To think this is the weirdest 'thank you' ever?

[Grobagsforever]

A year ago a neighbour dented my car. My car is pretty dented anyway so I just laughed and told her not to worry, it's just a car. She said I was kind and mentioned she had some dressing up dresses she thought my DD's would like, I didn't really want more dresses but yes please to be polite. Dresses never appear.

Yesterday, (a year later) a carrier bag appears on my door step, with a note from neighbour saying this is my 'thank you' stuff for being kind. Contents include:

An old fabric zip up lunch box
Various GCSE revision guides (she knows my kids are primary age)
Old ladies size 4 trainers
One small dressing up dress
A half used colouring book.

The whole lot STINKS of smoke.

AIBU to think she's had a clear out and fly tipped to my house!

Pahahaa yes. Made me lol though.

Is it possible to take your rubbish bag over and leave a little thank you for your gift note attached?

@Ohnoherewego62 ha! I should shouldn't I

I think you’d be right.

You could return them. Leave a note inside. “Thank you for the kind gesture. The dressing up dress is too small but appreciate your thinking of her. We hope someone else can make use of it.”

Don’t mention the other items, just return the lot.

That’s weird

Why would she think you want that stuff?!

Do you know each other well?

It does sound like you have been fly tipped !
Depending on how well you know the neighbour could you take it back and say (all innocently ) ooh I think you must of dropped them off at the wrong house my DCs are to young for them books / shoes and I wouldn't want the rightful owner to go without them .

When I was a kid apparently my neighbour gave me and my DB toys & clothes quite often but my DD always intercepted it and binned it as it was always tatty / dirty / broken . it was also only suitable for much older dcs ( hers were about 6 years older than me ) .

Just throw them away. No drama. Bit weird but some people are.

people are weird! I like AdoreTheBeach’s plan.

I had a friend like this (old lady) she would find little strange gifts/clothes from charity shops for my kids.

I always got the girls to say thank you and encouraged them to see to the kindness behind the gesture... then I recycled the stuff discreetly at the next available opportunity

I agree with @Tlollj just throw it all away and forget about it. Very strange ‘gifts’ though

We don't know each at all really.

I'm not stressed about it, beyond the fact I have ENOUGH bloody clutter. Just baffled really!

She was probably getting rid of the dress then remembered telling you she would give you some dressing up things and then gathered up some other things she thought your dd would like or find useful. Lunch box, gcse guides colouring book.

I can't explain the size four trainers!

Leave them back at her door with a note saying I think you got my bag mixed up with your rubbish

Is she elderly? I used to have an elderly neighbour that gave me odd bits and bobs that smelled of smoke. I think she was a little soft in the head (but who isn't?).

I wouldn't return them, that could really hurt her feelings. Just put them aside for a week and then in the bin.

She's in her 30's/40's and seems perfectly normal...

Just say thanks and put it in the bin.

Definitely weird!

OP, just keep in mind if you get another little parcel of “thank you“, you may wish to think of ways to kindly put a stop to it as it may well be that as your neighbour continues to have a clear out (most charity shops are shut and as refuse stations only taking garden waste), she finds more things to give to you to say thank you.

30's 40's?! Yes that is weird I thought it was sweet if not slightly odd choices from an elderly lady! I like the first suggestion and drop a bag of your rubbish with a note saying thank you

Maybe she just felt really bad about the car and was trying to be nice but didn't have anything valuable to offer so just bunged aload of crap in a bag?

I'd return it and say thanks but no thanks.

She was probably trying to be nice and trying to think of stuff that might be useful. And remembering that she told you all that time ago that she has a dress for DD, and perhaps wanted to top up the ‘offering’.

If she’s a smoker she probably doesn’t realise how vile they smell either.

I like @AdoreTheBeach’s suggestion of returning it all with a polite note about the dress.

Agree it is weird though

Smokers (and their families) never seem to believe their household stuff stinks. I’ve had ebay sellers swear blind there was no ciggie smell when the parcel left their (smoking) house.

I have some books that I stored in the garage of a cigar smoker for 2 months, in 1994. Still smell strongly.

I digress. The quality of the stuff in the bag needs addressing, but I’d ignore the smoke. She’s likely oblivious. I’d drop it in the rubbish and make out like I had no idea it was from her. If she mentioned it, I’d say ‘oh Lordy, with no label or card I assumed the bag was left as rubbish. Why, what was in it?’ Interesting to have her list the ‘treasures’. Good chance for a confused head tilt at that point.

Just chuck it in the bin and wash your hands

Put it in her bin.

She won't know it smells of smoke.

I think she's just trying to be nice and has an odd perception of what you might like. Bin it, and say 'Thanks for thinking of us!' next time you see her. End of.