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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:
Helpys · 11/06/2014 23:04

Thank you! It's always been out of stock on line, and 1,000+ Indian grocers in east london looked at me blankly when I asked for it. I'll try

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 23:04

I knew the word for the UK/French hawthorn because (jesus wept, will anyone believe this?) It featured heavily in Combray, the first part of A la Recherche du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust. He talks about the hawthorn bushes along the Estate of Charles Swann, where he first sees Gilberte..

I wrote my dissertation on it.

la la la la.

OP posts:
Helpys · 11/06/2014 23:07

Doh
I'll try asking for hing. Aga I make an awesome gujurati dal with sugar and lemon and peanuts- it's delicious.

ProfessionalProcrastinator · 11/06/2014 23:12

I love that dal Helpys! Thanks for reminding me, haven't made it in ages as I've hot stuck in a bit of a rut lately. Do you ever use amchoor in your curries? If not, get some it's dried sour mango powder. Lovely in veg curries.

ProfessionalProcrastinator · 11/06/2014 23:12

Got stuck not hot stuck!

Helpys · 11/06/2014 23:13
Grin Yeah- that deserves a slap. I was livid when there was a translator's footnote for feu folet in my French -English finals paper, because I only flipping knew it already, unlike the 'significance of the title of 'les huis clos' which was the only question on the play
Minimammoth · 11/06/2014 23:15

Joins in the slapping just for fun.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 23:17

sod off mini!

must get the mango powder.

helpys!

OP posts:
mimishimmi · 11/06/2014 23:20

I know quite a few elderly Vietnamese will speak French but most young ones don't! You yourself said the cashier only really speaks Vietnamese. I really can't imagine advising another shopper to call his wife for clarification especially if she hadn't written it down in Vietnamese herself (was he Vietnamese?) - she probably wanted it for medicinal/cosmetic purposes, not culinary.

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 23:27

I can't even begin to untangle that.

OP posts:
Helpys · 11/06/2014 23:34

The point is, I think, mini that random chatter with strangers is a rather lovely thing.
As this thread has rather wonderfully proved.
I will put amchoor and hing on my shopping list.
Night all!

MadameDefarge · 11/06/2014 23:38

night night!

OP posts:
TheTerribleBaroness · 12/06/2014 11:58

No! No! Come back all of you!

I was enjoying that. :(

AgaPanthers · 12/06/2014 12:03

or durian?

TheTerribleBaroness · 12/06/2014 13:44

Durian tasted ok.
And tbh didn't smell worse than the Camembert currently in my fridge.
And I know it shouldn't be in the fridge but if I'd left it out any longer it was going to have run off through the cat flap.

Helpys · 12/06/2014 14:31

Stinky tofu anyone?
Funny blog post here.
Boak
We went to a town near Shanghai famous for it and were wondering en route how we'd find some. When we got out of the nice air conditioned car famille helpys fainted en masse.

LogicalPreference · 12/06/2014 14:39

Trying to big up ones ego to a group of strangers on the internet? I am so thankful I have never felt the need to do that. If I did I would have to have a serious think about my life.

TheTerribleBaroness · 12/06/2014 15:31

How about giving it a serious think anyway LogicalPreference ?

LogicalPreference · 12/06/2014 15:42

Wasn't aimed at you Terrible

Fenton · 12/06/2014 15:45

How about sensing the tone of the thread?

How about not being such a wanker?

How about a nice cup of tea?

so many good ideas on this thread.

Helpys · 12/06/2014 15:48

I thought Logical was on the wrong thread, but is this serious?
Wow.

WandaDoff · 12/06/2014 15:48

Did you have anything else to say LogicalPreference ?

Or did you decide to post just to make a snide comment on a lighthearted thread?
I'd have to have a serious think about my life if I had nothing better to do than bitchplop like you Hmm

Biscuit
WandaDoff · 12/06/2014 15:50

^ Wee biscuit to go with your nice cup of tea.

normalishdude · 12/06/2014 15:51

You hardly 'forced' him to call his wife, though.

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