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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have forced this man to call his wife?

179 replies

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 16:35

So, there I was, in line to pay for my shopping at a Vietnamese supermarket. It just so happens a really good one is local to me, but they are pretty hard to find most of the time.

Chap in front is clutching a shopping list, has a few items, and asks the cashier (who really only speaks Vietnamese) for hawthorn. Now she did not understand what he said, I helpfully enunciated it properly, and translated it into French (smartypants or what) she had no idea, he had no idea he said its for my wife.

I said it was probably the bud or fruit of the hawthorn tree (as it indeed turns out to be). Both look blank. He shrugs his shoulders and looks as if he is going to slope off sans hawthorn.

At which point I suggested he called his wife for clarification.

He looked at me like I was stark raving crazy looney laydee. But she is at work! he gasped...

I said she might be rather cross and have a food crisis if he didn't. Still looked freaked out...but did go outside and call.

Was IBU to think that his wife would be pretty grumpy to have sent him to a speciality food store (I am channelling Ina Garten here) and for him to retreat without all the ingredients for her special planned dinner? And to not at least call or text to try and sort it out?

OP posts:
LadyIsabellaWrotham · 11/06/2014 17:42

Obviously he settled down after marriage, because he had the heart of the woman he loved and enormous quantities of torrid sex. Also, a previously unsuspected great aunt died and left him pots of cash Grin.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 17:42

and FWIW, I didn't speak French to her, I simply said hawthorn in French. Which is aubepine.

OP posts:
MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 17:43

Thank fuck for the great-aunt, LadyIsabella...! And weljel of the buckets of torrid sex!

OP posts:
ManWithNoName · 11/06/2014 17:45

Hang on a minute, I am still trying to get past this:

"So, there I was, in line to pay for my shopping at a Vietnamese supermarket."

Are you actually in Vietnam? I am imagining the cross cultural interplay here.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 17:45

I have loved Vietnamese food ever since living in the Vietnamese quarter in Paris many moons ago.

OP posts:
AgaPanthers · 11/06/2014 17:45

It's not pho king clever to speak French to Vietnamese people. Last time I tried that they threatened to banh mi.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 17:45

Not Vietnam. Hackney. Close, but no cigar, MWNN.

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ManWithNoName · 11/06/2014 17:46

Obviously in the Vietnamese Quarter of .... some other major international city.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 17:46

I think I could grow to lurve you Aga!

Hackney Mare Street is like little Vietnam.

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AgaPanthers · 11/06/2014 17:53

I like kimchi. First time I had it was atop the Barbican, was a bit spicy but love it now. I tried making Chinese braised pork belly with preserved vegetables last week, but didn't have any preserved vegetables only kimchi, it worked really well. Tasted more Chinese than Korean, so might ramp it up with a full pack of kimchi next time.

kimchi goes mouldy after its opened which is slightly disappointing.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 17:57

does it? I bought a smallish pouch of it (200g)hope it lasts in the fridge for a week or so!

I saw on a TV show that often the Koreans have a special Kimchi fridge which has a different temp than normal fridges (lower I assume!)

I might try that pork and kimchi idea, sounds yum!

OP posts:
LadyIsabellaWrotham · 11/06/2014 18:02

The food market behind the RFH had a stall doing kimchi burritos last time I was there. Highly recommended.

Skina · 11/06/2014 18:08

(will be having Iceland spring rolls, wrapped in soft round lettuce leaves and mint and basil leaves, dipped in nuoc cam sauce)

WTAF. DD and I have just eaten exactly that, with coriander thrown in too.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:10

Spooky! Its lush, innit?

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fredfredgeorgejnr · 11/06/2014 18:11

YABU for assuming the shopping list was written by a wife!

Peaceloveandbiscuits · 11/06/2014 18:11

Ahaha when I worked in a supermarket I had an elderly gentleman ask me where the quiches were, and then I had to help him choose one because his wife had only written "meaty quiche" on his list Grin

ConferencePear · 11/06/2014 18:14

I hope that everyone realises that this is not the same hawthorn as the one that grows in British hedgerows.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:17

I'm totally up for an MN potluck!

Yup, Conference, just realised it. So not very helpful of me at all!

OP posts:
MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:18

fred, he told me it was his wife's list.

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Skina · 11/06/2014 18:19

Well lush. It's my can't be arsed meal. I usually go into Chinatown to stock up properly, but there's a fab little Vietnamese grocer in Streatham too. May have to venture Norf and East a bit to check out yours.

Skina · 11/06/2014 18:20

And yy to MN potluck meet.

BuzzardBird · 11/06/2014 18:22

Of course she is in Nam...Cheltennam!

Any way you could follow my DH around when he is shopping?

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 18:22

There was vague chat a while ago about having a potluck picnic in Central London, maybe Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens.

OP posts:
catwithflowers · 11/06/2014 18:24

Bonkers Grin. Only on mumsnet!!!

Skina · 11/06/2014 18:25

Sounds good to me. We could do it near the Memorial Park if DC tag along. Or as far away from there as possible if they don't. Grin

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