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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?

OP posts:

Aunaturalmama · 26/10/2019 19:12

Ooooffff. So embarrassing for the cleaner if you tell her. I would just be careful to not leave things in that area that seem like a gift. If it happens again when not in that area definitely say something

LonginesPrime · 26/10/2019 19:21

She must have been absolutely delighted to find it there!

She either had a special occasion or perhaps assumed that you had, so I guess there might be an awkward conversation coming up next time you see her.

Baxterbear · 26/10/2019 19:23

Yabu, if you left in in the usual "gift for her" place why would she think ITS not actually for her. All I'm getting from your post is that you love your cleaner to bits but don't know when her birthday/anniversary is (one must not fraternise with the staff). Surely if you can afford a cleaner then purchasing a replacement bottle of bubbly is not a big deal? You sound pissed off that the cleaner got above herself and forgot her place. She can scrub your toilet but god forbid she drink your champers....

Betty777 · 26/10/2019 20:43

Jeez @Baxterbear, that's a bit of a stretch isn't it?

I've previously had a cleaner I thought was fab, but I've no idea when her birthday was (and OP has already said she doesn't often see her)

Surprised that some PP are labelling her a CF - why would someone jeopardise what sounds like a good relationship and her job, all for one bottle of booze? In my experience thieves don't tend to leave thank you notes

Willweeverfindout · 26/10/2019 20:47

Your mistake! Say nothing. Let her enjoy it.

icedgem85 · 26/10/2019 20:57

Buy another one! I actually can’t believe people are saying tell her and ask for it back, or even suggesting she stole it. She would be MORTIFIED and it was clearly a mistake. Why would anyone choose to embarrass her like that? How nasty. Make sure you don’t put anything in ‘her’ space any more though or it could get expensive!

Dowser · 26/10/2019 21:15

Definitely don’t mention it
A good cleaner is worth their weight in gold

Muckycat · 26/10/2019 21:22

It sounds like a genuine mistake from someone valued and loyal, please don't embarrass her over this if you can afford another bottle. If it was a new cleaner or part of pattern of things going missing, it would be a different matter. Oh and unless you're sure there would be no mutual people there, please don't mention it to your friends, I think I'd be more mortified if I realised my mistake this way!

I too feel so embarrassed on everybody involved's behalf that in your place, if she did mention it, I might even pretend it was on offer or something hence the random gift!

Original poster

SpiderCharlotte · 26/10/2019 21:38

if you left in in the usual "gift for her" place why would she think ITS not actually for her.

I didn't @Baxterbear it was in a different place and I'd love to know how I sound pissed off, perhaps you haven't read my posts properly. However, you crack on with your assumptions about me. Or you could just calm down a bit ...

OP posts:

EffYouSeeKaye · 26/10/2019 21:40

Hmm. Your choices are either

to not tell her and buy another bottle.
tell her and then get a new cleaner and move at least 100 miles away.

Cheaper to buy another bottle.

Muckycat · 26/10/2019 21:43

BaxterBear the OP doesn't sound pissed off at all, I think she sounds really nice! I don't have a cleaner but I do think the world of some of my friends' mums (which the cleaning lady is). Couldn't tell you their birthdays offhand though.

Original poster

SpiderCharlotte · 26/10/2019 22:17

No way would I tell her, I bought another bottle for my friend. I had to send it with DH off to her party as I'm stuck at home with a sick DS and missing the party. No champers for me!

OP posts:

CupoTeap · 26/10/2019 22:55

Ah imagine her little face, I agree you can't tell her.

Cherrysoup · 27/10/2019 00:00

In a different place and with a card with someone else’s name on it? Hmm. I’d tell her. Why on earth would you give her champagne?

VanyaHargreeves · 27/10/2019 00:06

Amazed by the amount of people who would be as tight/cringeworthy/brass neck to ask for it back

How excruciating would that conversation be?!

She would probably stop cleaning, all goodwill lost

escapade1234 · 27/10/2019 00:10

Stop calling it champers you big hooray!

Celestine70 · 27/10/2019 01:05

She's taking the P. I would text, actually it was a gift for a friend but enjoy.

Doneanddone · 27/10/2019 01:21

@icedgem85 I fully agree with you cant believe how cheap and cynical some people can be.

Angrywife · 27/10/2019 01:26

I'm interested to know what it is that is leading everyone to say don't tell her.

Is it her age? Because the elderly can still be cfs, they're not immune. I'm pretty sure if this had been a 20 something girl there would have been a lot more up in arms about it.

Maybe I'm projecting my own situation in to my reply but I'm thoroughly sick of the elderly I know, getting away with shitty behaviour because "I'm 75 don't you know" it's a bus pass they get when they hit senior citizen age not a cf pass.

I would have asked her if she'd seen it and pretend not to have seen the note, when she said yes she had taken it I would laugh and say oh good I thought I was going daft, you enjoy it and I'll get Sandra another bottle"

No embarrassment, message delivered, no harm done.

1vandal2 · 27/10/2019 01:28

You really need to tell her it wasn't for her especially as it wasn't in 'her' place. It is a bit of a piss take

Muckycat · 27/10/2019 01:53

Angrywife in my case, it's not so much her age as that she's been a trusted family friend and cleaner for years and has never (as far as the OP mentions) pulled any CF shit before. Therefore it's a case of giving her the benefit of the doubt where the alternative might cause serious embarrassment. A bottle of champers doesn't seem a bad price to pay to save her face. Certainly if she was new I'd have no compunction in suggesting that OP followed it up.

Bigbigboots · 27/10/2019 01:55

No way would I mention it. The embarrassment! For both of you. She is delighted with 'your gift'. To tell her it was a present for somebody else would change that delight to humiliation. If I were her I could never come near you again.
On the bright side, you've probably just accidentally bought her loyalty.

SellingHouse · 27/10/2019 01:51

Honestly some people on here.

People make mistakes. The OP can choose to embarrass this lady and make her feel very silly and awkward or she can take a £40 hit. We make choices in life and sometimes we put other people’s feelings before our own even if it costs us something - just to be nice.

Nonameslob · 27/10/2019 01:59

@baxterbear you might want to read all the OP's posts before you comment in future. You sound ridiculous.

Original poster

SpiderCharlotte · 27/10/2019 09:06

This is how I feel @SellingHouse. If I thought there was the slightest chance she was taking the piss, I would say something, but I know her and she just wouldn't. I haven't found out when her birthday is yet, I was hoping to see my friend last night but the whole night didn't end up as planned!

@escapade1234 Sorry!

OP posts:

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