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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Bizarre things you couldnt fathom

294 replies

Daygloboo · 12/01/2026 00:53

Not AIBU. Just curious.
Have you ever experienced anything either publicly or privately that just didn't make sense or seemed bizarre or you just couldnt fathom in some way.
I was in a small cafe looking out on Trafalgar Square about 10 years ago. ..Alan Yentob walked in through the door. .I kept an eye constantly on the door because I wanted to get a good look at him when he walked out again but I didn't want to stare while he was in the cafe. I was by the window seat looking out on Trafalgar Square. After about 15 minutes i turned my head and looked round in the cafe and he was nowhere to be seen. It was a small cafe !! He wasnt sitting at any of the tables and I'd had my eye on the door the whole time so I know he couldn" t have slipped past me. There was no other exit and only some toilets. It was a really bizarre experience that I can't fathom to this day. I KNOW I never took my eye off the door. I just dont know where he went.

OP posts:
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Fluffybagel · 13/01/2026 07:17

Was once watching the tv at home, nobody else in, thought to myself oh that’s loud, could do with being quieter - the tv went quieter!! I hadn’t touched the remote, then a bit later on, it was too quiet, thought again that needs turning up - lo and behold, it went louder!! Very bizarre. It wasn’t that the volume was changing though as that didn’t pop up on the screen!

Pricelessadvice · 13/01/2026 07:24

A family friend died in a really tragic way and was missing for a week before they were found. They were actually eventually found a few hundred yards from my house. Really awful circumstances with police involvement and search parties. PM found cause and estimated time of death based on the last sighting of them.
What’s strange is at that exact time that night I had the most awful overwhelming nausea and feeling horrendously unwell. It lasted about 15-20 minutes and then vanished. We didn’t know family friend was even missing until a few days later when a neighbour reported it, so it wasn’t that I knew they were missing at the time.
In the coming weeks I found out that was the estimated time that family friend would have strayed off path and died.

Probably coincidence but I still find it very odd.

Lengokengo · 13/01/2026 07:31

Years ago I had a work colleague that I sat next to and got on with extremely well. She was heavily pregnant and went on maternity leave on a Friday, though her baby wasn’t due for 3 weeks.

the following Friday there was a party I was going to and a few bus stops away but a lovely evening so me and my DP decided to walk. Got most of the way there, but close to the party I suddenly developed massive stomach pains out of nowhere and could no longer walk. DP and I had to get the bus home. The intense stomach pains completely cleared up as soon as we were home, lasting about 20 minutes, with no warning and no aftermath.

the next day we got a message that my work colleague had unexpectedly given birth, and the timing coincidenced exactly with my intense stomach pains. It felt like my body knew when she would be in labour.

NotMeAtAll · 13/01/2026 07:40

Before my mother died she was given a terminal diagnosis. My friend rang me because she knew something was wrong. There was no way for her to know. I had just found out.

Mymanyellow · 13/01/2026 07:45

BorgQueen · 12/01/2026 18:53

DH has our box room for his x-box, stereo etc. The room has multiple shelves and pictures on the walls, the week before Xmas, a very large and heavy picture landed on the floor upright and the right way up, leaning against an armchair on the other side of the room - it had missed a shelf full of breakables and the stereo below it. The large picture hook was still in the wall, the fitting on the back of the picture was still in place. It could only be removed from the wall by being lifted off.
I’ve also lost 2 dryer balls, they aren’t amongst the washing.

Found one in the corner of a buttoned up duvet cover. Don’t ask me how it did that I’m not convinced the gaps were big enough.

BlessedAreThePureOfHeart · 13/01/2026 07:49

ThisIsAGlobalPlayerOriginalPodcast · 12/01/2026 22:40

I feel like the only explanation for this one is your husband sneaked in and grabbed the phone while your back was turned so he could have a good look through it…

But I was already looking for the phone when he came in from work! His car pulled in the drive he came in the door I was already puzzled and looking for it.

goodnightssleepbenice · 13/01/2026 07:54

Years ago we had a small fish tank came down one morning there was only an inch of water in it , the fish were barely alive . Not a drop of water on the furniture it was on or the floor .

BlessedAreThePureOfHeart · 13/01/2026 07:57

Dollyfloss · 12/01/2026 22:54

Yes I thought that - he’d been having a good old snoop in it in his shed or playing a bit of a mean trick on you.

He wasn't even in the house when it went missing!!
Anyway I haven't got a marriage like this thanks.

ThisIsAGlobalPlayerOriginalPodcast · 13/01/2026 08:01

BlessedAreThePureOfHeart · 13/01/2026 07:49

But I was already looking for the phone when he came in from work! His car pulled in the drive he came in the door I was already puzzled and looking for it.

Why was he in the shed?

PoorPhaedra · 13/01/2026 08:07

In our old flat I used to keep a paperback book in a small bag next to my handbag by the front door ready for me to pick up when I left for work (used to read on the bus). One morning I picked it up to leave for the bus and the paperback was soaking wet - like it had been submerged in water. It was placed neatly in the bag and left exactly where it should be. Just soaking wet.

CoodleMoodle · 13/01/2026 08:11

When now DH and I were about 18, DM and I were in her car, and behind us was a man driving DH's car. He looked EXACTLY like him, it was freaky.

I called DH and he answered, saying that it wasn't him and he was at home, sitting at his computer (he put his phone near the keyboard and typed something to prove it, and I heard the cat meow in the background). But the weirdest thing was the man in the car also started speaking when DH answered! Obviously on a handsfree or something, but every time DH spoke on my phone, it looked like he did too.

I told DH what was happening and he asked what the registration of the car was, I said ABC123. He said, well my car is XYZ456, so it's not me. He was right but it was SO strange. DM thought it was him too!

Mymanyellow · 13/01/2026 08:17

goodnightssleepbenice · 13/01/2026 07:54

Years ago we had a small fish tank came down one morning there was only an inch of water in it , the fish were barely alive . Not a drop of water on the furniture it was on or the floor .

That’s one thirsty fish. 😀

JacknDiane · 13/01/2026 08:20

Maybe Alan Yentob was actually Mr Ben?

FlayOtters · 13/01/2026 08:36

PurpleLovecats · 12/01/2026 12:41

I see angels. Nobody else sees them. I can talk to them, touch them, hear them. They set me missions.
Im not psychotic, had two opinions from psychs recently (was diagnosed psychotic for a few years and on antipsychotic meds).
So my only conclusion is that they are in fact a reality, and I was chosen as they say.

please seek further help.

BlessedAreThePureOfHeart · 13/01/2026 08:39

ThisIsAGlobalPlayerOriginalPodcast · 13/01/2026 08:01

Why was he in the shed?

He drove into the drive got out of the car came in the kitchen said hello. He had a tool in his hand from work he is a gardener. He wanted to put it in the shed so he went to the back door which was locked because I hadn't been out the back all day. Walked down to the shed unlocked the shed put the tool away then walked back up to the house walked in the kitchen where I was still looking for my phone and at this point the kids were helping me look because it was doing my head in. He came in holding my phone saying why was this in the shed and me and the kids did a collective gasp.

Scarlett79 · 13/01/2026 08:42

When I was 21, some years ago, I had booked a holiday to celebrate finishing university. My lovely mum had been diagnosed with cancer just a couple of months beforehand and was undergoing treatment; I wanted to cancel the holiday but she insisted I go and have fun.

One day my then boyfriend and I were on a boat trip, and I felt unbearably ill. The worst I have ever felt. Couldn’t stand, couldn’t move my head, couldn’t speak. Managed to get off the boat, sat down on a wall near the sea, feeling utterly wretched. Asked my boyfriend to find some help (we were on a small Greek island, mobile phones not really a thing then).

Suddenly a stray cat made a beeline for me, curled up on my lap and went to sleep. I am not a cat person by any means, but I immediately felt a complete stillness and peace, and the ill feeling passed completely. I sat there for a while, feeling content and relieved, until the cat woke up and moved off. It was still early enough in the morning for us to have a lovely day.

I got home a few days later to discover that my mum had passed away unexpectedly quickly, and in some pain, on the exact day I had that experience. Worked out she died at around the same time that cat came and sat on my lap. We are not a religious family, and I have not experienced anything like that before or since, but it gives me great comfort to think that she was letting me know she was at rest.

It’s also interesting to see others having had similar experience of being connected to their loved ones.

MarriedWithCauldron · 13/01/2026 08:47

KoalaBlue1 · 13/01/2026 05:23

My niece lost her son in tragic circumstances. He was a young adult.
Talking to her a few years later, she lives in another state, so don’t see them often.
Her son’s birthday date was 23rd.
She says everywhere she goes, she sees 23.
We went to sit at a table in a cafe. Sure enough … Table No. 23.
Chills

Not wishing to take anything away from your niece’s grief, but I honestly think this one is just a case of her noticing the number 23 when she sees it because it’s significant to her, in a way it wouldn’t even register if she was caller 12 in a queue and then sitting at table 12 a week later.

I used to live at number 225 when I was young and was devastated to leave that house. For quite some time afterwards, it seemed like I always happened to glance at the clock just as it was 2.25, as if it was taunting me somehow. In reality, I probably glanced at the clock at 1.52 just as often, but never noticed I was doing it because the number is meaningless.

Hairypotatocat · 13/01/2026 08:50

I was in a pub once and my phone rang. It was the barmaid of the pub I was sitting in but she hadn’t intended to call me. She was meant to call another customer back but had written down the number incorrectly and had called my number by mistake. And weirdly I just happened to be there, in the same pub, at the same time.

Theseventhmagpie · 13/01/2026 08:53

jwoo23 · 12/01/2026 22:21

Does anyone remember the missing clock chains thread?!!!! That was an awesome story. Don’t think there was ever a conclusion but that must be one of the best ‘most bizarre’! Someone link it if they can find it please! I don’t know how! I’d love an update!!

I do, it was fascinating! 😀

Dollyfloss · 13/01/2026 08:58

BlessedAreThePureOfHeart · 13/01/2026 08:39

He drove into the drive got out of the car came in the kitchen said hello. He had a tool in his hand from work he is a gardener. He wanted to put it in the shed so he went to the back door which was locked because I hadn't been out the back all day. Walked down to the shed unlocked the shed put the tool away then walked back up to the house walked in the kitchen where I was still looking for my phone and at this point the kids were helping me look because it was doing my head in. He came in holding my phone saying why was this in the shed and me and the kids did a collective gasp.

Maybe he already had it though? Unless you know for certain you used it whilst he was out of the house it seems obvious that he had it. Maybe he had snuck in and got it? Maybe he got one of the dc’s involved in playing a trick on you?

Really, almost all of these are easily explainable and they pretty much all involve someone lying/playing tricks.

The glass bowl getting smashed whilst the ds was home alone for instance. He obviously just didn’t want to own up to it.

Objects can roll under kitchen units and down gaps in the floor. Or again, a partner playing a trick.

Jewellery boxes being stolen and then turning up in the Df’s drawers - well obviously it wasn’t stolen was it? (gambling addiction or the like maybe). I know someone who’s employee staged a theft in the office to steal money when she was “there alone”. She even had an injury and claimed to have been hit by one of the thieves. It was all a set up and only found out about by complete fluke.

Some people lie all the time. Even about seemingly stupid things.

Another thing I’d like to point out is that it’s a trait of narcissists/covert narcs/people with personality disorders is to hide belongings from their partners. They enjoy the other persons confusion and sense of panic and the feeling of power it gives them.

Hearing’s noises - noise can carry very far, especially if you’re in an attached house. We’re in a detached house and last night I heard voices in my room and when I investigated it was coming from outside quite far away but sounded loud. The wind was carrying the noise.

When we’re walking home alone late at night/have just woken from a deep sleep we our imagination can do all sorts of tricks on us. Night terrors can be very realistic.

We can often convince ourselves that something definitely happened when the reality is quite different. Tiredness/stress etc can be a big factor.

Obviously it could just be poltergeists but I’m
pretty sure they don’t exist.

Dollyfloss · 13/01/2026 09:00

Hairypotatocat · 13/01/2026 08:50

I was in a pub once and my phone rang. It was the barmaid of the pub I was sitting in but she hadn’t intended to call me. She was meant to call another customer back but had written down the number incorrectly and had called my number by mistake. And weirdly I just happened to be there, in the same pub, at the same time.

She was having an affair with your dh and wanted to check she had your number right? Maybe he was sat with you and it was to put the frighteners on him?

I’d be thinking something like that tbh!

Hairypotatocat · 13/01/2026 09:10

Dollyfloss · 13/01/2026 09:00

She was having an affair with your dh and wanted to check she had your number right? Maybe he was sat with you and it was to put the frighteners on him?

I’d be thinking something like that tbh!

Haha! No, I didn’t have a DH at the time and I talked to the barmaid and she showed me where it was written down in their notebook. Customer name (not me), customer number (my number).

MistressoftheDarkSide · 13/01/2026 09:41

Dollyfloss · 13/01/2026 08:58

Maybe he already had it though? Unless you know for certain you used it whilst he was out of the house it seems obvious that he had it. Maybe he had snuck in and got it? Maybe he got one of the dc’s involved in playing a trick on you?

Really, almost all of these are easily explainable and they pretty much all involve someone lying/playing tricks.

The glass bowl getting smashed whilst the ds was home alone for instance. He obviously just didn’t want to own up to it.

Objects can roll under kitchen units and down gaps in the floor. Or again, a partner playing a trick.

Jewellery boxes being stolen and then turning up in the Df’s drawers - well obviously it wasn’t stolen was it? (gambling addiction or the like maybe). I know someone who’s employee staged a theft in the office to steal money when she was “there alone”. She even had an injury and claimed to have been hit by one of the thieves. It was all a set up and only found out about by complete fluke.

Some people lie all the time. Even about seemingly stupid things.

Another thing I’d like to point out is that it’s a trait of narcissists/covert narcs/people with personality disorders is to hide belongings from their partners. They enjoy the other persons confusion and sense of panic and the feeling of power it gives them.

Hearing’s noises - noise can carry very far, especially if you’re in an attached house. We’re in a detached house and last night I heard voices in my room and when I investigated it was coming from outside quite far away but sounded loud. The wind was carrying the noise.

When we’re walking home alone late at night/have just woken from a deep sleep we our imagination can do all sorts of tricks on us. Night terrors can be very realistic.

We can often convince ourselves that something definitely happened when the reality is quite different. Tiredness/stress etc can be a big factor.

Obviously it could just be poltergeists but I’m
pretty sure they don’t exist.

While everything you say can objectively be true, it can't be denied that weird things do happen. And when it's something utterly mundane like my rocking cardboard box, or vanishing vegetables where the room is effectively seaked, it does beg the question how stress, or grief or tiredness could be the most obvious explanation when these things were not a factor in the moment.

We are wired for survival by pattern recognition, so when something occurs that disrupts our "normal" it sticks out. Yes, we should exhaust all logical possibilities, but sometimes things absolutely do defy explanation.

I often find the more mundane stories far more believable - the vanishing butternut squash for example - hardly the most riveting way to spice up your life.

Even the ones about passed loved ones I won't discount, given I saw my late DH about 5 weeks after he died, and the circumstances were such that I was not asleep or dreaming or mistaken. Obviously can't prove it but there we are.

AncientMarina · 13/01/2026 09:43

Tamtim · 13/01/2026 00:56

The dead folk were passing through to get to their service. 😁

Oh I do hope so. I like to think of all the people who've lived in our house before and hope they'd approve of what we've done to the dear old place.

BlessedAreThePureOfHeart · 13/01/2026 09:52

Dollyfloss · 13/01/2026 08:58

Maybe he already had it though? Unless you know for certain you used it whilst he was out of the house it seems obvious that he had it. Maybe he had snuck in and got it? Maybe he got one of the dc’s involved in playing a trick on you?

Really, almost all of these are easily explainable and they pretty much all involve someone lying/playing tricks.

The glass bowl getting smashed whilst the ds was home alone for instance. He obviously just didn’t want to own up to it.

Objects can roll under kitchen units and down gaps in the floor. Or again, a partner playing a trick.

Jewellery boxes being stolen and then turning up in the Df’s drawers - well obviously it wasn’t stolen was it? (gambling addiction or the like maybe). I know someone who’s employee staged a theft in the office to steal money when she was “there alone”. She even had an injury and claimed to have been hit by one of the thieves. It was all a set up and only found out about by complete fluke.

Some people lie all the time. Even about seemingly stupid things.

Another thing I’d like to point out is that it’s a trait of narcissists/covert narcs/people with personality disorders is to hide belongings from their partners. They enjoy the other persons confusion and sense of panic and the feeling of power it gives them.

Hearing’s noises - noise can carry very far, especially if you’re in an attached house. We’re in a detached house and last night I heard voices in my room and when I investigated it was coming from outside quite far away but sounded loud. The wind was carrying the noise.

When we’re walking home alone late at night/have just woken from a deep sleep we our imagination can do all sorts of tricks on us. Night terrors can be very realistic.

We can often convince ourselves that something definitely happened when the reality is quite different. Tiredness/stress etc can be a big factor.

Obviously it could just be poltergeists but I’m
pretty sure they don’t exist.

If you read my original post; I was scrolling on my phone while I was cooking the kids tea, I put it down to dish up after I had dished up and put the plates on the table and the kids sat down to eat I turned to pick my phone back up and it was gone. DH wasn't even in the house at this point.
Anyway you remind me of Dr Ciaran O Keefe. Bending over backwards to explain things and reaching! I know it's a scary prospect to get your head around but sometimes weird things do happen! Hopefully one day something unexplainable will happen to you because until it does you won't believe it's possible x