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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Builder nicked my candle!

392 replies

maiacam · 06/12/2016 13:50

Hi I had a limited edition Jo Malone candle in my downstairs loo that had never been used and has been treasured since 2009.
We have builders working in the garden this week and have come in to use loo twice yesterday.
Noticed candle has disappeared and it was 100 percent there yesterday. Both builders are acting normal and friendly.
AIBU to feel rather miffed. Haven't said anything DH wants to but I am not so sure.

Help!

OP posts:
RentANDBills · 06/12/2016 14:12

I find fancy candles baffling, but would be upset that something I'd been carefully looking after for 9 years went missing, regardless of what it was.

Just ask the builders if they've seen your candle, say it's very precious to you and its been moved from the bathroom.

Original poster
maiacam · 06/12/2016 14:13

I know they are expensive I only had one!

The reason I haven't asked them as I hate confrontation and its only a candle at the end of the day
I am going to go with the got broken by accident story I prefer that one

OP posts:
PlumsGalore · 06/12/2016 14:14

TBF to the OP, if I had a candle that cost £50 I wouldn't light it either. My bottle of Molton Brown hand wash lasted me two years because I wouldn't let anyone else use it. They had Carex.

TheresAGhostYouFools · 06/12/2016 14:14

How come you couldn't use it in rented? Did you have an overly fussy landlord? Mine doesn't care - when I asked him if the open fire worked his reply was, "don't know, why don't you light it and see?"
I love him, he never bothers us and let's us do anything.
Re, your candle - just ask them. I'd do it casually, "you haven't seen the candle that was in here, have you?" Keep it light.

DearMrDilkington · 06/12/2016 14:14

Get your dh to ask them if you don't want to. If there's the smallest chance they have stolen it, then it may magically turn up again if someone mentions it to them.

Original poster
maiacam · 06/12/2016 14:15

I didnt use it in rented as I was keeping in til had our own home I obviously wished I had lit it now!

OP posts:
DearMrDilkington · 06/12/2016 14:16

Candles will still make a small room smell lovely even if they aren't lit, unless it has a lid..

KingJoffreysRestingCuntface · 06/12/2016 14:16

supper , it'll be Father Christmas!!

Original poster
maiacam · 06/12/2016 14:16

What about if I am going crazy and dont know it yet and i have hidden it somewhere myself :(

OP posts:
DearMrDilkington · 06/12/2016 14:17

Honestly I'll come over and ask them for you in a minute maiacam! You spent loads on the bloody thing so you may as well find out why it vanished.

TheresAGhostYouFools · 06/12/2016 14:17

Ah I see. I agree with the bath oil metaphor up thread - enjoy stuff while you've got it. Off the point, but don't they go off or the scent fades if you keep them too long?

Floggingmolly · 06/12/2016 14:17

I had to google these candles to get a price range. I knew they were expensive, but... there's one on the Jo Loves website for £350 Shock
Do people spend that sort of money on candles??

I wouldn't burn it either (mainly because I wouldn't have bought it in the first place)

sparechange · 06/12/2016 14:17

Surely after 9 years, all the scent will be gone and the candle is just now a just a very ordinary candle, instead of a fancy scented one?

DearMrDilkington · 06/12/2016 14:18

Check your fridge, if your going to unconsciously hide anything, it'll be in the fridge next to the milk.

RubbishMantra · 06/12/2016 14:20

Grin user

Yes, it went to seek owners that would light it, and luxuriate in it's delicious fragrance and ambient flickery glow, therefore fulfilling it's potential. At last.

Poor thing, spending 9 years in a latrine,
Who knows the horror it must have seen.

Carrados · 06/12/2016 14:20

Bloody hell how did this thread descend into the OP's choice of candle.

Help her out or sod off!

Bluntness100 · 06/12/2016 14:20

Well, I'm going to say it's possible it was nicked to give as a gift to someone.

When we moved house I had a brand new bottle of a limited edition perfume that cost just over a hundred quid in a drawer, it was there in the morning and the removal men were upstairs and when I went up after they left it was gone, it was the one drawer I said not to pack and opened and showed them, and everything else was left in it as I left it. I suspect one of them stole it to give as a gift to someone. I never said anything either, but I knew 100 percent it had been taken out of the drawer as did my husband.

I didn't say anything because quite clearly no one was going to admit it and we both felt really awkward. It just seemed so shocking and bixzare. But with Xmas round the corner, honestly I wouldn't be surprised if one of them pocketed it to give as a gift.

Sammysquiz · 06/12/2016 14:21

OP didn't ask if AIBU for not lighting my candle. It's hers to do what she likes with - light it, not light it whatever!

Original poster
maiacam · 06/12/2016 14:22

Hi I checked the fridge and the microwave and the cupboard where we keep the pet food!

My DH was going to ask them this morning but wouldn't let him

  1. In case I am going crazy and don't know it
  2. They have another week
  3. Its only a candle
  4. They seem like good guys and I don't want to accuse them of stealing :(
OP posts:
Footinmouthasusual · 06/12/2016 14:23

Yes a candle that old wouldn't still smell would it?

Knocked off and binned is my guess. I certainly wouldn't have a clue how much any candle cost let alone jo malone/Emma Bridgewater over priced tat was. Grin

Goingtobeawesome · 06/12/2016 14:24

Just say to them you've noticed the candle has vanished and if they know where it is will they put it back please.

No need for accusations.

Original poster
maiacam · 06/12/2016 14:24

Thats exactly how I feel Bluntness - I don't like feeling awkward so will just carry on feeling miffed lol

OP posts:
GeorgeTheThird · 06/12/2016 14:25

Yeah I reckon they broke it too.

Crawl around the floor until you find a tiny piece of evidence? They can't have cleaned up that well!

DearMrDilkington · 06/12/2016 14:25

I was only kidding, I don't think you hid your own candle!

Your not accusing them of stealing, just a simple "hi I don't suppose either of you noticed a candle smashed in the bathroom did you? I think of of the kids accidentally knocked it off as it's gone missing."

Zoflorabore · 06/12/2016 14:27

How big is it op? Is it something you could shove up your jumper?

Surely if the builder was going to steal it he wouldn't do it whilst still coming back to the scene of the crime so to speak- why not wait until the last day of the job?

Lots of men do know the value of candles when they've either bought one for dp/dw after many a subtle hint or may have been shopping with dp/dw and saw them himself.

If the candle meant that much to me then I would have to say something.