I have a couple
We lived abroad and had a flat in a holiday destination which we had rented out. We found out that the renter - I say renter, but he somehow failed to pay rent, but was supposed to be carrying out the maintenance in lue of the rent - hadn't kept his side of the bargain, so we decided to make it saleable then sell it. We were going back to the UK and would need to sell because of capital gains tax if we sold it when we were back in the UK AND couldn't afford the mortgage when we went home.
We have the tenant notice we wouldn't be renewing the flat as we were selling. Our DS1 heard we were selling and had always dreamed of living abroad, so he asked if we would let it to him. We were taken aback as his GF had a young baby, he had no Uni degree, the place needed a lot of work and what about capital gains tax? So we decided to delay our return, but ask him to pay rent to the value of 10% the market rate, they'd have to pay for repairs etc. We told him if we went back to the UK, we'd still have to sell. He was very happy, said he had savings and would pay for anything they needed as they'd be using them.
Off they all went, first the sofa was really old, so I told them to get another one and there were a couple of decent second hand shops selling sofas etc. They bought a brand new one - didn't want the DGC having to lie on a second hand 🤨 ok. A few hundred there. The oven went, but they paid for that. DS1 and his GF managed to get jobs and made a life, still paying a tiny rent. Fast forward a year, we really had to go back to the UK, my DH wanted to sell the flat, I didn't, but as I was going over to see DS1's family, I agreed to look into it. Before I spoke to an Estate Agent, I offered to sell the flat to DS1 for basically what we owed on the mortgage - £85,000. He said they wouldn't get a mortgage and they couldn't afford it anyway. The Estate agent told me - before viewing - we'd have no problem selling etc etc and would sell quickly. I didn't want to sell and I debated not letting DH know, but obviously I did tell DH. DS1 said it was fine selling the flat, that they'd need another place but not to worry. I made sure to tell the Estate Agent to be sensitive to my DS1 and not be cheeky with viewings. An offer was made, I told DS1 he said it was fine, just give him plenty of notice to find somewhere, I told him it would be a few months. I did ask him to go to the town hall and pick up the deeds - it was 1 mile from the flat - and sent sent him £100 to cover the costs. DS1 said he would go that day for them and drop them off at the estate agent on his way back to the flat. Three days later the estate agent called to see if I'd been able to get them, we needed them to prove we had ownership before selling. DS1 wasn't picking up his phone, so I called DS3 who lives near our flat. DS3 said DS1 was busy packing and didn't have time to pick up the deeds, or the phone. DS1 was flying back to the UK to surprise his GF who was visiting her family. I called the Estate Agents, they offered to go get the deeds for me on his lunchtime, so I sent him costs. I sent DS1 a message that it's ok, he didn't have to go for me but he'd need to send me the £100 back. He sent me a message telling me how upset he was that we were making him and his family homeless and yes, he'd send me the £100 when was paid, but he was moving out as soon as possible but he would pay me the last months rent - £150. He was very very upset that we'd decided to use our savings to buy another house in the UK that his grandma would be living in. That I'd ruined such a special time in their lives - he flew in to the UK to propose to his GF, her parents helped with his plan, picked him up at the airport etc. He didn't tell any of his family as he didn't want his GF to find out about it. We all live in the North West, all of us. DS1 said they wouldn't be coming to see us as they 'needed time to process' what had happened!!
This was over a year ago. They're both back in the UK now, living with his GFs parents and looking for work, he's broken the silence - yes, not messaged or spoken to me for over a year, I was forbidden from sending gifts or cards or even knowing where they'd moved to. I feel cynical thinking he's only on the look out for handouts.
The next one is an aeroplane one. I wrote the saga down as an AIBU for my DDs to read, hoping they'd have a good laugh at least.
Got the the Dubai leg of the trip- I was allocated a window seat.
I board the plane to find a lady sat in my seat, her husband was next to her. I look at my boarding card and then the seat numbers, yup my seat is the window seat. They both ignore me, the kind of ignore that indicates awareness.
Steward arrives directs me to the aisle seat, Erm, no, my allocated seat is the window seat. Him n her still ignoring me.
Steward informs them of their error.
Mr Seat man says summat like ‘Hilda, you’re in her seat’ still not looking at me (like you don’t KNOW????). I decide, you know what, it’s a seat I’ll be a big girl and take the aisle. And I suggest I take it. Not a thank you was uttered or even looked in the direction of.
I was a tad irked as Mr and Mrs Seat look like a lovely couple with accompanying manners.
It’s fine.
After the flight took off, a very sweet little boy of about 3 - who had been eyeballing me (can you tell what will happen next, no prizes though), came and stood right next to me, I had been smiling at him - he was very sweet looking and I always make it a point of smiling at little children. Flights are stressful enough without old bags doing the scowl face.
Mrs Seat starts talking to Sweet Boy - hereafter known as SB - and he wants to sit with her. His dad - I’m assuming such as he came and picked him up and passed him over me to his loving GPs.
‘Oh, sorry’ was his utterance at me, glancing at me. I passive aggressively hahed.
The steward came along with SBs food. Yes, passed him right over me again. No sorry or excuse me, kiss my ass or nothing. I was more irked.
I knew as sure as Mrs Seat was in my seat what would happen next, can you sweet readers?
MY food comes along. I start eating when Who should appear right next to me - no not Santa and 8 tiny reindeer- but yes, SB.
His mum appeared and looked a little ‘erm, what do I do’
How about, TALKING to me???
I turned to Mrs Seat and said ‘You know, if you’d just sat in YOUR seat, this could’ve been avoided’
Mrs S is now actually LOOKING at me.
‘Yes, I am aware, he just wants to see me’
🤯
‘Then why did you take MY seat? You knew before sitting down it wasn’t yours’
‘Yes, but I was upset’
Uncomfortable silence.
‘May I suggest the next time you stay in your seat’
‘I’m aware of what you are saying’
🤯🤯
‘But you’re NOT listening. This plane is full of people, you don’t get to be more important’
Her face than became really hard faced
‘What’
I repeated
‘You can have your seat back, you want to sit here’ like IM the Fetching problem?????
No love, you are rude, have no manners, are very entitled and are bringing up your grandchild likewise.
I started to lose it, told her I had 7 grandchildren myself and knew what a strain travelling with them is BUT if she’d had simply anticipated that SB would like to be with his GPs AND SAT IN HER SEAT all this fuss could’ve been avoided.
Steward came over and Mrs Seat told them I wanted my seat back - again like IM THE Fetching problem!!!
I said ‘I’m going to eat my breakfast now and calm down’ and put my headphones back on.
The end surely????? Oh no sweet readers.
I finished my food and as I hope I am a normal person with MANNERS was expecting a few soothing words of regret or apology from Mr and Mrs Seat or even their daughter Rachel. But no, Mrs Seat put up her table and instructs Mr Seat she’s moving. Didn’t. Even. Look. At. Me.
Steward comes by and she -Mrs Seat - says ‘before I get my tray SHE wants this seat so I’m moving.’
Love, if you’d spoken to me I would’ve been much happier to move.
So I laughed sarcally and said ‘yes, of course I’ll move’ ☠️
When I sat in my seat I may have said ‘Thank you’ terribly sarcally.
So now sweet readers, I’m stuck sitting next to Mr and Mrs Seat, it’s a tad tense. Especially as I’m sharing the arm rest with Mr Seat.
Sometimes I wish I drank.
I hope he’s been ‘clocking a look see’ reading as I write.
We’ve now landed and they’re talking loudly to each other in their poshest accents.
I waiting to get my stuff and a wee cos, of course, I didn’t want to disturb them by going to the loos. 🤪
The joys of my jetset lifestyle.