New neighbour wants me to be friends with his wife

[AlTempleton]

New neighbours moved in a few months ago. I saw the husband not long after they had moved in and we introduced ourselves and exchanged pleasantries.

I didn't meet his wife for a while, but then about a month ago I was cleaning my car and they both came out with their baby and came over to introduce the wife. He did all the talking - told me her name, that she's a SAHP, she doesn't know anyone here - and she stood there nodding and smiling as he spoke, but not actually saying anything herself. He explained her English is limited but she'd love to make some friends, she's very lonely at home alone when he's out at work, and that I should go round for tea with her once restrictions are over. I said something noncommittal like "that's very kind" and left it at that and didn't think anything more of it.

However I've just bumped into him again, this time on his own, while I was coming back from walking my dog, and he reminded me about having tea with his wife and reiterated again how lonely she is. He also said we can go in each other's gardens from next week. I said something like, oh well work's very full on at the moment but thanks, that's very nice of you.

I have a feeling now though that he's not going to drop it and that he's got me lined up to be a friend for his lonely wife. This is probably really mean of me, but I just don't want to. I'm working full time and I have a generally busy life, but also I just don't want the pressure of being the person who has to resolve this stranger's loneliness. I've only met her that once when he brought her out to meet me, but I have bumped into him loads of times as he's gone out to work, gardening or he's going for a run. I only ever see her sat at her living room window staring out. It feels like I've been earmarked to resolve the issue of her never going out.

I want to very politely shut this down as I don't want to have to vaguely keep saying things like "work is full on at the moment" every time he brings it up because I think that's not going at stop him asking me, particularly when restrictions are lifted.

Any ideas please? (Or am I just a horrible person??)

OP, you’ve handled all the nastiness on this thread with a lot of grace and humour, which is particularly impressive given your cold dead heart and general terrible personality.

Here are some more flowers to help fill this up before the mean girls wake up.

[quote DartmoorDoughnut]@AlTempleton thank you it’s been four and a half months and still feels raw, we were so connected, I do love my other dog but it’s not the same, although I’m very glad I have him and he comes to bed with me every night so it’s not as if he knows that - I don’t think! - Jack was a border collie x and just awesome in every way. What are your three?[/quote]
Yep, I know what you mean. Mine are my world. They're all mutts - little scruffy who-knows-what-the-hell-they're-crossed-with mutts They kind-of look like jack russells with some kind of terrier I think. They all came from an abandoned litter. The others were dead and it was just these three left. I only wanted one dog

Am I reading or am I accidentally tripping? 😳👀

Bonkers (but brilliant) posts. 😂

@MumuMelon

Yesterday I saw a guy spill all his Scrabble letters on the road.

I asked him, “What’s the word on the street?”

Ooh ooh are we doing jokes?

Who’s the coolest guy in the hospital?

The ultrasound guy.

Here are some more flowers to help fill this up before the mean girls wake up.

Considering how astonishingly sanctimonious the worst offenders were, I'm assuming they were up and out at 6.30 to quietly volunteer for various causes before returning home promptly at 9.00 to mow their immediate neighbours' lawns and check door to door that everyone on their street slept well. Not the new renters though, perish the thought. Be Kind doesnt extend to such ruffians.

@Ahbahbahbah

OP, you’ve handled all the nastiness on this thread with a lot of grace and humour, which is particularly impressive given your cold dead heart and general terrible personality.

Here are some more flowers to help fill this up before the mean girls wake up.

Thank you. I think it's because of my dreadful personality and cold dead heart that I'm not a snivelling heap on the floor. Thank god for being me!!

Thanks for the flowers. Have some of my daffodils:

Hi we need to get you up to the 1000 posts so here's my bit. I think you sound great and I'm sorry for all the flack you've had to deal with. I don't know where this expectation comes from that as women, we're obliged to do things we may not be inclined to do (for whatever reason). It's all part of the conditioning to "be nice", "be kind" whatever. If other women collectively are parroting this line then they are part of the problem. As a woman I'm done with doing things out of an expectation I will do them because I'm a "nice" woman - (to be honest I think I'd prefer if people regarded me as a cunt rather than as "nice").

@TheMamaYo

Am I reading or am I accidentally tripping? 😳👀

Bonkers (but brilliant) posts. 😂

You're tripping. I'd check what your husband is putting in your morning tea.

The jokes are dreadful, but bring them on.

Random fact: The Bible is the world's most shoplifted book.

Delurking to fill up the thread for you. A daffodil story for you. I have a wildlife camera in my garden that is triggered by motion. I view the footage every couple of days to see what the badgers and foxes are up to. I was somewhat surprised to see DS23 wander up the garden with scissors and pick a bunch of my golden daffodils. He took them to a young lady he is trying to impress. My daffodils!!
Cracking thread, OP, I'm on your side!

Thread’s almost full OP. Maybe time to start another? Mwahahahahaha!

What did the left eye say to the right eye?

Between you and me, something smells.

@Ivebeeninlockdowntoolong

Hi we need to get you up to the 1000 posts so here's my bit. I think you sound great and I'm sorry for all the flack you've had to deal with. I don't know where this expectation comes from that as women, we're obliged to do things we may not be inclined to do (for whatever reason). It's all part of the conditioning to "be nice", "be kind" whatever. If other women collectively are parroting this line then they are part of the problem. As a woman I'm done with doing things out of an expectation I will do them because I'm a "nice" woman - (to be honest I think I'd prefer if people regarded me as a cunt rather than as "nice").

Thank you - that's a nice post, despite you being a c**t

And for what it's worth, I agree about the 'be kind' shit. It's extremely tiresome and only ever directed at women.

Yes Jack was a rescue, best sort! His siblings looked terrier like he was the only collie like one, knew he was mine before I’d seen a photo ❤️

Gingerbread in the oven, looks like I won’t be able to report back on the result!

@ProperVexed

Delurking to fill up the thread for you. A daffodil story for you. I have a wildlife camera in my garden that is triggered by motion. I view the footage every couple of days to see what the badgers and foxes are up to. I was somewhat surprised to see DS23 wander up the garden with scissors and pick a bunch of my golden daffodils. He took them to a young lady he is trying to impress. My daffodils!! Cracking thread, OP, I'm on your side!

I've got some he can have! They're wilting a little now though

@AlTempleton 💐🌸🌷🌼🌹🌻🍰🍸🍹🧉

@FortunesFavour

Thread’s almost full OP. Maybe time to start another? Mwahahahahaha!

I mean this really kindly, but fuck off.

What's the best thing about Switzerland?

I don't know, but the flag's is a big plus.

Boom tish 🌼🌼

This thread has been 'interesting' ie batshit crazy. But on the plus side, it alerted me to the smiley. I'll now show up on threads carrying bunches of and expect them to be refused, my offers of lunch rejected and the thread door shut in my face.

@tiredvommachine

I was going to make a joke about the massive boat stuck in the Suez Canal but that ship has sailed...

#teamOP #upyerbum

@TheGlassBlowersDaughter

This thread has been 'interesting' ie batshit crazy. But on the plus side, it alerted me to the smiley. I'll now show up on threads carrying bunches of and expect them to be refused, my offers of lunch rejected and the thread door shut in my face.

Oh yes please, it would be great if you all posted on all your future threads, like in memory of Al Templeton.