Mumsnet Talk

...that's it's no surprise for him to regularly lose important paperwork, if he insists on not using a briefcase, and just carrying his papers round in a bundle under one arm?

Have just taken a harried phone call from MrQueen. He wants me to drop everything, and search the house high & low for some papers, and a bank paying-in book, which he appears to have lost. The Queen household is ruthlessly tidy, and a quick glance ascertains there are no loose papers, or paying-in books in the vicinity.

Mr Queen is utterly confounded that he managed to lose them. He is always confounded that he has managed to lose anything. In the 7 years since we married he has lost:

*Numerous coats and jackets
*A lap-top
*A digital camera
*2 expensive mobile phones
*His passport
*A car (a BMW to be precise).
*Numerous bank cards/wallets.

I point out to him that it's of absolutely no surprise to me that he has managed to mislay some paperwork and a paying-in book, and WTF doesn't he use the rather nice briefcase I bought him for Christmas 3 years ago??? To which he replies that he is 'too busy' to be messing about putting things into briefcases all the time...can someone please explain the logic in his thinking???

Too busy to put paperwork into a briefcase...but not too busy to spend half a day back-tracking and trying to find missing paperwork???

How the frick did he lose a car?!?

After nearly getting a £5000 fine from the DVLA, my DH has finally accepted the merits of my filing cabinet - why does it take them so long to realise our way is better?

Blimey and hilarious, must drive you MENTAL.

My DH on the other hand has not lost a thing in 20 years, he even has the same key ring we got in Italy for Italia 90, as in 1990, footy tournament.

He is however a 'last minute faffer' eg:his friend is applying to be a magistrate and DH has had the form since July and it is due on Thursday.

When did he fill it in? This afternoon!

that's astonishing

at least he loses things rather than stores everything he has ever owned in plastic bags under the bed, behind doors, in the bottom of wardrobes, etc etc

i wish my husband would lose a few things

oh -- yanbu of course

floopy21 - you wouldn't believe me, if I told you...

Basically, he had this BMW. He wanted a new car. So, he advertised the BMW privately. A couple wanted it, they just wanted MrQueen to get it MOT'd. MrQueen planned to get it MOT'd, but (and this was the big problem) he bought the new car before he got the BMW MOT'd and we then moved house. So, he had his nice, shiney new car to play with, we'd moved 30 miles away, and somehow in all the hassle of moving house and BabyQueen arriving...he left the BMW on the road, outside our old house. And, he somehow never got round to collecting it...3 months later, one of his staff mentioned they'd seen the BMW for sale on a garage forecourt. They knew it was MrQueen's car because they recognised it's private number plate (did I mention it had a private plate worth approx. 3K???). MrQueen enquired at the garage, and the owner had lived on our old road, and reported the BMW abandoned, and after 4 months was legally allowed to salvage it, register ownership and sell it on.

This. Is. The. God's. Honest. Truth.

Obviously, we didn't speak for sometime after this incident. But, in hindsight I'm glad it happened because no matter how much I might spend shopping, MrQueen simply daren't ask me how much I've blown because he knows I'll reply 'Considerably less than the price of a BMW with a private plate on it'.

Touche...

Ooh. YANBU. But I did jusy spray the screen with my wine (tis 8pm here..). Oh dear oh dear oh dear. How do you stay calm? Do you, in fact, stay calm?

What on earth does he do for a living? Something he doesn't need to be organised for? Is he a mad scientist?

LeQueen, I'm amazed he hasn't lost his family......

omg - I can never complain about DH losing stuff again - he doesnt compare!!

I never knew you could do that with a car if you just left it on a road - what an expensive lesson to learn (though very useful for you and your shopping!)

LeQueen, you have my greatest sympathy - losing a car?!

YANBU

lol at the papers in plastic bags under beds too.

And I thought I had it bad with a DH who, when he goes anywhere, puts his phone down (eg on a table) and then leaves it.

Why not put it in your pocket then you can't forget it!

The bad thing about this story is I'm feeling like my intense irritation at DH's ability to lose things is now not so justified... Damn it.

He is 4 trillion times tidier than me. Unfortunately however, he tidies while in a coma (that's my theory) - he'll tidy up so that the house looks fantastic but then when I need anything, he cannot for the life of him remember where he put it. Drives me crazy. Drives me even more crazy when he then recycles cheques or money or gift vouchers - all things he's done.

lynniep - True. I can win every bout of 'My husband's so disorganised and forgteful' absolutely hands-down, no contest. I've told this tale at dinner parties, and you can almost see the tumbleweed blowing across the table.

Ilovegreg - he's a company director, who mercifully employs other people to organise him (although he clearly didn't employ said person when this incident happened).

cargirl - fortunately he's as yummy and generous as he is forgetful and chaotic.

bluebump - I think, 7 years later, my reasoning for gratuitiously shopping is wearing slightly thin with MrQueen, he's recently dared to raise an eyebrow at the credit card bills, and hesitantly suggest that my spending has now exceeded that of the value of a BMW with a private plate.

Damn.

bleedingandlove - I'm afraid your DH just isn't in MrQueen league. No one else is. Every time you feel yourself getting irate, just remember that *at least* you're not me...

Don't worry... we lost a volvo estate in much the same way. Didn't have a private plate on though
You can't put a price on yummy and generous!!!

at the car story and that you're rich enough that you can afford to lose a car!

Agree with hana on both counts!

I do feel you'd be justified in pointing out that not only do you have to take interest costs, emotional toil etc into account when assessing shopping value vs cost of BMW you also have to work out under what time basis it's okay? so if he loses a car, any spending per year that is less than the cost of a car (at today's prices) is clearly a good deal for him.

There was that banker that was in the papers for this a year or two ago - his car got impounded because he didn't pay a parking ticket or something and he never got around to picking it up. It was a porsche I think or something equally flash.

Are you sure his head is securely attached....?

Losing his car!!!!!

That is really really bad.

Am afraid I do rather fall into the same category. House keys, train tickets, coats, lost so many times its beyond counting.

Just last week I lost a document I had signed for and promised to keep confidential last week. DW went absolutely bezerk and asked why she had bought me a very expensive briefcase that has never been used. I prefer plastic bags and bundles under arms, much more practical. .

Worst thing lost in my life though was this but I swear it wasn't all my fault - there were other men involved.

ABetaDad what did you lose?!

I have a DH who keeps his paperwork in piles. He has a rucksack for work and cannot manage to carry any other bag or umbrella as well without leaving it on the tube/train/bus.

It is very annoying.

hannaboo - it's a true story, and no, we really weren't all that rich, trust me.

bleedinglove - do you mind if I print this off so as I can read it out to MrQueen the next time he queries the credit card bill. You have highlighted several sentient points which I feel are very valid. Thank you.

abetadad - please explain the male logic behind precisely why a bundle of papers tucked under your arm is more practical than a briefcase? MrQueen, although highly educated and usually very articulate has yet to explain this to my complete satisfaction...?

Proceed...

I will never again complain about MrTwins and his habit of losing his money, keys and bank cards. He refuses to use a wallet, and so stuffs notes, change and cards into his pocket, which all fly out whenever he tries to remove anything. At least for work he uses a scruffy rucksack (despite the fact that I bought him a lovely briefcase the first year we were married) Still, a car? MrTwins can't compete.