2022 21:44

When I first read the thread title I thought it said "freaked out by dolphins" so the whole time I was reading the OP I was thinking "well, that can't possibly be from dolphins can it"

LoveislikeanenergyrushinginrushinginsIdeofme · 18/12/2022 22:08

So what was it then?

MariosMagicMushrooms · 18/12/2022 22:21

Please post pic of footprints OP. I want to see them 😭

MariosMagicMushrooms · 18/12/2022 22:21

LoveislikeanenergyrushinginrushinginsIdeofme · 18/12/2022 22:08

So what was it then?

A fox apparently. A welly wearing fox.

Nooneeverplaysthepipesofpeace · 18/12/2022 23:41

@MariosMagicMushrooms But how did it not have footprints walking towards/away from the circle of footprints made? 🤷🏻‍♀️That’s the bit I don’t get

JoanOfAllTrades · 19/12/2022 01:20

Nooneeverplaysthepipesofpeace · 18/12/2022 23:41

@MariosMagicMushrooms But how did it not have footprints walking towards/away from the circle of footprints made? 🤷🏻‍♀️That’s the bit I don’t get

Please see my earlier post, it explains the welly footprints quite well, I feel.

If you are set on having a fox cast as the main perpetrator, I also explained that it’s either a Russian or Belarusian fox, specially trained by the Olympic Gymnastic’s team coach to enter and leave gardens, thus ensuring that once the homeowner sees the footprints, they will have the “wellies” put up them and their peace of mind welly be gone!

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