To not tell friend where I bought something.

[GardenGnomeParty]

Three years ago we bought a common garden thing from a local supplier. It's gorgeous, still looks great, had lots of use and we love it.
My friend admired it but was then disappointed to be given a lovely but different one from her family. Not heard from her for ages, no presents for my DD last year for her birthday, I thought the friendship had faded.
She's now asked where we bought ours from.
I don't want to tell her.
It was expensive and I don't want local gossip.
Our version is unusual but classy and I don't want to share my 'fucking nailed it this time' style.
I have sensed 'competitive purchasing' from this 'Shopping Friend' family in the past, they do it with others and pride themselves on their great 'taste'. It's not healthy and we have distanced ourselves from them.
The examples they gave with other friends were best car, slow cooker, bell tent, dog breed, cat breed, mug manufacturer. They take great pride in their purchasing and like to buy the 'best'. It will end up all over Instagram and I'll have to listen to mutual friends tell me I've bought one just like 'Shopping Friend'

So yabu - tell her, share the joy, it's just a thing for the garden
Yanbu - keep quiet, wallow in your mid life teen cool crisis, don't share the info, you win the best garden thing prize, don't share.

Tell her it was Home Bargains but you bought the last one in the country.

Wow! do people not have more important things to worry about?

Tell her you can't remember where you got it as it's' lost in the midst of time', you've been racking your brains like mad but ... sadly, etc.

I dont think you need to tell her or anyone. You hunted for that certain thing, you found it. If you don't want to share it that's up to!
If she is truly desperate she'll find it on her own, or she won't, but I wouldn't feel bad about it.

If she keeps asking and you feel uncomfortable saying no just say it was so long ago you don't remember!

Petty an immature.

I don’t think you’re being petty - it’s really bl**dy annoying when people piggyback your ideas. You do need to tell yourself that imitation is the ultimate form of flattery...this woman sounds like she wants your life which is sad. I had a similar situation with someone years ago, following me around nurseries and schools, requesting our children were in same class, getting frustrated when my kid was on a ‘higher table’ than hers in class and demanding moves, followed me to two different ballet schools.....she moved her kid from Beavers to Brownies where we were, and then chased Brown Owl at Brownies when my daughter was working towards a badge that she wasn’t. She couldn’t bear to see our daughter have anything that hers couldn’t. I shared several birthdays parties with her which was fine, but I suspect the motive now. We managed a complete escape however they try to stalk online....We just laugh about it now. They can’t chase forever...make you’re own way and maybe put some distance between yourself and this woman as she doesn’t sound like a friend. Friends should be happy for you and celebrate your successes in life. They should be able to share your environment in comfort as it reflects you . If she chose you as a friend she should enjoy being around you without trying to be you. Attempts to copy everything are sad and a bit scary. Good luck!!

Tell her you bought it from a market in France or Holland

Agree!

Gahhhh I hate these threads. OP stop being a tease!

lol, don't tie yourself up in knots over this! just say ''john lewis I thiiiiink''

Who could argue?

Tell her Homesense then that will be the end of it.

“I don't want to share my 'fucking nailed it this time' style.”

Are you 14?

It’s 3 flying ducks on your wall isn’t it, 1980s Duckwork style

Duckworth

This is ridiculous. You are ridiculous to let your fringe on it go this far as to write on mumsnet - grow up.

I hate this kind of shit pretend you haven’t had the text if you have already responded ignore this part . If you feel unable to ignore tell her no you don’t want her to copy you 🤷🏼‍♀️

Tell her it was bought in Debenhams. Not much she'll be able to do with that information.

Haha, so funny!

First world problems!

Is it ‘a classy’ garden gnome? 😂

YABU - it’s a material item that someone else could get joy out of.

Also maybe they have been in contact because of the pandemic and things going on in their life - you didn’t mention whether you had contacted to ask how they were also?

Just tell us what it is fgs!!!!!

I'd just tell her. She can Google it anyway, and will be able to find out..

*haven't

I'd keep schtum

You could be extra petty and add yours all over social media before you tell her. Then when she does get it, make sure to add the comment 'so glad I could share this with you, we have loved ours for the last xx years', glad you could still get one.
Or is that too passive aggressive