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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Am I insane?

67 replies

sashh · 25/05/2026 06:43

I have a drinks fridge, always stocked with cans and bottles of water, occasionally beer.

In a heatwave I give out drinks to delivery drivers and the bin men.

My friend thinks I'm insane.

If you were delivering all day would you welcome a cold drink?

YABU - yes you are insane.
YANBU - you are doing a nice thing.

OP posts:
Clemdfandango · 26/05/2026 11:31

Any workmen who comes to my house are always offered a drink, whatever the weather.

Just half an hour ago I offered my postwoman a cold drink and use of the loo, if she needed it. She declined both but was grateful.

YANBU

BauhausOfEliott · 26/05/2026 11:17

Delivery drivers and bin men are only there for a matter of minutes and I usually don't even see them - parcels get left in the porch and I'm working when the bin men come. But I've often offered my window cleaner a cold drink in warm weather and if someone was delivering something that needed bringing into the house or setting up (eg furniture or a washing machine or something) I'd certainly offer them something.

PenandPip · 26/05/2026 10:15

I do the same. My brother used to read electricity meters and he was always so grateful when he was offered a cold drink.

Tamtim · 26/05/2026 10:05

It’s a lovely thing to do. Keep doing it.

BaronessBomburst · 26/05/2026 09:28

No, you're not insane. I always offer to refill water bottles/ coffee flasks and tell them that they're welcome to use the (downstairs) loo. I offer ice lollies and biscuits too, if I have any.
When I was a kid DM always used to offer the peg sellers and knife sharpeners a sandwich and a mug of tea in the garden. We lived in flat with a weird set-up so it wasn't strange that they weren't invited in, which to be honest she was wary of.

Peterdottir · 26/05/2026 09:17

YANBU. You are being kind and thoughtful and I'm sure they all really appreciate it 😊

MesonBoson · 26/05/2026 09:01

I bet she sits by the door, waiting for victims, so she can give them something out of her self-image-fridge.

Oh yes. All the delivery men love her!

FlyingUnicornWings · 26/05/2026 08:53

Evaka · 25/05/2026 06:52

You're lovely and your friends are the weirdos.

👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

MajorSamanthaCarter · 26/05/2026 08:33

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She's giving them a cold drink not luring them into the back of a van to look at puppies.

LuckyHazelFox · 26/05/2026 08:01

The poor tractor driver who cuts the grass around my house deserves a cold drink in this oppressive heat. Any decent person wouldn't think twice about giving them a cold drink. I do wonder though if men would do the same!

FlippantlyShe · 26/05/2026 07:59

Hoppymclimpy · 26/05/2026 07:56

@FlippantlyShe ....whilst I agree to an extent, being able to take a bottle of water with you means drivers etc can drink as they go. My DP is a Postie, this weather is brutal. He starts his round with 2l of water on him (can't carry anymore due to also lugging the post around!), normally gone within an hour, having a customer give him a cold water or offer to fill one of his empty bottles up makes his day.
I'm sure you'd not approve of us- any delivery driver atm gets a bottle of water offered & if we have anyone working in the house, such as the mediquip team then its drinks & wrapped biscuits.
I simply see it as being part of a functioning society, and I'm pretty such it's appreciated x

But any postie or the like will have a water bottle with him/her in weather like this. Just offer to refill it!

Hoppymclimpy · 26/05/2026 07:56

@FlippantlyShe ....whilst I agree to an extent, being able to take a bottle of water with you means drivers etc can drink as they go. My DP is a Postie, this weather is brutal. He starts his round with 2l of water on him (can't carry anymore due to also lugging the post around!), normally gone within an hour, having a customer give him a cold water or offer to fill one of his empty bottles up makes his day.
I'm sure you'd not approve of us- any delivery driver atm gets a bottle of water offered & if we have anyone working in the house, such as the mediquip team then its drinks & wrapped biscuits.
I simply see it as being part of a functioning society, and I'm pretty such it's appreciated x

FlippantlyShe · 26/05/2026 07:41

sashh · 25/05/2026 10:40

That takes time though and I know the delivery drivers are often on tight schedule. A bottle of water or a can of coke can be taken away.

I think the seconds it would take someone to drink a glass of water on the spot are negligible compared to the importance of not generating extra single-use plastic waste.

OhGoshNotAgain · 26/05/2026 07:36

Anyone delivering here in hot weather is offered a cold bottle of water or can of fizzy drink. It’s a humane thing and a way to show you appreciate their effort.

The AO men are always willing to do something extra while here as a result (we’ve had a new kitchen and extension so they have been here more than is usual!). Being nice gets you nice. It’s just oiling the wheels of a functioning society.

sashh · 26/05/2026 07:30

Saintsbury have just delivered. I told him a bit about this, just that there was an online discussion. He says I'm not creepy and drink is appreciated.

OP posts:
StMichaelPenkevil · 25/05/2026 21:00

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That’s the spirit! 😂

Lovely thing to do OP.

grumpygrape · 25/05/2026 20:53

After he had gone I felt really bad I hadn't offered the Tesco delivery driver a drink, especially when he said they don't have air con in the vans.

aLFIESMA · 25/05/2026 20:50

I do this too, also lollies!

sprigatito · 25/05/2026 20:46

Creepy 😆 the heat brings ‘em out

I wouldn’t do it, I’m too reserved and curmudgeonly, but I think it’s a nice thing to do.

WhoDidWhatNow · 25/05/2026 20:44

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I don't agree but the confidence of this statement made me laugh.

It's nice, OP.

Thebinisrightthere · 25/05/2026 20:42

SerendipityCat · 25/05/2026 20:33

Jesus, they’re out in force tonight, must be the heat. The op sure as hell isn’t the creepy one here.

I agree! What's creepy about offering someone a cold can of something? Normal people won't read anything into it. You carry on, OP, it's a lovely idea

SerendipityCat · 25/05/2026 20:33

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Jesus, they’re out in force tonight, must be the heat. The op sure as hell isn’t the creepy one here.

LeftieRightsHoarder · 25/05/2026 20:28

You’re absolutely not being unreasonable, OP, and I’m glad whenever I hear about people doing this kind of thing.

Anyone working in our house is offered tea or coffee and biscuits. In hot weather I offer bottles of tap water to anyone working on the roads too. It’s just part of living in a society. Looking out for each other is good for everyone.

itsgettingweird · 25/05/2026 20:22

Nope not insane or unusual.

I always offer delivery men, the cleaners of the communal area or gardeners of communal gardens a drink - especially in this weather.

but I’m also not very MN either because - shock horror - I’ll even let them use my loo 😂

MesonBoson · 25/05/2026 20:20

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