...to think this is a bit cheeky or do I need to relax a bit?

[NotActuallyAMum]

A work colleague of mine did me a favour recently – saved us about £50 – so as a thank you I offered him a couple of nights in our static caravan. I said that if he goes straight there after work on a Friday he’ll be there by about half 6 then if he leaves around the same time on Sunday he’ll have 2 full days there. I warned him that we wouldn’t be moving our belongings out of the way because there’ll still be plenty of room for the two of them. He took me up on the offer, which I was pleased about – I wanted to return the favour

I’ve just seen that he’s booked the Friday and Monday of that weekend off work, presumably to spend 4 nights at our caravan instead of the 2 that I offered. Additionally, someone else who works here sees a lot of this person out of work – the two of them and their wives spend a lot of time together and I’ve noticed that he has also booked the Friday and Monday off work, making me think that they are planning on going too

I could be wrong of course but it seems too much of a coincidence for there to be any other explanation. Isn’t this a bit cheeky?

Heating and lighting can go up though - using the heaters or electric blankets in two bedrooms instead of one, reading lights/hair dryers/fans (if you are lucky!) in two bedrooms instead of one, two sets of bedding and so on.

I also assume by taking an extra couple the OP's bedroom with her things in (she did say there would be personal stuff there) will be used. Would all those people saying two extras wont matter like it if they had visitors who then bought extra and comandeered their bedroom ?

great update weareeternal.

I think keys will come back Tuesday after a breezy misunderstanding and 'it was easier to bring the key to work'

It's not specifically about extra costs though is it? It's about strangers being in the OP's (second) home.

If it is a gift, give it freely.

The OP did give this as a gift freely, the gift of her caravan for her colleague and his partner for 2 nights.

The response was 'Oh never mind. Could you leave the key somewhere and let us know where we can get it'.

Words fail me...

I just don't see how anyone on here can think that this man is not totally and utterly taking the piss. For those that have said 'oh what's the difference', you are just as bad as him and are clearly cheeky buggers too!

You offered him a piece for cake, so instead of just taking the cake, he tried to get jam, cream and a bloody great cherry on top!

You forgot the icing, PowerPants

Let's look on the bright side - at least they've got a lovely weekend for it, so the caravan won't end up covered in mud

Am stunned to read just how many people are coming on here to ask what the OP is fussing about. Are there really that many rude people in the world?
Although it doesn't matter if other people wouldn't have an issue with it. The point is, the OP does; it's her caravan, she lent it in good faith to one couple for two nights, and they've abused the privilege. And even now they've been made aware she's pissed off about it, they're still trying to wangle extra time from it, without even being upfront about it.

'Are there really that many rude people in the world?'

Apparently so. Shocking, isn't it?

I'm now waiting to see if he drops the key off as asked on Sunday, or if he stays the extra day.

Well, he's certainly got great weather for his cheeky weekend away (unless the caravan's in Scotland )

I wonder if you get a phone call later on, saying they'd like to stay an extra night, as the weather is so nice.

Going on previous behaviour I don't think he'd have the courtesy to ask; he'd just sneakily stay the extra night.

Mumsnet never fails to amaze me. So many who think that it's ok to take more than you've been offered.

The person set his rate for the car repair and the I paid him in cash then offered him use of a caravan for 2 nights for him and his wife as far as I have read op has always been explicit with regard to 2 nights for 2 people.

Personally static caravan would be my idea of holiday hell but goodness sake you are being precious. 4 nights instead of 2 in a static caravan, big deal. It's not costing you anything is it? Why should they not make a long weekend of it?

Frankly your explicit instructions about getting there on the Friday and leaving on the Sunday sound mean.

Personally, when he said-'oh is that a problem, do you want me to put them off?' I'd have said yes!

Oh and we have another one!
Caitlin if this guy wanted to take friends and "make a weekend of it," the POLITE thing to do would have been to SPEAK to the OP and ASK her if she would mind. She would almost certainly have said "of course not, go ahead." It's all the deceitful sneaking around that's pissing her off

And I would have picked him up on the "did I not tell you" bit by raising an eyebrow and saying, "you didn't "ask" me, no."

Wow well done Caitlin! You managed to tell the OP she's really cheap and that you are too much of a snob to want to stay in her shitty caravan.

Bravo. Perhaps you should stay in S&B where you're appreciated

I think some posters are missing the point entirely. It's not relevant whether it costs the op extra. The point is that the offer was 2 nights for 2 people not 4 nights for 4 people.

The op's colleague changed the offer without the consent or knowledge of the op. I consider that to be completely rude and unacceptable behaviour regardless of whether it actually impacts the op in real terms or not.

How on earth someone who offers free use of a caravan can be described as mean I've no idea . What a strange world we live in

Any update OP?

marking my place for the update

Also place-marking and adding my reverse-type experience - I have a friend who lives in a European city and years ago I stayed for a few days, must have behaved myself cos she later asked me (at a time when I had a boyfriend) to visit again and bring him along. date was arranged but no flights booked and I then split up with said tosspot. As friend and her DP were going to be working during the day when I visited I asked if I could bring a mate instead - answer was No as "we don't want someone we don't know in the flat". They didn't know the ex at all btw.

I didn't make a thing of it, didn't go myself in the end and we lost touch eventually. I put it down to the fact that I had been mostly single since we'd been at school together whereas she had mostly been in l/t relationships so had never done a mini-break alone. I still think it was a bit mean tho.

Anyhoo - looking forward to cheekiness update tomorrow. Apols for derailing.

Waiting for the update.....