Irrationally upset over a washing up liquid bottle…

[lifestooshorttodickaboutwithaubergines]

Ok, so I’ll preface this by saying I know how utterly ridiculous this is, but I need an outlet for my grief.

Years ago I purchased a Limited Edition Fairy liquid bottle, one of those tall, white ones with the baby on it, which I’ve happily and diligently decanted washing up liquid into ever since. It’s been sitting there on the windowsill of the last three houses I’ve lived in, and although it’s just a plastic bottle, it’s just brought me a little bit of joy. It’s silly, but it’s mine.

Until yesterday morning, when my well-meaning MIL saw it beside the new bottle (waiting to be decanted) and threw it into the recycling bin! I didn’t realise this until my “D”P casually mentioned this morning that he’s made a quirky little LAMPSHADE for a lamp we have in the garage, using that “old washing up liquid bottle”. A fucking LAMPSHADE. Out of my prized possession. It doesn’t even look good, because why on earth would it? It looks shit.

I’m irrationally heartbroken about the death of this bottle that’s just been sitting there for years, minding its own business, harming nobody. I know, I know, it’s just a fucking plastic bottle, but it was MY plastic bottle and he’s watched me decant the washing up liquid into it for years. He KNEW it was important to me. But because it’s just a plastic bottle, I’m going to have to bloody get over it, aren’t I. He’s already ordered a replacement, apparently, but it’s not the same, it’s not the same bottle. I’ve shed an embarrassing number of tears over it and as it’s still so raw, I feel like I’ll never forgive the twat for it.

Cheer me up a little, let me know I’m not alone and come share your stories of silly things that to everyone else seems trivial and ridiculous, but for you has been a source of heartache and woe…😢

I totally understand OP.

If it happened to me I would see it as the people around me just not understanding me and who I am. That would upset me. I think it's deeper than just a plastic bottle.

It seems like a very, very extreme reaction to a bottle.

And I think I’ve addressed that in the title and my subsequent posts

Very much this, thank you 😊

i understand, it’s more that some nosy busy body interferes with your possessions and you lose out. I would be angry too.

Difficult. if mil is helping you by cleaning each week, she should have been informed about the bottle being sentimental. That said, it's pretty obvious those bottles aren't in the shops these days so she shouldn't have thrown in it.

Your dh on the other hand is a total halfwit. He knew very well that the bottle had been a fixture for years and years. Very clearly he should have asked you how it ended up in the recycling. And making a lampshade out of it? He sounds like he doesn't have enough to do. Why is MIL needing to do all this cleaning if H is pissing around with crap like this?

My last ex broke the last two wooden spoons from my mum's kitchen - she died when I was early 20's. They were super thin and worn down on the 'stirring side' and so comforting. To break 1 I could get over but both of them... He was a shit cook too and burnt anything he tried to make but refused any help (was actually looking up porn in the kitchen it transpired, hence the burnt) and made it "his thing" to cook despite me loving it.

Utterly selfish and I will never be able to forgive him.

I have a hand wash bottle that I refill. Two cleaners have thrown it into the recycling but I've managed to retrieve it both times, although it has lost its original lid but luckily I found a similar one to fit. It's not just you.

I feel for you OP, it's not about any old plastic bottle, it's about being seen and understood. You're not irrationally upset, I wouldn't want other people (even family) messing with my sentimental items.

And your DP should have noticed it had been there for a long time and at least checked with you to see why it had been thrown out, let alone not chopped it up.

Can you post of the lampshade please 😁

I still miss a certain hairband that held my hair up in the shower for over 20 years

I feel much the same about my Brothers in Arms cd. It was the first cd I ever owned, when cd players were a new thing, and I bought it on the day it was released in the UK. I even went and bought a cd player for it!

About 10 years ago DH borrowed it for some reason or other. And scratched it. He bought me another one to replace it, but IT ISN'T THE SAME ONE. It's not MY one.

I remember hearing my next door neighbour, wailing 'my jug, my jug' over and over again, when one of her children had knocked an ornament off, and broken it. She sounded so ridiculous! When I lose or break something, and feel upset, I remember 'my jug, my jug! ' and pull myself together.

I think it’s probably unfair to be upset with your DP. It was in the recycling and given its age, it’s perfectly reasonable for him to have assumed that it had finally sprung a leak etc. I wouldn’t expect my DP to double-check with me if he saw something in the recycling.

I also love the fact he tried to make a lampshade even if it was shit 😂😂

I would however be FURIOUS with MIL. Surely she knows your system re the washing up bottle?! I’d be livid that she chucked it out - to the point that I’d tell her not to worry cleaning the kitchen in the future!! 😂🤷‍♀️

This is not even vaguely comparable but my DP keeps chucking out my stash of GU dessert glass bowls. I was doing some crafts with the kids the other day and needed something to clean brushes, mix paint etc. I went to get out the dishes and nothing! All gone. Again!! I was scrabbling around trying to find suitable alternative receptacles but he’s unrepentant about binning the GU bowls. I always use them for craft stuff - and he always throws them out behind my back. Drives me absolutely mental.

Anyway.

Just wondering OP whether you could salvage anything from the original bottle? Maybe cut out the baby image or the name and mount on a little wooden plaque or something? Make your own little vintage style sign - plus a part of your original bottle will always be with you then?

What a lovely bottle! I can see why you liked it and understand why you're upset.

I had a little terracotta pig that I bought on holiday when I was about 14. Just a small, non-valuable thing but I absolutely loved it. My daughter broke a leg and an ear off it recently and I was crushed. I can't bear to throw it away even though it's now just a weird looking lump of clay.

So sorry to hear this. You had an emotion attachment to that bottle so it’s understandable. However, I know it’s not going to be a direct replacement but check out these on Etsy. Really cheap too 🫧

I would be very annoyed as well. Demand he go straight onto eBay and purchase another!

I totally understand OP. I love my white Fairy liquid bottle, it brings me joy, for some reason.
Do they not re-issue them around Christmas? Is that it? I should have bought several.

This is exactly why I couldn't have anyone in my home doing cleaning/tidying etc., whether a professional cleaner nor a "helpful" friend or relative. I just have to do things myself because I'm very particular about where things live and the possessions I have, however small and cheap!
This by an absolute zillion!! The amount of things people would throw out or wonder about, from a weird little gift bag I use to keep spare change in, to some old newspapers with the kids in (I am not a hoarder btw, just letting you know;))

Why do people think they have the right to do these things, especially in your home. It has happened to me many times, one particular one was a bauble box, it stored my 12 days of Christmas tree baubles for years. Something happened one year and they didn’t get put in the box, I think I’d bought some bauble storage boxs and helpful hubby put them in that. That’s fine, I still had my box that would be saved until next year. Until my DF ripped the lid off it and used the compartments to sort my DHs nails and screws out. I was so upset. I know my DF did it but if DH had sorted the fucking garage and not been such a slob my DF wouldn’t had needed to tidy it. Now the baubles are in my generic Christmas storage boxs with my random baubles, not my beautiful colour coordinated cardboard box with individual slots for each day 😢

No it's not irrational. You had something you valued and they discarded it without thinking that it might be important to you, which isn't exactly a stretch considering how long you'd had it. It was thoughtless of them.

I had handwritten letters from my best friend when my parents moved house. We kept.in touch via post. I kept them bound up in ribbon and in a folder. When I moved out with DH, we put a lot of stuff in the garden shed. It was forgotten about and when we went to tidy out the shed, all the letters were damp and mouldy, I had to throw them out. I was gutted but it was my own silly fault for not storing them in a better place.

Just wondering OP whether you could salvage anything from the original bottle? Maybe cut out the baby image or the name and mount on a little wooden plaque or something? Make your own little vintage style sign - plus a part of your original bottle will always be with you then?

Yes, this. With 'LTB' written underneath it.

Ask MIL/DH to buy you a replacement. It's only £150!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126312863577?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=126312863577&targetid=1403035015187&device=m&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045821&poi=1007259&campaignid=21197380266&mkgroupid=166718579212&rlsatarget=pla-1403035015187&abcId=9406796&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv5uKs4vMhgMV3JBQBh2BGw4FEAQYCCABEgJcJPD_BwE