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Relationships

Mad short passionate affair and getting over it

162 replies

Rufus20 · 01/04/2013 13:16

Hi, first of all, I just want to get this off my chest, and so this may be longer than strictly necessary, and I recognise seeing the other threads on here, what a trivial problem I have. Secondly, I'm also a man, and not a parent, so this may not be the best forum for this, but I think I might get some good practical advice.

I met a woman last year and had a short relationship. It wasn't on holiday, but it was overseas with work. It was just incredibly intense, and within a short period of time, we both seemed to be head over heels in love. I was the most amazing man she'd ever met, and she said she had to pinch herself to check I was real. After we left, we said we'd give it a go and I would visit her, this time in her home country (we met in a neutral country, so to speak, where she works).

In the mean time, we skyped, and talked every day. Then she told me she had an ex. He was "depressed all the time", "there was no way it would ever work", her friends didn't like him, but I said I understood she needed to be gentle. I'd arranged to visit her, and on the way to the airport, she messaged me to tell me she still had feelings for her ex, but she still wanted me to come. I still visited her, but it was an awkward time. I was staying with her parents, I didn't speak the language. I left, and she wrote to tell me a few weeks later, she was getting back with her ex. I found out he'd flown to visit her a few weeks after I did. So, not unreasonably, I felt somewhere, she was lying to me.

I spent months thinking about her, but sure it wouldn't work out with her ex, and she messaged me a few times to tell me she wasn't happy, but then other times, she'd message me to tell me things were great.

All this was driving me a bit mad, so we went no contact. We got in touch a few times about work. I then met someone new, and although I'm taking it slowly, I have so much fun with her, she makes me feel good, I'm comfortable with her, she makes me laugh - there's no drama, which is a good thing, but perhaps the drama was part of the attraction with the ex.

My ex has now got in touch to tell me she has split with her ex. I say "sorry to hear that" (of course I'm not), and I'm seeing someone new. She then messages to tell me she has a fantastic new job (paying Xk more than before - why do I need to know this?).

I'm angry in a way that we didn't get a chance to see how things would work between us, and she's affected my self-esteem - I have to give her credit - she's smart, talented and ambitious, and as a result, is in a really good place in her career, more so than I am I'd say, although I'm also very fortunate to do what I do.

I do recognise she's no good for me (or those around her). Before her ex, she was married to her university professor for a short while. Being cynical, I could suggest it helped her immigration status at the time, and when she finished her studies and got a job, she left him (this could be unfair of me). Now she has a new job, she's left this other bloke. I suspect he is going to be distraught, and I feel sorry for him. I also don't know if he knows about me, and thought they were still together when I was with this woman.

So, this is been quite long, so thanks if you got to the end of this. In short, I don't want her back, I recognise she's no good for me, and I'm much happier with my new girlfriend, I need to get over my ex. Any advice would be gratefully received! Thanks

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GettingGoing · 01/04/2013 23:39

Cross posted. So why wait until you were in the car to the airport?

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Rufus20 · 01/04/2013 23:40

goodnight, KeepCalm

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elastamum · 01/04/2013 23:40

OP If you really want to find never ending unconditional love - have you thought about ditching the girlfriends and getting a dog?

A few yrs back I rehomed my troublesome husband and now have 3 labradoodles, much more rewarding and a whole lot less hassle Grin

Now thats the sort of really useful advice you get on a mums forum...

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EggyFucker · 01/04/2013 23:41

Rufus, c'mere now and sit close to me

Listen to zis, vairy carefullyyy

You had a daft holiday romance, talked about shit until silly o'clock. Watched a few sunrises etc. Shagged yourselves daft, got taken in by some romantic flannel....you being a Nice guy thought you must lurrrve her.

Except she lied to you about still being involved with an ex. She invited you over to another country on false pretext, dumped you with her parents and sent you a text at the 11th hour to warn you off. She "didn't treat you well" after you spend zillions (money-wise and emotionally-wise) on making the trip.

Then she dumps you.

Then she messages you to have a stealth boast about her new salary (knowing you liable to have your head turned by all that) and drops it in that she is no longer with the ex.

She is looking for another ego boost, and you are the current patsy she has chosen to supply it.

You getting me ?

Take the advice on your thread to cut contact with the headfuck before your Nice New Girlfriend kicks you into touch for being a dick

Ok ?

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Rufus20 · 01/04/2013 23:43

Eggy, I'm very much with you here. I see some here think I wasn't courageous enough, but I think I gave it my all - I truly do

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elastamum · 01/04/2013 23:45

If you are courageous, you will walk away and find something much better

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Rufus20 · 01/04/2013 23:46

my head is with you elastamum

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LessMissAbs · 01/04/2013 23:47

Faced with that, and a month on holiday seeing the woman you love OP, why didn't you rise to the challenge? Go all out to make it the best time ever, impress her, win her over, etc.? You sound so passive and like a passenger who can only respond to things, not initiate. I'm sure you have told strangers on a dating site far more about your feelings for her than her!

Do you suffer from negative feelings/anxiety in other areas of your life, and have you considered counselling for it?

Because whats the betting that these thoughts and feelings of your resurface when the new relationship isn't so new and perfect. If all that it takes is a one day holiday on your own...

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GettingGoing · 01/04/2013 23:49

But your heart isn't, or it wouldn't be 23.49pm, my husband wouldn't be tapping his feet having waited up for me for an extra 40 minutes and we wouldn't be 133 messages down.

Of course you should walk away - we established that in the first ten posts. But you're not going to, are you? You are going to go to the US in the summer and start things up again, I suspect, because that's the way I think you work.

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LessMissAbs · 01/04/2013 23:50

Come on Eggy, mumsnet is not generally a place for grand passions! The sheer disapproval of meeting someone at a conference!! It is full of posts encouraging posters to settle for someone and drive out any such feelings from their minds in favour of practicality and raising a family!

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Rufus20 · 01/04/2013 23:52

I'm really going to have to say goodnight, it's been fun

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GettingGoing · 01/04/2013 23:52

Night.

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Rufus20 · 01/04/2013 23:53

And I've appreciated both sides to the coin that have been presented here. Thanks. I'm sure I'll be back tomorrow, but thank you, all of you

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DontstepontheMomeRaths · 01/04/2013 23:54

Anyfucker's last post is spot on.

Good night and go no contact for good.

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EggyFucker · 01/04/2013 23:54

yes, it's been fun Smile

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GettingGoing · 02/04/2013 01:21

Oh my God, this is an April Fool, isn't it. We've been had!

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DontstepontheMomeRaths · 02/04/2013 07:54

I don't think so.

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corblimeymadam · 02/04/2013 08:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rufus20 · 02/04/2013 08:41

I wish this were an April Fool's joke, but it's not!

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GettingGoing · 02/04/2013 09:38

But in the cold light of day, isn't it obvious what you need to do?

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Rufus20 · 02/04/2013 09:40

Interestingly, I'm no longer friends with her on FB - a mutual friend of mine messaged me to tell me she's changed her status to "in a relationship with X".

So, was her telling me they were breaking up just another manipulative ploy, and I didn't bite

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boyfromipinema · 02/04/2013 09:45

To be honest I think you should give it a go with your ex and end the relationship with your current girlfriend.
Why? To give yourself some peace of mind.
You have put your ex on a pedestal and unless you are mentally strong enough to consign her to history and move on I suggest you meet her for one of two reasons:

  1. To knock her off it.
  2. To see if there still is a spark and if she is clear about her intentions. If you are satisfied then rekindle the relationship.

I don't think you are as enamoured with your current girlfriend as you claim. If you were you would not be on this site writing about an ex who you clearly still love.
I've been in the same position and got back with an ex who ended it with me after a very short and intense relationship. She came back and I needed to see her for the reasons I stated above. However, I didn't have a girlfriend at the time.
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GettingGoing · 02/04/2013 09:57

I agree withBoy. It is so obvious that you need to leave well alone, that if you really can't see that/feel that I think you need to give it another shot.

I also think Cornwall girl is not right for you - it's all too logical and you clearly don't feel anything.

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GettingGoing · 02/04/2013 09:59

The Facebook and salary things are her attempts to get to you and they seem to have worked. I think she understands you more than you understand her.

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Rufus20 · 02/04/2013 10:13

she definitely knows how to manipulate my feelings

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