Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Watch this argument with me

220 replies

Motherflubber · 22/03/2026 20:03

I’m eating alone in a very small restaurant in a very small town and there’s a very small woman absolutely laying in to her dining partner who is resolutely refusing to react.

She’s in her mid-60’s I’d say. Her dining partner looks a similar age, he’s probably late 60’s although looks younger because he’s got that lanky teenage frame and posture about him. He’s deathly calm in the face of her fury.

Anyway, she’s fuming. It started about 20 minutes ago with a furiously whispered ‘well it’s just like it was in millets PHILLIP’. The ‘Phillip’ was spat with such venom I winced from across the room. There’s only them, me and another table here.

From what I can gather, Phillip has a long held opinion on something and as a result, doesn’t want to buy something that this lady would like to purchase. She says she will buy it for herself and Phillip has calmly said ‘that’s fine if you want to, I don’t mind you having one but I won’t be using it’. He’s eating a burger and switched from eating with a knife and fork to picking the whole thing up in his hands - this infuriated the woman further and she said that sort of behaviour was exactly why she can’t have him coming to Mark and Fiona’s next week. He didn’t reply to that and that also seems to have annoyed this woman even more. She has finished her main course but keeps picking up her cutlery and putting it down again like she’s stuck for something to do.

Phillip has attempted to change the subject a few times but she can’t let this go. They’ve not said what the thing is but my first thought was an electric car maybe? She wants one but he doesn’t? Whatever it is has clearly been boiling her piss for a while because she’s absolutely hopping mad that he won’t agree to use one of whatever it is. I’m also dying to know what happened in Millets.

Also yes I’m eavesdropping, although given the space is tiny and they’re feet away from me, I’d hear what was happening whether I was trying to hear it or not. It is indeed none of my business and if you need to tell me off to feel morally superior then please do go ahead. If you’re a people watcher though, come and speculate with me Grin

OP posts:
ElizabethFryIsSpinning · 22/03/2026 20:09

Go to the loo when she goes and strike up a conversation

Fast800goingforit · 22/03/2026 20:11

ElizabethFryIsSpinning · 22/03/2026 20:09

Go to the loo when she goes and strike up a conversation

Genius.

Villanellesproudmum · 22/03/2026 20:12

I feel like I need to know what the purchase is, you’re going to have to ask, maybe offer to act as referee? Third opinion. 😁

Melancholyflower · 22/03/2026 20:14

An airfryer?

Holymolyrigmorole · 22/03/2026 20:18

Coffee machine

Peachypips78 · 22/03/2026 20:21

Ooooo yes follow her!

Motherflubber · 22/03/2026 20:22

It’s a hearing aid Grin

Shes just said (the volume she’s speaking makes sense now btw) they both need one and he’s being stubborn. He says he doesn’t need one but agrees she does and that’s made her even angrier. She’s inches off leaving the table and storming off.

OP posts:
ScrimMN · 22/03/2026 20:23

Do we think what happened in Millets is related to the purchase she’s trying to make?

Morepositivemum · 22/03/2026 20:23

He said she needed one and he doesn’t? I can get her level of anger so!!!!

ScrimMN · 22/03/2026 20:24

Ahh x posted,

this has taken a whole new direction now 🤣

damelza · 22/03/2026 20:24

She sounds a bit like me with my dander up, and I'm deaf too! But I do use hearing aids if that gives me absolution. When I take them out I can tune out anyone who is annoying me. Great bloody things they are.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/03/2026 20:27

Well, I found that quite riveting and I am keen to hear how it unfolds.

One thing though, I really dislike the phrase 'boils my piss' it conjures up a vision (to me, at least) of a slightly dented, aluminium milk pan, on an old hissing gas ring, with a permeatimg smell of urine, which I find most unpleasant.

Anyway, what happened next?

HelenaWaiting · 22/03/2026 20:27

ScrimMN · 22/03/2026 20:23

Do we think what happened in Millets is related to the purchase she’s trying to make?

I'm assuming what happened in Millets is she said something to him and he didn't hear her.

hkathy · 22/03/2026 20:27

Maybe Phillip doesn’t want to hear her whining at every date night.

NFPorterkeeponkeepingonNsoul · 22/03/2026 20:28

Oh this is good.
Thanks op.🙏
Wondering like others ..what was the Millets incident about.

Vgbeat · 22/03/2026 20:29

I love a bit of people watching, love having a coffee outside a cage with my book and watching the world go by. We all need to know about Millets now though.

ladygindiva · 22/03/2026 20:32

This is fantastic. Best argument I ever overheard was between my neighbours ( during COVID lockdown, everyone sat in their gardens) she was accusing him of having a wank in the downstairs loo, he was insisting it was just a long shit. Proper entertaining 🤣

catipuss · 22/03/2026 20:33

Tell them both to get their hearing checked, it's free and will solve the argument, whether they want a hearing aid after that is up to them. It does explain how loud they both are though.

Motherflubber · 22/03/2026 20:33

ScrimMN · 22/03/2026 20:23

Do we think what happened in Millets is related to the purchase she’s trying to make?

No but I’m now absolutely fascinated to know how Millets is related. She’s going on at him now about him being unsupportive and he’s just said ‘it’s not a hobby Judith, we don’t have to do it together’ and it’s the first time he’s bitten back at her. She’s hovering - she keeps standing up slightly in her seat as if she’s going to walk out but then sits back down.

OP posts:
canklesmctacotits · 22/03/2026 20:36

Fascinating. From your first post I was already on his side. After your update that it’s about hearing aids I’m totally, 100% on her side and think he’s being a stubborn bully who doesn’t care that’s she’s deeply frustrated with having to live with him not wearing aids. Calmly eating his burger indeed!

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 22/03/2026 20:36

What's not a hobby?! What could it be? A spiritual calling of some kind? An obligation? Omg so many questions! 😁

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 22/03/2026 20:37

Oh unless he means hearing loss?

catipuss · 22/03/2026 20:39

My DH absolutely needs them, his hearing is worse than mine but I bit the bullet and got mine checked and got some aids, I'm not exactly deaf but was getting to be that person that says turn the tv up! I have to repeat myself to him constantly, I thought if I got my hearing checked he would too but not so far.

outerspacepotato · 22/03/2026 20:40

Pipe up and say something like did you know hearing loss increases your risk for dementia? Hearing aids can lower that risk.

Motherflubber · 22/03/2026 20:43

‘If you’re not getting one I’m not going to go either’

’ypure being childish about it Judith’

Jusith stuck her tongue out at him and blew a raspberry. There is now awkward silence.

OP posts: