Feel bad that I’ve wasted a friends money

[Bellagetdown]

I’ve got a friend who is really in to astrology. I don’t mind it, but tend to steer clear as I’ve noticed that when I go through bad patches, I read star signs and watch readings for a bit of hope. Which always gets me down, as no one would watch a video entitled, “Aquarius, life is going to be really shit and you’ll probably lose your job and get divorced.” It’s all click bait titles about how your life will get better.

Anyway, this friend has been going on at me for months asking me for my time of birth. I don’t know it. There is no way of knowing it. Everyone who knows what time I was born died years ago and I can’t remember if my parents ever told me. I don’t have any old hospital records with it on, no baby book etc.

She kept asking, I kept telling her that I didn’t know. She kept telling me to call the hospital I was born in to see if they had records (I’m about to turn 47, very unlikely).

She was round for some drinks a while ago, and kept on saying, “shall we go in the loft? I bet there is something?” (There really isn’t).

Later that evening I just made up a time and told her. I made up a fictitious family member and said I’d text them and they did remember and it was 7pm. It made her really happy and she didn’t mention it again.

Yesterday, she handed me a beautifully presented, leather bound fully personalised birth chart, Astro cartography thing.

And now I feel so guilty because she’s obviously spent a lot of money on it and it’s all bollocks based on a made up time of birth.

She was so thrilled to give it to me and now I feel like a massive prick.

Giving you this gift made her really happy. Have a quick flick and mention a few things from it in a positive way 'oh I can't wait for Saturn to pass through Uranus in July!' and she'll be over the moon.

Her happiness is what she has spent the money on really! She loves this gift so it is much more about her than you IMO. You can make it worth her money (if that concerns you) by mentioning things from it and keeping her happiness going.

Agree with this.

I think those things are kind of just for entertainment purposes anyway. Just thank her and move on from it.

Lol @ her asking you to contact your hospital of birth to see if they knew the time. Imagine the staff would think you were loopy!

There is 1/12 chance that it is less than 1/12 out. So it might be right :-)

It’s fine OP. You’ve nothing to feel bad about. As pp said it makes no difference it isn’t the right time.

Forget it.
She chose to waste her own money on something which is a load of bollocks.
She kept pushing when you had told her many times you didn't know your time of birth, had no relatives alive to ask and no, she couldn't go in the loft. She should have given up at that point.
But no, she pushed and pushed and pushed until you were exasperated and made up a time.
This is all on her.

It's an absolute load of shite anyway.

She knows you think astrology is bollocks, but she got you an astrological chart for Christmas. That's a gift for her not you, she could have bought you something you would like, but she indulged her own love of woo and ignored your likes and dislikes.

It's like an obsessive stamp collector buying a big bag of stamps for someone who has no interest at all in stamp collecting. i.e. a supremely crap and selfish present. I would feel not one iota of guilt. She wasted her own money, more fool her.

I wouldn't go overboard with thanks either or you'll end up with more astrological shit to add to your collection. I think forcing your own belief systems on other people is bloody rude. (As is trying to barge your way into someone's loft)

Yes exactly! So don't feel bad @Bellagetdown !

It’s on mine and my husband’s…we are in Scotland though. I’m 46 he is 47.

Well she can't be that short of money then.

Either way, she shouldn't be pushing her silly beliefs onto others and especially not in such a bullish way.

This is a lovely way of putting it.

Or she will see this thread and know you think it’s bollocks anyway.

My birth certificate doesn't have the time of birth on it. Nor does my siblings.
I know it's usually on when twins are born though.

The only reason time of birth would be relevant in astrology would be to see what 'rising sign' was present at OP's time of birth. Other than that, if you believe in it, all the other gubbins would be correct anyway.

So, I just googled it. In Scotland the time of birth is on your birth certificate. So it seems like it’s in red if those differences between Scotland and England. Pretty glad as my mum was off her tits on drugs and anaesthetic so she couldn’t even tell which day it was.

I’m not sure if it’s on the abbreviated certificate, but it’s on all my family’s full certificates and none of us are multiples. All born in Scotland in case that makes a difference

This confirms the Scotland thing!

I checked as mine had it too, yep it stems Scottish birth certificates have the time.

This is really funny. She was being annoying - even if it was well-intentioned. Why don’t you just find it funny and let it go.

It was her hobby, not yours, so a crap gift anyway. Move on!

Christ on a bike she sounds insufferable. Don't feel bad, a fool and their money are soon parted, as the saying goes 😆

I typed the question. “Is the time of birth recorded on a birth certificate “ and this AI overview came up.

No, the time of birth is
not usually on a standard UK birth certificate for single births in England & Wales, but it is recorded for multiple births (twins, triplets) and often in Scotland for all births, though you might find it on the hospital's long-form record or by contacting the General Register Office (GRO) if needed.

For England & Wales:

• Not Standard: Your normal certificate won't have the time unless you were a multiple birth.
• Where to Look: The hospital's detailed records (sometimes called the "long form") or asking the local registrar might provide it.

For Scotland:

• Usually Recorded: The time of birth is generally included for all births in the Scottish register.

How to Find Your Time of Birth:

1. Check Hospital Records: Contact the maternity hospital where you were born.
2. Contact the GRO: Request a copy of the original entry from the General Register Office for England, Wales, or Scotland.
3. Check Family Documents: Look for hospital wristbands, baby tags, or other records parents might have kept.

Don’t worry about it, you kept telling her you didn’t know, I would have probably tried to contact the hospital to see if they had a record of your birth, but other than that not much you could have done.

I think in England only twins have their time of birth on their certificate.

First post nails it. You didn't do anything nasty, you were only trying to appease her. No need to beat yourself up. Channel Marie Kondo. The gift's purpose was to be given, and it's done that. You appreciate the intent and her generosity. That is all it needs to be.

Yep I was upstairs so just dug out my birth certificate….i’m not a twin etc unless that’s a skeleton in a closet somewhere.

I was born early 60s and no time of birth recorded on the certificate. My mum told me it was early hours 4am ish. My youngest offspring is 30 and none of the times are recorded. Not that I could forget though 🤣

But it would have been bollocks even if you’d given her the right time. I wouldn’t feel guilty. Don’t overthink it.

Jesus Christ, can everyone stop drivelling on about birth certificates? It doesn’t matter! Even if the OP was in Scotland or anywhere else that does this, unless she has a time machine, she can’t do anything about the money her friend has already spent.