Haha tiredoldwoman! Old weirdo indeed. I’ll let him toddle off to bother someone else. He likes ‘em young.
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Feeling pressurised by male friend
(99 Posts)I’m 68 and over the last couple of months have become friendly with a man of 76 through mutual friends. He’s good company and we have shared interests and he seems kind and thoughtful. I know he came out of a traumatic relationship 6 months ago with a woman almost 40 years his junior. I know, cringe.
He’s been damaged by this and is only just over it, with the help of therapy.
I’ve noticed he tends to talk about women in terms of their looks, which I don’t like.
We went out this afternoon and started talking about relationships and he made it quite clear that if I ruled out a relationship with him, he’d be very disappointed. I felt pressurised and uncomfortable and told him I was still getting to know him and would just have to see how things developed but knowing this has made me feel like I’m on the back foot.
I’ve been very happily single for quite a while and wouldn’t jeopardise my peace for anyone. Also I’m totally spooked at
the thought of sharing my bed with anyone ever again! If we’d just carried on as mates and let things evolve naturally, I wouldn’t be here asking for advice.
I do find him attractive too but am now not sure whether I should carry on seeing him as much and allowing so much messaging.
I feel discombobulated and would welcome your wisdom please!
I've just read your final post La Crepescule !
I'm.delighted and relieved at your decision to dump this old weirdo !
Ah bless you and so do you ❤️
He's just needing a caring person to look after him until he flies off . Don't let it be you. He'll spoil your life. Thank him for his up until now ' friendship ' and say you do not wish to continue . No more contact. You sound a lovely lady x
LaCrepescule
I’m running! Actually I’ve stopped and am far far away from him.
I feel a bit sad actually because maybe, just maybe it would have been nice to have a friendship with a man who was worthy of me and if it had developed into something more, it could have been quite lovely.
He wasn’t that man.
And that’s ok.
Good move. A wise strategy.
Applause👏👏👏
I’m running! Actually I’ve stopped and am far far away from him.
I feel a bit sad actually because maybe, just maybe it would have been nice to have a friendship with a man who was worthy of me and if it had developed into something more, it could have been quite lovely.
He wasn’t that man.
And that’s ok.
He's after a carer/nurse/housekeeper.
Run!
Lovely word SORES. The other thread sounds interesting!
The blinkers are off - he’s an actual nightmare. He felt the need to also tell me that his ex keeps calling to tell him she still loves him but it’s ok because he’s over her! And that was before we even started eating.
I feel like an idiot for having troubled you all with this nonsense but have very much enjoyed reading all your replies.
He wants his ego stroked and I’m not the woman for the job.
My single life is glorious^ and the only male creature I want in my bed is my dog. Ever.
I just posted on the wrong thread, sorry! how does this even occur?
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
He’s crammed a lot into 6 months. He’s emerged from a relationship with a woman in her 30’s which left him traumatised, recovered with the help of counselling and tried to embark on a new relationship. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
Sorry LaCrepescule but to quote one of my mum’s sayings he sounds like a right piece of work 🚩
M0nica
If he is pressurising you now. Think what he might be doing if you were in a relationship.
I would also wanting to know much more about his 'traumatic' previous relationship. I am sorry but this relationship has coercive abuse written all over it.
I'd take the opposite view and shut down any talk about his trauma.
" Stop right there. I don't want to hear any more about your past affair. Lets talk about the film/ book/ anything else
Well, it’s clear he doesn’t want just friendship and it’s clear that you don’t want any more than that…..all those red flags ☹️ already.
You’ve a home, friends, interests, a routine. Surely allowing a pushy old guy to call the shots regarding hope for coupledom and life-sharing doesn’t appeal, cos you wouldn’t be asking on this thread! You’d know. You could go to the cinema, theatre, Pub, out for supper now and again with any nice guy with better manners and more respect. A day out, maybe, some fun, a nice easy friendship, no demands - then home to your own space, without extra future complications, responsibilities or pressure.
He’s put you off and IF you still have any interest at all, it’d be better to say directly that friendship and the odd outing is a possibility - but no more than that. Sorry! Unless he’s risking more trauma (and there’s no fool like an old fool), he probably needs to listen now, act his age and not his shoe size and focus on sorting out his own life - not try to take over yours.
Good luck, but I think you’ve got this covered!
Send him a letter
"Dear Bob,
I felt somewhat uncomfortable during our conversation about relationships but couldn't think what to say. I would like to clear the air.
I treasure my single independence and have no wish, now or in the future, for a partner, or any kind of physical relationship or personal commitment.
I enjoy our relaxed friendship and hope it can continue with out any awkwardness or misunderstandings"
Kind regards Dawn. "
Then see how the next few meetings go
I would walk away now.
Back away! I think you know the answer, you now have it confirmed. You don't need this nan in your life in any form of relationship. You feel uncomfortable, follow your instincts. He will soon move on to someone else.
LaCrepescule
Should I be clear with him and say I can’t give him what he’s looking for? I’d maybe keep him as a friend.
Also, he told me he has a female friend (he seems to have a lot) who he’d arranged to go to the cinema with. She asked if her sister could come along and he said no (he doesn’t know the sister) but it struck me as odd and not very nice.
Oh for goodness sake!
Run.
You are only 68, time to find someone else for the companionship you want. 🙂
Very few men want just friendship from a woman they like.
If you don’t want sex and you don’t want a relationship then tell him so now, only fair really.
Have you asked him if he’s willing to just be a friend for days out?
LaCrepescule
Exactly 25Avalon and that’s what I thought it could be. A really nice friendship. Hey ho.
Not even a nice friendship from the sounds of it, LaCrepescule
You and he want entirely different things.
As for not allowing someone to bring her sister with her on an outing to the cinema - he's not 17, sitting in the back row of the movies!!
Exactly 25Avalon and that’s what I thought it could be. A really nice friendship. Hey ho.
No, that remark would make me feel uncomfortable. I would feel he is too needy.
Find someone else who values and respects you to be friends with. You’re not desperate.
LaCrepescule. You really don’t need this pressure in your life, not even his ‘companionship’. He sounds shallow to me.
LaCrepescule
I would look at his behaviour and ask some hard questions. Do you feel he values you as a person? Is he your friend who also happens to be attracted to you, or the only reason he's been hanging around is because he's hoping for more?
Relationship with someone 40 years his junior and not wanting the sister of a female friend be present sound suss.
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