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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

ExH, his new girlfriend and the family beach house

305 replies

Endoftheroad12345 · 31/10/2024 00:52

ExH and I split in late 2022. I left him
after years of abuse, including physical abuse. Haven’t regretted it for a second. I have a new partner who I am very very happy with, exH has a new girlfriend, I have as little to do with exH as possible. He has our two children every other weekend. He pays bare minimum child support, won’t buy clothes for them to keep at his house, is generally a shit dad and human being. My 9 year old son came home with a bruise on his arm a couple of weeks ago from Dad pinching him. Not the first time my son has been hurt by his father. This has been logged with the police.

I bought exH out of the family home last year. It’s nearly killed me with massive mortgage + peak interest rates, but I am lucky enough to have a great job and have been able to manage. We also co-own a beach house. This is about to be listed for sale - for various logistical reasons it was financially advantageous to delay the sale. (Had we sold a year ago we would have paid circa $150K in extra tax and the market was v v depressed).

When I bought the family home the (substantial) beach house mortgage was paid off from my mortgage to save us from usurious interest rates. Both of us have good jobs - exH earns slightly more than me. He rents a property for about half what I pay in mortgage. ExH is waiting for the beach house to be sold before he buys a house. I gave exH the option of buying me out of my interest in the beach house so he was the sole owner. He refused - he doesn’t want to be “left with it”.

I have never taken my boyfriend to the beach house - in fact have gone to considerable expense booking airbnbs when we have gone away together. My view that when we split was that the beach house was a family home, it was special to our kids and what was once our family and taking new partners there would be disrespectful of that.

Despite this, exH nagged to take his girlfriend there. I said I wasn’t comfortable but I am used to him disregarding my wishes on everything so I said not with the kids there and not sleeping in my bed.

A month later (at Easter) he took the kids away as his sister was visiting from the UK for a family long weekend. Unbeknownst to me (or the kids), the girlfriend was invited. When he was told, my eldest son (9) cried and asked t go home (he told me later). ExH then refused to allow the kids to call me for 48 hours to make sure I didn’t find out.

Since then, exH takes his girlfriend regularly and I can tell they have been sleeping in my bedroom. I have tried to be grey rock about it all tbh as he’s such a lying cunt I can’t be bothered engaging with him.

Over the last month, exH has got very busy preparing the house for sale and announced he was going to plaster and paint the interior walls. This is a man who, in the 21 years we were together, couldn’t paint a doorknob. It transpired that New Gf is quite a dab hand at renovations and plastered and painted 3 bedrooms over the course of a week. For free.

I said to exH that was weird and he could afford to pay someone and I hoped that at least he was paying her… his first reaction was to say “she wants to help!” and the second was to ask me to chip in for half of it. That would be a no.

This weekend just been was a long weekend here and I took the kids to the bach. New Gf has been very busy, reorganising the linen cupboard (I can tell as the towels are folded into thirds, something exH never mastered in 20 years). My wardrobe… with all of my clothes hanging in it … has been tidied up and reorganised.

The house is far from Manderly but at this point the Rebecca vibes are off the chart. My tampons are literally in the bathroom drawer.

My strong suspicion is that exH has told New Gf it’s his house (“I let her have the family home for the kids… I took the beach house in the separation … but I still let her take the kids there on holiday because I’m Such a Great Dad”).

Whether she knows or not, AIBU to find it massively creepy and intrusive and go full Mrs Danvers on both of them?

OP posts:
easier · 02/11/2024 07:09

He needs to sell the beach house to buy his own place

He is in a long term relationship with his girlfriend and she presumably loves him and wants him to be able to buy his own place

The beach house is about to be listed. Clearly she’s helping out with painting the property and tidying up the place for listing photos to support her boyfriend get a good sale.

easier · 02/11/2024 07:11

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 00:02

Interesting Reddit thread on Rebecca if anyone is interested (segues wildly from OP)

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier...WOW lets talk

Finished re-reading Rebecca, read it 1st when I was 18 and many things went over my head I'd love to discuss. Contains spoilers

•Rebecca loved herself, Maxim loved Mandalay, narrator loved Maxim.

•narrator is the original pickme girl

•Maxim enjoys treating narrator as inferior. The "proposal" & the way she squashed her concerned gut feelings was hard to read. As was the exchange between Maxim & Danvers after she broke the ornament, threatening to leave her in the middle of nowhere in Monte Carlo, all their "disputes". It's clear to us there's no reciprocal love or respect.

•Maxim cultivated balance of power in his favour. Not buying her appropriate clothes before arrival at Mandalay, not warning her about Danvers, he kept setting her up to fail.

•Maxim is an incel

•narrator & Frank fell for each other. I couldn't stop focusing on this while reading. They enjoy each others company, laugh, she talks to him freely, they share same social background. Frank is who helps her navigate social situations, he always makes sure she's eaten, when Favell confronts them Frank goes to stand behind her chair, a gesture of unity you'd expect from a husband.

•Maxims confession is blatant BS. Danvers shares Maxim was besotted with Rebecca in the early days. Danvers knows Rebecca was unfaithful, why would she lie? Narrator observes Maxim having deep emotion while smelling the azaleas in Happy Valley, azaleas Rebecca brought to Mandalay. Maxim claims Beatrice hated Rebecca. Beatrice seemed genuinely concerned about the suicide verdict, not just for Maxim reputation. His description of Rebecca fleeing to London after fulfilling social engagements and slowly integrating her friends into Mandalay sounds like a women in a controlling marriage holding onto a level of freedom. Not a master manipulator. Especially as he chooses a young, naïve friendless orphan for his 2nd marriage.

•Rebecca is gay 🏳️‍🌈

•Beatrice fancied Rebecca 🌈

•Rebecca and Favell were alleged cousin-fuckers

•Rebecca is an "imperfect victim". It's easy to believe Maxim's POV because she terrorises the disabled man, she abuses her childhood horse, she's bisexual, she's unfaithful. She also has all the traits women are demonised for possessing in a misogynistic society. Fearless, too confident, independent, too perfect, not only aware of her beauty but using it to her advantage. There's a parallel to be drawn in the way these characters tear apart Rebecca and the way our society tore apart Amber Heard.

•Yes Rebecca became ill. But it's telling the amount of characters who comment Rebecca was always too slim and start making the same observation about the 2nd wife. It read that Max sucked the life out of his wives with his emotional abuse. The weekend Maxim leaves her alone the narrator notes she feels lighter & happier and then corrects herself.

•Maxim withheld affection until after his confession. Then he immediately lovebombs her to secure her blind devotion. Her circumstances leave her with no other option. Calculated.

•The book makes it clear their physical relationship begins with the confession & ends with Mandalay. Why does the film version with Emilia Fox & Charles Dance portray their relationship as sexually active from marriage? I believe the Netflix version also does this, I'm interested why.

•Maxim planned to murder Rebecca despite his claims the reverse is true. No one in the household knew Maxim had returned from dinner with Frank, who is as loyal to Maxim as Danny is to Rebecca (perfect alibi), Danvers was away, (a rarity) & he took a gun with him to confront Rebecca believing Favell was with her. The only flaw in his plan was underestimating how poor his sailing abilities were from lack of practice. Maxim is clear he considered murdering Rebecca in Monte Carlo, believing the unstable terrain would provide a natural alibi. Calculated.

'I'd forgotten that when you shot a person there was so much blood.' How many other people did you murder Maxim de Winter?

•That abrupt ending was a mindfuck. The reading equivalent of a mic drop

Please say you pasted this from somewhere and didn’t actually spend the time tapping it all out?!

easier · 02/11/2024 07:13

I imagine this girlfriend would laugh if she read this thread!

Shes helping her long term boyfriend prepare the property for sale so that the guy can buy his own place. She tidied away stuff for photos and viewings. Probably didn’t give one thought to neatening up cupboards. And probably has her own sanitary ware 😆

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 07:17

easier · 02/11/2024 07:11

Please say you pasted this from somewhere and didn’t actually spend the time tapping it all out?!

Yes I pasted it 😂😂

OP posts:
easier · 02/11/2024 07:20

It wasn’t out of the realms of possibility given the number of posts and the lengths of posts you’ve dedicated to the woman touching your tampons! When pretty evident that her painting and tidying up is to prepare for listing!

Billybagpuss · 02/11/2024 07:25

Endoftheroad12345 · 01/11/2024 23:57

Monogrammed tampons 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I would love to read a prequel to Rebecca written from Rebecca’s perspective. Seems weird he went from sexbomb Rebecca of the fab parties and lingerie to no name child bride. I bet he was controlling and inadequate and shit in the sack 😂

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebeccas-Tale-Sally-Beauman-ebook/dp/B00GHUHJXS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S2MJYU9ZWUIJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kPuhgfTL-sg9dZwYbFmJNnjGm13vZ_kdDiVsF2hZMUYWUrJhXvyWvUApB7TKzVLVyWyHqIR6pgb01DAA8HSKr_iCIMcvd_3_rhq3XprHYItdovtVoTot0q3Cc0zg0zM0.fLkymhs-aqOneM0aNP7810JwNE8Zd3uFz3nA20ra78A&dib_tag=se&keywords=rebecca%27s+tale&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730532189&sprefix=Rebecca%27s+%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1

there is one, obviously not DDM and definitely not in her league. It’s been years since I read it but it was a different perspective

Rebecca's Tale eBook : Beauman, Sally: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Rebecca's Tale eBook : Beauman, Sally: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rebeccas-Tale-Sally-Beauman-ebook/dp/B00GHUHJXS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S2MJYU9ZWUIJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.kPuhgfTL-sg9dZwYbFmJNnjGm13vZ_kdDiVsF2hZMUYWUrJhXvyWvUApB7TKzVLVyWyHqIR6pgb01DAA8HSKr_iCIMcvd_3_rhq3XprHYItdovtVoTot0q3Cc0zg0zM0.fLkymhs-aqOneM0aNP7810JwNE8Zd3uFz3nA20ra78A&dib_tag=se&keywords=rebecca%27s%20tale&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1730532189&sprefix=Rebecca%27s%20%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-5199334-exh-his-new-girlfriend-and-the-family-beach-house

Bernadinetta · 02/11/2024 07:27

ketchuptom · 31/10/2024 18:25

you’re about to list it
your ex needs the money to buy himself a property

and yet you’ve planned to take your partner there… next summer?

Yes for the summer holidays in December, with a view to sell in January. Have you read the thread at all as you’ve assumed and therefore mistaken a few details including ownership of the former family home and which hemisphere the OP is in.

Boobygravy · 02/11/2024 07:33

Reading @ketchuptom replies they definitely wouldn’t follow the plot of Rebecca. They’re struggling with op’s posts.

Zonder · 02/11/2024 07:33

Livelovebehappy · 02/11/2024 01:09

And why should she? OP owns half too, so if she wants her stuff to remain there, she can. And should be able to so without the GF going through her draws and cupboards.

Especially since they're supposed to have separate bedrooms and hers is upstairs out of the way with no reason for ex or gf to go up there!

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 02/11/2024 08:11

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 01:39

you reckon? hadn’t occurred to me!

Really because you treat him leaving bruises on your 9 year old in a very dismissive manor and seem far more upset about his gf being in your SHARED house.

You jointly own the beach house, he can do what he wants on his time there and there is FA you can do about it unfortunately but I think you need to get your priorities in line.

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 08:18

Well funnily enough @Ihatelittlefriendsusan I didn’t bother posting an AIBU about my ex’s abusive behaviour, I didn’t bother fucking around venting on the internet to strangers, I called my son’s therapist and talked to her about how to best manage it with my son, I talked to my & my children’s GP to ensure it was recorded, I talked to my lawyer about my options and then I got myself down to the police station to be interviewed by a police officer DV specialist have the incident logged with him and seek his advice on how best to proceed from there.

Fascinated as to what you would have done differently and why it apparently precludes me from venting about more mild forms of my ex’s shitty behaviour.

OP posts:
Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 02/11/2024 08:20

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 08:18

Well funnily enough @Ihatelittlefriendsusan I didn’t bother posting an AIBU about my ex’s abusive behaviour, I didn’t bother fucking around venting on the internet to strangers, I called my son’s therapist and talked to her about how to best manage it with my son, I talked to my & my children’s GP to ensure it was recorded, I talked to my lawyer about my options and then I got myself down to the police station to be interviewed by a police officer DV specialist have the incident logged with him and seek his advice on how best to proceed from there.

Fascinated as to what you would have done differently and why it apparently precludes me from venting about more mild forms of my ex’s shitty behaviour.

Wow...you are delightful. You sure it's the exh who is the abusive one!

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 08:23

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 02/11/2024 08:20

Wow...you are delightful. You sure it's the exh who is the abusive one!

Yes I’m positive

OP posts:
easier · 02/11/2024 08:33

your 9 year old son has a therapist. What these children have been through.

Does your new partner have children? your ex’s new partner?

Do you concede that the painting and the tidying up could just have been her supporting her boyfriend in preparing the property for listing, especially as he’s keen to sell because his house purchase depends upon the sale?

mikado1 · 02/11/2024 08:36

Bansheed · 31/10/2024 00:59

Until it is sold, you should just grit your teeth. Your bigger problem is how he treats the children. I would.focus on that and get proper legal advice.

Edited

First reply is all you need!

easier · 02/11/2024 08:39

ve and will be masking madly but also part of me thinks grow a brain, get therapy and set some fking boundaries for God’s sake - we are mid 40s and this is not her first rodeo with a total loser.

to be fair Op, you were with him for two decades

easier · 02/11/2024 08:40

i don’t understand why your DS cries when he found out his dad’s girlfriend would be present on their holiday at the beach house

but also DS prefers it when she’s around because he “feels safer”

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 08:52

easier · 02/11/2024 08:39

ve and will be masking madly but also part of me thinks grow a brain, get therapy and set some fking boundaries for God’s sake - we are mid 40s and this is not her first rodeo with a total loser.

to be fair Op, you were with him for two decades

Agreed I did acknowledge that!

OP posts:
Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 08:56

easier · 02/11/2024 08:40

i don’t understand why your DS cries when he found out his dad’s girlfriend would be present on their holiday at the beach house

but also DS prefers it when she’s around because he “feels safer”

Because DS thought he was going away for the Easter weekend with his dad, aunty, cousin and nanna to his family beach house and once he was in the car unable to leave his dad dropped on him that Dad’s new gf, who DS barely knew and had never spent a night with, was coming too, and exH then prevented DS from calling me as our agreement was that new partners would not be taken to the house when the kids were there.

That was six months ago and the kids have since warmed up to her and she does seem to have made a real effort with them.

OP posts:
easier · 02/11/2024 08:59

They said it was up to me if I took action but that it would involve DS being interviewed and that as the kids are largely with me they considered he was low risk

The police have this advice?

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 09:00

easier · 02/11/2024 08:33

your 9 year old son has a therapist. What these children have been through.

Does your new partner have children? your ex’s new partner?

Do you concede that the painting and the tidying up could just have been her supporting her boyfriend in preparing the property for listing, especially as he’s keen to sell because his house purchase depends upon the sale?

Of course that’s what she was doing, I never said otherwise.

OP posts:
easier · 02/11/2024 09:01

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 09:00

Of course that’s what she was doing, I never said otherwise.

oh come on op
your thread wasn’t about whether the girlfriend was unreasonable to paint and tidy up in advance of listing photos!

easier · 02/11/2024 09:03

My AIBU is that it’s deeply weird for her to paint and plaster a house owned by her boyfriend’s exW and to rearrange exW’s cupboards and clothing

you think it’s deeply weird for a long term girlfriend to help her partner prepare his property for listing that will enable him to buy his own place?

Endoftheroad12345 · 02/11/2024 09:03

easier · 02/11/2024 08:59

They said it was up to me if I took action but that it would involve DS being interviewed and that as the kids are largely with me they considered he was low risk

The police have this advice?

Correct.

I imagine the vast amount of middle class abusive men never suffer any kind of consequences for their behaviour.

OP posts:
easier · 02/11/2024 09:04

does your new partner have children? the new girlfriend?