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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think DH's aunt is being odd and/or trying it on?

57 replies

ShadeofViolet · 22/09/2010 16:57

DH and I moved into this house 4 years ago. The previous owners had downsized to a caravan by the sea so they left us alot of stuff in the house, furniture/crockery etc.

So since then we have always had one odd white plate - its a bit smaller than a dinnerplate. I assumed it was one of the things the owners left behind.

Last monday DH's aunt came round and stayed for tea. While I was doing tea I broke this white plate (a jat fell out of the cupboard and broke it) DH's aunt said nothing. She came round on saturday and said nothing, but was her normal self.

Today she has rung up and said that the plate is hers, that she brought it round when we moved in and she wants us to replace the plate. However she doesnt have the white Dinner service sanymore, so she would like us to replace it with an expensive Emma Bridgewater one.

Now bearing in mind we have had it 4 years without her saying anything, I thing she is chancing it. DH thinks I should replace it to avoid upsetting her.

She isnt old and doddery BTW, she is in her late 50's.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Tortington · 22/09/2010 18:11

there are some very odd people in the world.

i'd say " i'm not going to replace it. i understand if you feel you cannot come to the house anymore"

you don't need this nobber in your life

Gay40 · 22/09/2010 18:13

You could actually build up an entirely new dinner service with this ploy.

What a chancer! Say you've gone Greek and give her the broken bits.

CupcakesHay · 22/09/2010 18:14

Freaky Aunt or what! I'd be tempted to replace it with a crappy plate, but depends on whether you reckon she'll create a fuss...

Ask her why she never mentioned this plate was hers before! Sounds like something my MIL would do...!

Original poster
ShadeofViolet · 22/09/2010 18:20

Apparently just after we moved we had a party for DS1's birthday (which is quite probable, though moving and giving birth two weeks before means I have no recollection) and she bought a quiche on it.

I would replace it with a similar plate if she asked because despite the fact we have had it here for 4 years , it is hers, but she wants us to replace it with this as those are the plates she has now.

OP posts:
Original poster
ShadeofViolet · 22/09/2010 18:21

She is one of those people that tots things up and will remind you if you owe her 5p, which is why I cant understand why she left it so long.

OP posts:
ElephantsAndMiasmas · 22/09/2010 18:24

ahahahaha she's not serious? If those are the plates she's got now then presumably she bought a full service? Or has she bought the whole thing minus one plate and waited patiently for the jar to crash down?

zapostrophe · 22/09/2010 18:29

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zapostrophe · 22/09/2010 18:29

This reply has been deleted

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TheCrackFox · 22/09/2010 18:37

I would refuse to buy that plate on matters of taste alone.

Why the hell didn't she ask for her plate 4 yrs ago.

laweaselmys · 22/09/2010 18:40

Buy it, but wrap it up and give to her for Christmas. Then you've pleased her, but not wasted any money you wouldn't otherwise have spent...

laweaselmys · 22/09/2010 18:40

It is a spectacularly ugly plate.

diddl · 22/09/2010 18:52

What was the plate like that broke?

TBH I think it´s a real cheek what she is asking you to do.

She´s had 4yrs to ask for the plate back.

How convenient that she is now collecting something more expensive different.

Jux · 22/09/2010 18:56

The plate is vile. Get her one with hedgehogs on instead.

Original poster
ShadeofViolet · 22/09/2010 20:02

The plate I broke looks like this

OP posts:
Balsam · 22/09/2010 20:10

Buy her a plain white plate, same as the one that broke.

If she questions it, you just say you're replacing like for like. You didn't break an Emma Bridgewater one, so she doesn't get an Emma Bridgewater one.

What a nutbag.

pompncircumstance · 22/09/2010 20:13

Buy her a plastic picnic plate instead crazy woman!

olderandwider · 22/09/2010 20:16

I have a solution!!

Can you pretend to the dear aunt that you have "discovered" an identical plate hidden in some remote corner of your home? Ring up the aunt, and say "Guess what! Great news! It wasn't your plate that got broken after all!!
Nooooo! It was another funny spare one that the family that moved out must have left!"

NB This ploy will only work if you can find an exact replica of the broken plate. Which may take days/weeks of your time, so it may be better to get the vile birdie one after all.

diddl · 22/09/2010 20:19

Bloody hell, that´s more than the Emma B one!!

I think my complete dinner service didn´t cost much more than thatBlush

bellavita · 22/09/2010 20:21

She is trying to pull a fast one. She just wants to have an extra plate for her new dinner service in case she breaks one.

clam · 22/09/2010 20:26

Bloody hell! What's all this with the vile expensive plates?
What's wrong with IKEA? Bet they do cheap reasonable replacements.

PommePoire · 22/09/2010 20:27

No, diddl, I thought the same at first re:the one shadeofviolet linked to. That price was for a set of six.

violet, why not get the set of six plain white ones and hand them out on 'plate day' one a time over a period of six years? I don't see why that suggestion is any less sane than her request!

ColonelParsons · 22/09/2010 20:27

Buy her it and give it to her for Christmas. Or find a random charity shop one. Or just say no.

Any of the above options is preferable to just buying it for her; I would resent her forever if I did that. Mind you, I do need to start learning to let things go...

sterrryerryoh · 22/09/2010 20:31

I love this thread
Very much laughing at ?plate day?

diddl · 22/09/2010 20:31

Oh, 6 plates[blush)

Still think I´ve a 24 piece service that was only about ?40 though!

Blatherskite · 22/09/2010 20:33

Don't buy her the plate. Save her from her own awful taste in crockery!

:)