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Original poster

Well this is a bit embarrassing.

175 replies

SpiderCharlotte · 25/10/2019 12:14

We have a very lovely cleaner who comes for a couple of hours every Friday morning. I absolutely love her and usually leave her biscuits/cake by the kettle as I'm always out when she's here.

I've just got home to find that the bottle of Champagne that I was talking to my friends 40th tomorrow has gone and there's a lovely wee note thanking me for the champers. It was on the kitchen table in a gift bag and there was a birthday card next to it. I can't ask for it back, she'd be so embarrassed - I'm going to have to fork out for more Champers aren't I? Halloween Grin

OP posts:
Potnoodledoo · 25/10/2019 14:32

I would have to ask for it back.She took something that didnt belong to her.

And she would have known this,so she got in first thanking you for it.

Just makes me thing what else she has her eye on.

Cosmos45 · 25/10/2019 14:38

Just makes me thing what else she has her eye on.

I doubt that very much, i think this is just an genuine (albeit crass) mistake made by someone. I think asking for it back makes it really awkward for everyone involved and if the OP is ok with it (which she is) then best for it to be forgotten about and just buy another bottle. I'm pretty sure the lady in question will realise, perhaps when she mentions it to her daughter and daughter asks why and how she left it for her..

TenPenceMix · 25/10/2019 14:38

Let her enjoy it, I'm sure she'll give you a super clean in return! And I bet she's already sang your praises for being lovely to clean for.

Slightlyjaded · 25/10/2019 14:42

If you financially afford to replace it, then just let it go.

You've said she is kind, a bit lonely since losing her dh and not grabby. Think of it as an unplanned random act of kindness.

Did you reply to her text?

AryaStarkWolf · 25/10/2019 14:45

Yeah I'd just buy more haha

Potnoodledoo · 25/10/2019 14:45

@Cosmos45 I think its a bit of a leap form tea and crumpets to a bottle of champagne.Who in their right mind would think its for them.

KurriKurri · 25/10/2019 14:52

I'd laugh about it and hope she enjoyed it. I wouldn't as pp suggested text her saying essentially 'oh how embarrassing it wasn't for you. lets cal it an early Christmas present' that's even more mebarrassing and will make her feel awful and she'll likely bring it back and much awkwardness will be experienced all round. You sound like me - would rather lose money than create an awkward atmosphere.
As you know her and value her let her think it's an impromptu gift - that creates a good feeling fro everyone.

And as for cries of 'she's a thief whatever will she take next?' - total nonsense. The champagne was on the table in a gift bag - the card was not obvious. It must have looked as if it had been placed to catch her attention - she mistakenly assumed it was for her - not t all beyond the realms of possibility (and in fact what has happened) She's hardly going to start stashing the family silver in her handbag.

BlueJava · 25/10/2019 14:54

I'd let it go - but then I have never left cake and tea either let alone champers!! Since Marie Kondo-ing my whole house I got rid of the cleaner as I could cope!

Cosmos45 · 25/10/2019 14:54

@Potnoodledoo - I agree with you totally. And most of us wouldn't make that assumption but I do think on this occasion it is a genuine mistake and I bet the cleaner would be mortified if she realised. Maybe it's my naivety but I don't believe she took it maliciously.

Interestedwoman · 25/10/2019 15:16

It's a strange mistake to make, I suppose it might be her age or something (not to be discriminatory or anything) or she was knackered from hoovering- it can be hard work..

I've been a cleaner, I don't think she'd deliberately do it to try it on.

If I were you I wouldn't say anything either. x

1forAll74 · 25/10/2019 15:46

Yes,just let this go,she might well have thought the champers was for her, and you did start by saying, that you loved your cleaner. !

Jellybeansincognito · 25/10/2019 15:48

I’d have to tell her- in a, please don’t think I’m angry and please don’t be mortified sort of way.

Because you absolutely don’t want to be in a position where you think you need to hide things in your own home incase she presumes it’s for her again.

Obviously, in the same sentence tell her to enjoy the champagne.

Jellybeansincognito · 25/10/2019 15:50

Like a ‘you really deserve it so don’t be mortified, but it was actually a birthday gift for a friend, its easily replaced so please enjoy it- for future reference though, if I leave you a gift I’ll let you know beforehand’

SoupDragon · 25/10/2019 15:52

Saying "don't be mortified" won't stop her being mortified.

SilverySurfer · 25/10/2019 16:03

My cleaner is worth a hundred bottles of Tattinger. Buy another bottle and never place anything not meant for her (cakes etc) in that spot again.

Original poster
SpiderCharlotte · 25/10/2019 16:05

Honestly, I can't stress this enough, she would never have done this deliberately. She started to come for a couple of hours every week on a temporary basks when DS was a baby. He's 15 now. 😆 She's the sweetest woman. It's just been a 'misunderstanding' and she would be so embarrassed if I told her.

OP posts:
Spied · 25/10/2019 16:05

Just buy another bottle if you can.
I'd be careful about leaving anything around near Christmas though incase things go missing.... I really don't know how she could have thought it was a gift for her with a bloody card she must have seen right next to it.Hmm.

LemonPrism · 25/10/2019 16:12

What cleaner just thinks that champagne in a gift bag is for her?? If it had her name on maybe...

My cleaner doesn't even touch the things I do leave for her! (She has no English so can't leave a note)

spiderlight · 25/10/2019 16:14

Is anyone else picturing her as a tiny elderly Korean lady now or is that just me showing my MN age...?

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 25/10/2019 16:16

This seems really odd to me. She must have seen the card next to it and that it didn't have her name on?!

diddl · 25/10/2019 16:20

"she would be so embarrassed if I told her."

Why would she?

She picked something up by mistake-why can't she be told that?

AllStarBySmashMouth · 25/10/2019 16:21

@spiderlight pahahaha Grin

Sparklemummyx0x0x · 25/10/2019 16:25

Could you get away with pretending you've not seen her note? Then ring or text her to ask if she's seen the bottle as it's for a friend's birthday gift. That way you've informed her it wasn't hers without causing her the embarrassment of owning up. She could then sneak it to yours next Friday to pretend she's 'found' it.

TenPenceMix · 25/10/2019 16:32

@spiderlight yes! In the garden...

wineconnoisseur · 25/10/2019 16:50

I just want to know if it was her birthday and that's why she assumed it was hers. Please OP try find out if it's her bday so we can understand why she took it..