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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

Received anonymous letter about my new bf. WWYD?

326 replies

torquewench · 16/04/2019 13:41

Hi, apologies if this rambles on a bit but here goes.

Im in a newish relationship (4 months or thereabouts) with someone who lives about 200 miles away. We met via a mutual friend (he sees this friend maybe once or twice a year).

I see him every couple of weeks. We always have a nice time. He always comes down to visit me and I havent met any of his other friends or family. He's seemed absolutely wonderful so far,very attentive, eg buying flowers at valentines and on my birthday recently. This was also the day after his dads funeral and I was actually a bit surprised that he chose to spend time with me rather than his mum and siblings/family. Im mentioning this as someone may think its relevant (not sure if thats the right word).

However in todays post Ive received an anonymous letter (sent to my business address) that says its not being sent maliciously but is giving me some genuine advice and that I should steer clear of him because, among other things: theres a reason he's still single (never married but a couple of LTRs) in his early 50s; I should ask myself why hes picked someone who lives somewhere that no one else knows him; he's a narcissist; hes an alcoholic (he does drink quite a bit when he's with me), bipolar and depressed but wont get help and a few other things. Ive also been sent screenshots of his OLD profiles and the detail behind the screenshot, apparently showing him as being online whilst we were out celebrating my bithday. Also, the letter mentions that he "targets" ladies who had children very young - I had a child when I was 16.

Id not previously worried about anything as regards his behaviour, but on reflection, he does hide his phone a lot - its always face down and he always takes it with him to the toilet and Ive noticed hes been on whatsapp while hes in there. His Facebook friends list is also hidden and Ive noticed that one of his exes (I asked who she is, its his ex fiancee) comments on all his photos, usually really inane comments but shes always the first to pipe up. There is also, now I think about it, some strange bedroom behaviour but i dont know if its appropriate to mention it here so apologies - he never ejaculates, just stops "for a rest". He doesnt have any children.

The letter also bizarrely suggests contacting any one of his ex gfs (and listed a LOT of names over the last 5 years) via Facebook to find out what hes really like.

So ... do I ignore this and assume its from a jealous ex, or do I tell him about whats happened and see what he says? The tone of the letter doesnt strike me as being particularly spiteful or jealous - it does say theyre not interested in getting him back.

Letter also suggests maybe i should set up an anonymous OLD profile to try and "flush him out" as they put it.

My track record with men isnt the happiest to be honest and now Im wondering if my judgment has let me down yet again. But he does seem lovely so far. I cant talk to any of my friends about this as id be mortified.

OP posts:
torquewench · 16/04/2019 16:50

Because she comments on all his posts, Schroedingers.

OP posts:
Birdyfrom · 16/04/2019 16:59

EleanorOalike

I'm with Humpty84, if the school of the girls receives an annoymous letter with enough detail to highlight concerns but not too much to out where the information came from, the school will have to escalate it as part of their safeguarding process. At the very least the mother will be made aware of the situation and if nothing else this should start ringing loud alarm bells. There will have been enough people over the years who will have had suspicions and knowledge of this man so the letter could have come from any of them

Mitzimaybe · 16/04/2019 17:00

I've seen enough "should I warn his new girlfriend" posts on Mumsnet to know that the letter could well be a genuine attempt to warn and protect you. Quite often the responses are "Can you send her an anonymous message?"

I wouldn't show him the letter. If I wasn't that into him, I'd just bin him off. If I really liked what I'd seen of him so far then I'd probably want to investigate the claims.

Suggest you go to his next time and that you'd like to meet his friends and/or family. Let your phone battery die and ask to use his phone for something. His reaction to those two suggestions may tell you what you need to know. The phone guarding is a particular red flag in my opinion.

EatingElephantsisCF · 16/04/2019 17:01

I would bin the relationship . It has only been 4 months , and the distance is huge.

loveyoutothemoon · 16/04/2019 17:02

Could it be the mutual friend, who else would know your address?

LaughingCow99 · 16/04/2019 17:03

His ex must still like him if she is in such frequent contact. So, not every ex has had a bad experience with him

Illberidingshotgun · 16/04/2019 17:06

I also agree that this could well be a genuine attempt to warn you.

If my ex was in a relationship with someone, I would also want to warn her what he is really like, particularly if she has young children, or grandchildren. This would be out of genuine concern for her and any children - I have no wish to have him back at all, but I do fear that another woman could end up in the position I did. Fortunately the relationship he was in has fizzled out, and as far as I'm aware there's no-one serious ATM, so I don't have to make these sorts of decisions yet.

In some respects I would urge you just to end it now, as 4 months is such a new relationship that it would be easy to do. However I also know that if it was me i would need to do a bit of detective work, and find out for myself what was going on. Otherwise I would always wonder. Why don't you offer to go and stay with him this weekend?

Rockinmomma · 16/04/2019 17:08

I speak from experience OP, just end the relationship, give no reason just say it isn’t working out.
I previously had a toxic, parasite of a man in my life, not much dis similar from what you’ve described.
After ending that relationship I forgot about him until I learned he’d found a new ‘victim’ and had said he’s daughter had died (she hadn’t) and that my kids were his!! So I did what you have received, contacted the new gf via fb. I didn’t say any details, I just said that I’m here if there is anything she needs to ask. And she replied and he’d repeated the same cycle he had with me.... I could go on but my advice, if this guy is anything like my ex, just run run run. Do not tell him about the letter. Do not give the opportunity to resolve issues

torquewench · 16/04/2019 17:13

I think Im going to set up an OLD profile and see whats what, and also a fake fb profile or non-identifying email address to contact the exes. That way, my curiosity may be satisfied but I might retain a bit of dignity in the process.

OP posts:
DrCoconut · 16/04/2019 17:26

I received a letter warning me about my ex. On his advice (I know, I was young and naive) I ignored it. Bad mistake.

Gitfeatures · 16/04/2019 17:35

Has there been any talk of you going to see him rather than him coming to you?
What does he do for a living? Presumably he's a functioning bipolar alcoholic narcissist?

torquewench · 16/04/2019 17:38

No, no talk at all. Hes a postman.

OP posts:
torquewench · 16/04/2019 17:43

Possibly one reason Ive not been invited to his is alluded to in the letter - it also says something to the effect that his house is falling down round his ears and was full of rubbish.

OP posts:
PCohle · 16/04/2019 17:44

If you believe this letter enough to want to check it out then there's no trust at all between you though. So what's the point in continuing the relationship.

Bluntness100 · 16/04/2019 17:50

If you believe this letter enough to want to check it out then there's no trust at all between you though.

What a load of tosh. She hardly knows the guy and has met him several times. Trust is something that builds. Of course shebwants to check it out.

Op why don't you suggest you go to his? A bipolar depressive alcoholic with commitment issues who lives in squalor is a bit of a handful to take on.

torquewench · 16/04/2019 17:54

Quite, Bluntness. I'll suggest it. The nature of my business means that Im working most daytimes and weekends, especially so during holiday periods. I'll suggest it later and see what he has to say.

OP posts:
Mamabird3 · 16/04/2019 17:56

Just as a bit of info, if he does have bipolar disorder, some of the medications taken to manage this condition can cause difficulties in sexual function, including problems with ejaculation.

RevGoatGirl · 16/04/2019 17:57

RUNLIKETHEFREAKINWIND

That’s what I’d do.

torquewench · 16/04/2019 18:02

Sorry my last post doesnt make sense. I'll suggest a date a few weeks from now, tell him I'll not book any work in so I can travel to see him and see what he says

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 16/04/2019 18:23

His house is falling down and full of rubbish? That would be enough of a reason for me, I'm afraid.

Dieu · 16/04/2019 18:34

Oh, I don't know about this. The sender sounds barking mad and waaay too overinvested in all of this. I take it the letter was anonymous?

LaughingCow99 · 16/04/2019 18:37

What a load of tosh. She hardly knows the guy and has met him several times. Trust is something that builds. Of course shebwants to check it out.

100 per cent. There's a big difference between a new relationship and someone that's been in a relationship years.

PCohle · 16/04/2019 18:38

What a load of tosh. She hardly knows the guy and has met him several times.

Exactly, she's in a perfect position to leave without looking back. Why bother investing more time and heartache into a relationship when she already has no trust him and there are so many red flags early on.

If she'd been married to him for decades and they had three kids it would be worth sticking around to find out if their was any truth in an anonymous letter like this one. OP isn't in that situation.

Even without the letter he sounds like a hoarder with a drinking problem and ED...

TheStuffedPenguin · 16/04/2019 18:39

the detail behind the screenshot, apparently showing him as being online whilst we were out celebrating my bithday.

This person seems to know a lot about you ?

Fjfs · 16/04/2019 18:39

Ok, he's a postie, and this was posted to you. Which of his exes is also a postie?

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