For 3 weeks out of the last 5, we have had some people staying at our house. We have not been at the house for all except a night in the time they have stayed. When we go away, we do not normally get house sitters, we just lock up and go away. A neighbour helps out with a bit of watering usually (for which I am very grateful, give bottle of wine etc).
This time, because the people in question had nowhere to live (new house not yet ready, had to sell old house nearly 3 months ago), we came to an arrangement whereby, whilst we were away, they could live at our house. In my mind, this is not house sitting, this is us offering them somewhere to stay rather than having to beg and borrow a friend's spare futon or whatever. No money changed hands and I absolutely would not expect any at all.
ANYWAY, they have now made a big thing to everyone about how "oh we are house sitting for GABG and her family whilst they are away". Like THEY are the ones doing US a massive favour. She even said "ooo, have left you a bottle of wine (great) in the fridge". The bottle was in fact, empty.
AND, whilst I am on a rant, a very small request we made to them was to please just water the (small) greenhouse every couple of days. This was not done, hardly at all as everything is bone dry and not growing at all. The place was quite tidy when we got back, but hadn't been hoovered or whatever, not exactly difficult in return for 3 weeks of somewhere to stay FOR FREE. We are very close the people concerned and they have been very forthcoming in telling us how grateful they are etc, but their actions don't seem to match up to this.
AIBU to think that actually, the favour is either us doing them a really good turn or at the very most perhaps an evenly distributed arrangement???? I don't need a housesitter, I get no benefit other than not having to ask neighbour to water (though frankly, I wish I had done!), so I know which way I think it goes, but would also value opinions to see if I am just being a cow.