To think this is a really fucking weird thing to do?

[SummersB]

Brought a cake into work the other day - Banana & Blueberry, it was bloody lovely!
One of my colleagues asked me where I had the recipe from and I told her the author. I’ve previously made this before and have shared the recipe with a few of my colleagues, but in the interest of full disclosure I had no intention of sharing it with this particular one because to be honest I can’t stand her (she is a higher banding - band 6 nursing staff - and due to a massive chip in her shoulder she makes junior staff’s working life a misery by being patronising and belittling at every opportunity and is therefore really unpleasant to work with).
Another colleague just told me that a few days after I had brought my cake in she came into work with exactly the same cake, obviously having google searched the recipe and attempted to recreate it. We had a bit of a laugh about it because apparently it was shit as she’d burnt it and managed to make it really dry. But am I right in thinking that’s a really odd thing to do? Who tastes a cake their workmate baked, goes home, looks the recipe up online and comes in two days later saying “ta-da, look, you know the cake you made the other day - well I could have made any other cake in the world but I’ve decided to look it up and make exactly the same one and bring in to work too”? Or is it just me?

You clearly get too much cake in work if you're questioning people bringing cake. Be grateful for all cake, that's my approach (also why I'm getting fat).

I'd just assume she wanted to have a go at making the cake but couldn't eat it all herself...?

Haven't either of you got any actual work to do ?

I think it is even weirder to be prissy about sharing a recipe that is not yours anyway, sniggering about someone who makes it and then posting about it on MN.

My ex MIL used to do this sort of thing all time. If I invited them round for dinner, you could bet your bottom dollar that the next time we ate at theirs, the same dish would be on the menu. In this case, it was definitely a weird competitive thing, not a compliment.

I agree soup dragon, it's way weirder to not want to share a recipe, then slag someone's cake of as not as good as yours then post about it on mumsnet,

The op is clearly so hung up on her hatred for this woman, she can't recognise her own behaviour, it's totally cringe.

The first thing I thought was that she sounds insecure - is she trying to beat you or join you? It sounds to me that in her own way she’s trying to integrate. If you want others to behave differently then first change your own behaviour OP. It sounds like a rather bullying atmosphere and your contribution keeps it going.

TBH your OP isn’t a shining example of behavior for someone with an NMC registration.

Yep, the weird bit was not sharing the recipe because you don't like her. And referring to them as your recipes.

No not weird. But weird to start a thread on it with such an aggressive title.

I don't understand why you wouldn't share the recipe? Its not your recipe, it's not a guarded secret. Even if it was your recipe tbh unless you were writing a cookbook I don't see why you wouldn't share it. It's weird and petty.

Making the cake is not weird at all, me and my colleagues do that sort of thing all the time "oh I made your stew recipe last night, it was great thanks" that sort of thing.

It's slightly odd to bring it into work, but not odd enough that it warrants posting on mn, and if I was another colleague I doubt I would have better an eyelid. I would have however at the bitching and sniggering about it behind her back. Presumably your over 16? I think you need to grow ip

OP's colleague is clearly supercilious and almost bullying to junior colleagues.

As someone who has had to put up with a bully at work for years, I despair at the people defending the bully on this thread just to give the OP a good kicking.

There are so many passive women on MN who call themselves 'non-confrontational' and no wonder, when one woman does dare to treat a bully differently, she's accused of being bitchy.

OP, I can understand why you didn't share the recipe with her and I would have found her burning the cake funny too.

I think you're a bit weird for not giving her the recipe, tbh.

You sound unpleasant to be honest, I don’t think your OP makes you superior than her in terms of character. It’s not even your recipe to protect

I know you've said she's not a nice person but you don't come over so great yourself.

This ^

In fact you sound awful, you and your mate maliciously and gleefully laughing at her begin her back. You obviously hate her and you're probably a lovely person normally but this is not a nice thread.

It's maybe not just you but i find it perfectly logical behaviour if it was such a good cake!

If this had happened at my work place, it would be seen as weird.
We had bullying arsey senior staff too and we’d all be a bit suspicious if they suddenly bought in a cake because it had been popular and just made by someone two days ago.
It sounds like she wants to be liked and thinks this is the way to do it.
As for only giving the author of a recipe, what’s wrong with that?
Often if I get asked about my recipes (which I have done) I’ll give the response ‘oh it’s the yummy scrummy carrot cake in bbcgoodfood’* and off they’ll go. Who has time to start giving out full recipes?
*fab recipe if anyone wants to try it.

Not weird.

Slightly jealous as we’re allowed only healthy snacks. Your senior can bring her cake here.

I think it’s a bit weird OP.

Not weird, you seem unkind though

I feel sorry for her, you sound very bitchy and she was clearly just trying to be accepted.

I think you’re being weirder about it than she is

You baked a cake, shared it with colleagues and feel quite proud of yourself.
She baked a cake (OK, same recipe), shared it with colleagues who slagged it off and think she's weird.
I don't think you come out of this feet well OP.

so in a nutshell you baked a cake. she asked for the recipe and then made it and brought it in.

1. Maybe she really liked the cake. be flattered.
2. Maybe she was really proud of her efforts and wanted to share them with her work colleauges.
3. Maybe she knows you all dont like her and was trying to build bridges

the fact that you and others then laughed at her attempts just makes you out to be a bunch of bitches.

It is a bit weird - a really short space of time, and the same cake? (I'll be honest - if it was someone at work who I found bullying I'd have, er, tweaked the recipe before passing it on, but I can be petty like that .)

This quote comes to mind. I know it's about Facebook etc but I feel relevant. I'm sure this woman is a PITA but I don't think you would have laughed and bitched about it if it was someone you liked or saw "worthy"

We all have people we dislike, we're only human but the sheep mentality of laughing about one person makes me sad. Maybe when she does things to upset others you should ask why she feels the need to act that way and tell her how you feel rather than passively aggressively withholding cake recipes.