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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What’s going on in this situation?

137 replies

Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 06:43

Name change because of possibly very recognisable location.

Live just off one of the most expensive areas in London. Houses between £20 and £40mil.

Go for walks daily.

There’s always a car with someone inside, outside of a specific house. The house is not on the road with the very expensive ones, just off it, so not an ambassador/Middle Eastern royalty one, more like a £5/6mil one.

Lots of private security guards around with high viz jackets and marked cars patrolling by car or on foot.

‘They’, instead, have normal cars with always someone inside looking utterly bored, checking phones, listening to music. Never outside of the car, not even in summer. So cars and people inside change, but car with person inside there day and night, always in front of this house.

From the outside, you can see that inside the house there’s a tv showing cctv camera feeds. It feels like the tv was positioned so as to make it clear to outsiders that there are plenty of cameras in and around the house.

And a man often sitting by the window facing the road in an office/library room. Neither the man nor the room look fancy, but also not a guard.

What’s the deal?

(I know it sounds like the beginning of a badly-written short story, but it’s all real, I’ve been discussing this with my husband and I just can’t understand what’s going on but I pass in front of it every day so it’s hard to not think about it)

OP posts:
Agapornis · 09/01/2026 12:46

Cantheowneroftheredcorsapleasemovetheircar · 09/01/2026 12:36

Dutch people put it all out there. There's no mystery so therefore no curiosity.

They don't even have curtains

Haha slight cross post, love how we're defined by the lack of (net) curtains.

Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 12:47

So the only person I have seen inside the house is a man around 60ish. Can't stare so it's an approximate age. Always sitting at the desk facing the road and with books at the back.

If you walk around this area at 'night', when the lights are on, you can see plenty of how people live. Living rooms/kitchens/hallways/etc etc.. This house, the only thing you can see inside, apart from the man sitting at the window when he's there, is the tv with I'd say 9 camera feeds. (I'd like to take a photo to show you at least of that but it would be pretty obvious...) So I don't think sons of whomever is the answer.

I am a shy person so I would not have the right persona to go up to the guy and ask what's going on. I know of someone who could do that but I haven't spoken to her in months (for valid reasons!) so rekindling the friendship to do that is a bit much.

Anyone who can meet me here and is willing to do so?

OP posts:
Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 12:48

Ah, it's bordering the Heath Extension so I guess they pee in the bushes. However I have never seen the car without someone inside (always one person) so I wonder if one of the job requirements is that they can't pee! :)

OP posts:
Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 12:50

What I mean to say is that the interior is very sterile, almost as if they lived there because they had to, not because it's their loved home. (Of course I have not seen the other rooms, however I have seen many of the rooms of the neighbours so the contrast is stark)

OP posts:
Namechangeyname · 09/01/2026 12:56

Is it definitely a residential house and not connected in any way to the synagogue? I'm not in London, but my local synagogue buildings unfortunately need constant security :(

TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 09/01/2026 12:56

So the only person I have seen inside the house is a man around 60ish. Can't stare so it's an approximate age. Always sitting at the desk facing the road and with books at the back.
Writer then. Endless sitting at desk with books in the room staring out of the window, it's literally what writers do for much more time than they actually write.
So, who? If he wasn't dead I'd have said John le Carre, due to the spy connections and being famous enough to be rich. Would have been Graham Greene in a bygone age. not sure who now - Julian Fellowes springs to mind as possible.

JoshLymanSwagger · 09/01/2026 14:14

Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 11:53

Ah there you go. Now, the real question, is it just monied/famous/important people he 'bodyguards' or could it be a bad one too? As in, drug lord or the sort?

Is there a difference?

They have money to burn and are frightened of interacting with the great unwashed (you n me).

I wouldn't want their life or their money - whether it's clean or dirty.

Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 14:25

JoshLymanSwagger · 09/01/2026 14:14

Is there a difference?

They have money to burn and are frightened of interacting with the great unwashed (you n me).

I wouldn't want their life or their money - whether it's clean or dirty.

Maybe, or maybe there is a difference, I guess in this case I will never know.
The story would be much more interesting though if it was a drug lord or an international spy spilling the secrets to the police force than a random person who was given or felt the need for security!

It could be a writer, but the sterile house still doesn't tell me home.

OP posts:
TemporarilyCantDoMyself · 09/01/2026 14:45

Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 14:25

Maybe, or maybe there is a difference, I guess in this case I will never know.
The story would be much more interesting though if it was a drug lord or an international spy spilling the secrets to the police force than a random person who was given or felt the need for security!

It could be a writer, but the sterile house still doesn't tell me home.

So he lives somewhere else but holes himself up here to get the writing done without the distraction of human discourse.

Will Self used to do that. Just as a for instance.

TiredTrainLady · 09/01/2026 14:52

socialdilemmawhattodo · 09/01/2026 10:19

If you find a good excuse to knock, please share. I am researching prior occupants of a very exclusive house, now an embassy. Am dying to get in for a nose.

Become an Avon rep and knock on their door(or ding dong ring the bell)

1clavdivs · 09/01/2026 15:13

Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 11:53

Ah there you go. Now, the real question, is it just monied/famous/important people he 'bodyguards' or could it be a bad one too? As in, drug lord or the sort?

Anyone who pays, basically. In this case it’s related to politics (not UK) and them being a possible retaliation target. The person is very rich. Doesn’t like the bodyguards in the home when the family are there so that’s when they sit outside. And just generally note any suspicious activity that could indicate bad things are being planned.

1clavdivs · 09/01/2026 15:15

333FionaG · 09/01/2026 12:09

What happens when he needs a pee? Is he allowed in the house? Or does he have to use a fabric conditioner bottle in the car?

If he’s in the house he uses their facilities (apparently very nice, heated seat etc). If he’s outside in the car he tries not to, but if he has to he’ll ask one of the team to watch the cameras while he goes to a cafe.

luckylavender · 09/01/2026 15:27

Cantheowneroftheredcorsapleasemovetheircar · 09/01/2026 12:42

Ooh yes, could be one of the PM's kids. We don't know anything about them but they are teenage, aren't they? So one of them could have grown up and moved out?

The oldest one is doing A levels this year.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 09/01/2026 15:44

TiredTrainLady · 09/01/2026 14:52

Become an Avon rep and knock on their door(or ding dong ring the bell)

Yeah they'd love that! It's an embassy from a country where women usually wear full face coverings.

igglu · 09/01/2026 16:35

Could be someone who is CEO of an oil or energy company, something along those lines where they could be targeted by protestors so need security.

tommyhoundmum · 09/01/2026 18:04

Say hello politely and ask.

HarbourClankCat · 09/01/2026 18:26

Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 11:56

I know! Though no dog unfortunately. And it's starting to piss me off because I am second guessing myself and going out at different times of the day to make sure that they don't think I do it on purpose to pass in front always at the same time!

That makes you look suspicious. Normal dog walkers tend to walk the same route around the same times.

Are you sure you are not planning a heist?

HarbourClankCat · 09/01/2026 18:31

Just seen you have no dog!

There’s some guys that sit in cars every day that have a group WhatsApp that says:

She’s gone past again
Different time again
What is she doing?
I can’t work it out
She did the same yesterday. Just walked past looking purposeful

Laurmolonlabe · 09/01/2026 18:39

Likely someone very rich thinks there is a kidnapping threat, usually they over estimate how dangerous London is.

Cantheowneroftheredcorsapleasemovetheircar · 09/01/2026 18:39

Agapornis · 09/01/2026 12:46

Haha slight cross post, love how we're defined by the lack of (net) curtains.

I definitely don't define the Netherlands by it's lack of curtains. I love everything it as to offer
But I'll never forget floating serenely on a barge, looking up at the the beautiful architecture in Amsterdam and being able to see everyone just living their lives in their flats, for everyone to just SEE them! Including one guy in a state of undress. I saw bumcheek!
My Dutch friend was like "so? It's just a body, you have one too, don't you?" 😆

Cantheowneroftheredcorsapleasemovetheircar · 09/01/2026 18:40

HarbourClankCat · 09/01/2026 18:31

Just seen you have no dog!

There’s some guys that sit in cars every day that have a group WhatsApp that says:

She’s gone past again
Different time again
What is she doing?
I can’t work it out
She did the same yesterday. Just walked past looking purposeful

OP, I think you might be the reason they're there

Cantheowneroftheredcorsapleasemovetheircar · 09/01/2026 18:42

luckylavender · 09/01/2026 15:27

The oldest one is doing A levels this year.

So he's 18. He could have moved out

User7565364 · 09/01/2026 18:54

High ranking diplomat. Not that unusual at all and not necessarily connected to how dangerous a country is. Above a certain level, many homes have 24hr security, paid for by the embassy or international organisation. It rarely means the person or their family is actually at risk of being kidnapped but it's the norm that comes with the job. Security can be extremely discreet, in some cases children in the family are never actually aware that they are under protection. Some parents understandably, don't like the idea of letting their kids grow up like that when there is zero immediate risk. So it makes sense that agents would sit outside in a car instead of wandering around in the house.

Edit: Not all ambassadors or diplomats live in fancy areas. Some prefer low key homes or being close to their kids schools or place of work. Some just aren't picky so they find a random home and stick with it, and their security just has to follow.

Happyjoe · 09/01/2026 18:55

Thestormishere · 09/01/2026 06:43

Name change because of possibly very recognisable location.

Live just off one of the most expensive areas in London. Houses between £20 and £40mil.

Go for walks daily.

There’s always a car with someone inside, outside of a specific house. The house is not on the road with the very expensive ones, just off it, so not an ambassador/Middle Eastern royalty one, more like a £5/6mil one.

Lots of private security guards around with high viz jackets and marked cars patrolling by car or on foot.

‘They’, instead, have normal cars with always someone inside looking utterly bored, checking phones, listening to music. Never outside of the car, not even in summer. So cars and people inside change, but car with person inside there day and night, always in front of this house.

From the outside, you can see that inside the house there’s a tv showing cctv camera feeds. It feels like the tv was positioned so as to make it clear to outsiders that there are plenty of cameras in and around the house.

And a man often sitting by the window facing the road in an office/library room. Neither the man nor the room look fancy, but also not a guard.

What’s the deal?

(I know it sounds like the beginning of a badly-written short story, but it’s all real, I’ve been discussing this with my husband and I just can’t understand what’s going on but I pass in front of it every day so it’s hard to not think about it)

Going from someone who worked in this industry, be either press or a private detective. Probably the former.

MadinMarch · 09/01/2026 18:56

Salman Rushdie? Or a politician maybe as they all have security?

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