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AIBU?

Sorry I picked the daffy

50 replies

SorryDaffodilPicker · 28/03/2014 17:41

I am currently unemployed but studying while doing an unpaid placement with learners with special needs, in order to hopefully become employed again. My husband has a serious condition, so is unable to work currently after working hard for many years. So we have no current income at all as we are not claiming benefits. We have dwindling savings. We pay our Council rates in full.
I have got my elderly Mum a small gift but wanted to remember my lovely late Mum-in-Law, too, as Mother's Day is this weekend. Today I cut 17 fresh daffodils from a Council verge, which I have put in a vase in our house, in her memory. This was a nearby public area to me, where there was a great abundance of daffodils, I would never pick that many that left an area bare. I carefully selected ones in different spread out sections, so that it did not ruin the beautiful look of the host of daffs. I also ensured that I picked the ones that were fully fledged and had bloomed to their maximum, which would die off soon anyhow.
I feel really guilty about it now, as a lady opposite the grassed area came out of her house and was taking photos of me with them, shaking her head in annoyance. I walked towards her saying "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause any offence", very politely and with a smile. She carried on taking photos but ignored me and went back into her house. I was not rude at all and would rather not be judged or considered an absolute criminal, although I did feel incredibly guilty as a result of this woman's reaction to me. I feel that I shouldn't have done this, I know in my heart that it is nicer to see flowers growing outdoors, unpicked, but it is too late now.

Having checked if my cutting daffodils is illegal here on Mumsnet, I feel even worse after reading all the objections to this. I won't be doing it again, but please can people be less judgemental of 'non-profiteering' flower pickers, some of you branding us all as foul-mouthed, which I find objectionable and 'tarring everyone with the same brush'. Particularly people should not scorn so much at children who pick flowers, as they may be doing it to please their Mothers, when a gentle reminder of helping the environment instead would suffice. Please consider that some of us do it with the best of intentions, even if it may be morally unacceptable. I can appreciate that more now, and vigilantes need to appreciate that there are people guilty of far worse things in society, we all know that. Who are we all to judge others?

OP posts:
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WorraLiberty · 28/03/2014 17:43

Being less judgmental isn't going to stop people stealing them though is it?

Nobody needs flowers.

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JuniperTisane · 28/03/2014 17:44

Well, ok, I'm not that incensed.

But 17? Wouldn't one or three have done, in a small jar at home?

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olafthesnowman · 28/03/2014 17:44

Thread about a thread much? [Hmmm]

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olafthesnowman · 28/03/2014 17:45

[Hmm]

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Sirzy · 28/03/2014 17:45

whatever your reasons it is stealing. If you want flowers buy them.

If everyone took flowers when they wanted then there wouldn't be very many left for people to enjoy in the wild would there

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olafthesnowman · 28/03/2014 17:45

Ffs!

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olafthesnowman · 28/03/2014 17:45
Hmm
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JuniperTisane · 28/03/2014 17:46
Grin
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Goblinchild · 28/03/2014 17:49

I'm glad that you felt guilty, you nicked the daffy and shouldn't have done it. As we say to very very small children, if everyone took 17 flowers, there would be none left. They are planted for all to enjoy, for weeks.
You are an adult. Don't do it again. My mum would be pissed off if I'd done it.
I was once given a lovely bouquet by a child in my class to say sorry for being a PITA and I was delighted. Then when I took them home and arranged them, the memorial card fell out. Nice thought child x, but don't nick flowers from someone please. Especially a dead someone.

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Minnieisthedevilmouse · 28/03/2014 17:49

It's stealing. Sorry. End of conversation. Do you really think DM would be proud of that action?

Judgy pants so high I'm contralto! ;) I get it. But I don't think there's an excuse. Even yours and this.

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Pigletin · 28/03/2014 17:50

Why the need tpost your comment on all the old daffodil threads AND create a separate one?

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Quinteszilla · 28/03/2014 17:50

17!!!!

All the daffs have gone from the grassy verge near my house.

a bunch of daffs is 50p in m&s. you have stolen spring from the neighbourhood for the sake of 50p, from people who may also be poor and have no other daffs.

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WorraLiberty · 28/03/2014 17:51

Not getting enough attention OP?

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LongTimeLurking · 28/03/2014 17:51

This really pisses me off. Councils plant and maintain the flower beds at considerable cost for EVERYONE to enjoy.

Anybody who STEALS public flower displays is very unreasonable. Would you pinch hanging baskets, street decorations (e.g. christmas lights) or pinch the light bulbs out of streetlamps ? Would you also take flowers out of someones front garden?

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause any offence" - Really? If you didn't mean to cause offence then you wouldn't have been out stealing in the first place.

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Cheby · 28/03/2014 17:52

You've posted the same OP as a comment in 2 other threads. How many times do we need to read it?!

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Goblinchild · 28/03/2014 17:52

I drove home today, admiring all the carefully-planted flowers that pop up year on year. It is very uplifting to live in an area with so few vandals.

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HyvaPaiva · 28/03/2014 17:52
Hmm
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gordyslovesheep · 28/03/2014 17:53

oh right - okay then - thanks for sharing Hmm

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Cheby · 28/03/2014 17:53

Also, you for whatever reason, you took flowers provided for everyone and put them in your house where only you could enjoy them. There are plenty of other ways of remembering people that don't involve stealing.

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Quinteszilla · 28/03/2014 17:53

You have also taken the nourishment away ftom the plant, one should not cut daffs until they have silted as nutrients will return down to the bulb to strengthen it for next years bloom.

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Minnieisthedevilmouse · 28/03/2014 17:54

Waiting mnhq... But fuckwit. Total fuckwit.

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Iggi101 · 28/03/2014 17:54

One of my bfs in my youth used to pick flowers and present them to me (while drunk iirc). The police stopped him but he must have charmed them as was not charged (or they felt sorry for him; who knows).

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Quinteszilla · 28/03/2014 17:54

Wilted not silted

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ThingsThatGoBumpInTheNight · 28/03/2014 17:54

You're going through a shitty time at the moment.
Ignore the (saw this yesterday loved it so am going to nick it) cats bum faced bosom hoiking miserable buggers who probably drive past these council verges every day and don't notice them.
Hope they brought you joy and comfort - buy some or get some daff bulbs next time tho ay Smile
Ds picks me a daisy every day
Luffs him I do Grin

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Goblinchild · 28/03/2014 17:54

Oooooh
Are you a member of the Feral Underclasses that are swamping our Fair Land?
If that lady reports you to the community police officer, it's going to be a smudge on your record. Children with additional needs require someone with ethics and an understanding of rights and responsibilities to teach 'em right from wrong. You sound a bit muddled.

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