Should I just eat the Chinese?

[TrixieThunder]

I just had a knock on the door and when I opened it a woman was standing there with a bag. She handed it over to me, said thank you and disappeared down my drive. All I said in reply was ‘thank you’ too and closed the door. It didn’t really register until she left and when I realised it was as food my first thought was that DP had ordered me something (he has been out all day and has eaten with DS and knows I’m a bit hungry). I asked - he didn’t.

I opened then bag - Chinese food. Well, prawn crackers on the top at least. I haven’t delved into the rest. I don’t know what to do with it! No idea where it came from (definitely not deliveroo for example), or how it’s ended up here. Not a tourist area. Not close to the park. Admittedly we don’t have a house number as it blew off in the most most recent heavy winds and it’s not replaced yet. But each of my neighbours do!

So - what do I do? I’m not going neighbour trotting to find out the recipient so do I eat it or leave it on the kitchen service?

I'd hardly class it as stealing... I just wouldn't trust what's in it.

I’d eat the food 🍀

If you've got a local Facebook group you could have posted on there asking if anyone is missing a Chinese. I think I'd have done that first, although posts have to be approved in our local group so may not have been much help if it didn't get approved straight away!

@GreyhoundG1rl

I'd hardly class it as stealing... I just wouldn't trust what's in it.

Just Chinese food as far as I can tell (I’m not a spy so unlikely to have mortal enemies who want to murder me via a free takeaway), but I’ll let you know in the morning if I’m dead

Thanks @alexdgr8. My comments on this have never gone down well but as a Chinese person it makes me cringe all over when I hear people talking about a Chinese. I always naturally refer to an Indian takeaway, or ‘shall we get some Italian food’ etc. So even if it’s normal, maybe people should think about how it makes others feel.

Don't get why you couldn't have just said you didn't order it. Surely you don't forget whether you've ordered food or not.

@FiddlefigOnTheRoof

Thanks *@alexdgr8*. My comments on this have never gone down well but as a Chinese person it makes me cringe all over when I hear people talking about a Chinese. I always naturally refer to an Indian takeaway, or ‘shall we get some Italian food’ etc. So even if it’s normal, maybe people should think about how it makes others feel.

I agree.

*Ding Dong- Ding dong.........................................

Quick, hide, wipe the sauce of your chin first

my first thought was that DP had ordered me something (he has been out all day and has eaten with DS and knows I’m a bit hungry). I asked - he didn’t.
You didn't really think this, come on! Why would he order food without saying a word, even to ask what you'd like?

@FiddlefigOnTheRoof

Thanks *@alexdgr8*. My comments on this have never gone down well but as a Chinese person it makes me cringe all over when I hear people talking about a Chinese. I always naturally refer to an Indian takeaway, or ‘shall we get some Italian food’ etc. So even if it’s normal, maybe people should think about how it makes others feel.

Fair enough. I’ll be more mindful in the future

@GreyhoundG1rl

my first thought was that DP had ordered me something (he has been out all day and has eaten with DS and knows I’m a bit hungry). I asked - he didn’t. You didn't really think this, come on! Why would he order food without saying a word, even to ask what you'd like?

My first though was nothing - someone handed me bag, said ‘thank you’ and shut the door. I didn’t even consider it until the smell hit me and I opened the bag. But to answer your question - because he does sometimes when I say I’m hungry? Why are you trying so hard to dig holes in in - if it’s because you want free Chinese food I have to share with you

Probably very outing (sorry original ordered!) but: two portions sweet sour chicken, chicken balls, chips and prawn crackers
So funny that this could be outing - probably the most common Chinese food order ever
I would be a bit disappointed to be honest OP. I know its free but no rice? Chinese takeaway chips are always grim and are probably cold by now and the sweet and sour is the worst thing on the menu.
Call them back and ask if you can have a free duck with ginger and spring onion or some capital ribs 😋

Just eat the food. But it’s dishonest and you know it, but if you can live with it it’s just food.

Oh ffs it’s some prawn crackers not stealing money from someone’s granny

@ChocOrange1

Probably very outing (sorry original ordered!) but: two portions sweet sour chicken, chicken balls, chips and prawn crackers So funny that this could be outing - probably the most common Chinese food order ever I would be a bit disappointed to be honest OP. I know its free but no rice? Chinese takeaway chips are always grim and are probably cold by now and the sweet and sour is the worst thing on the menu. Call them back and ask if you can have a free duck with ginger and spring onion or some capital ribs 😋

I don’t think ever made an order that doesn’t include chow mien or egg fried rice so it sounded outing without those specifics

God I’m so jealous. I would literally kill for a free Chinese meal right now.

So funny that this could be outing - probably the most common Chinese food order ever

Surely chips is less common than some form of rice or noodles? And I didn't even know chickens had balls....

@blinkthreetimes

Just eat the food. But it’s dishonest and you know it, but if you can live with it it’s just food.

Oh ffs it’s some prawn crackers not stealing money from someone’s granny

Yeah I don't think its "stealing" if someone gave it to you and made it impossible to find out how to give it back. The alternative is to put it in the bin. Or should she ring round all the local Chinese takeaway shops and ask if they've delivered 2 portions of sweet and sour, chips and prawn crackers in the last hour. Hint - they a have.

@ErrolTheDragon

So funny that this could be outing - probably the most common Chinese food order ever

Surely chips is less common than some form of rice or noodles? And I didn't even know chickens had balls....

Maybe, but in some parts of the UK having chips with a takeaway is pretty common. A half and half chips and rice is fairly standard from our Indian takeaway.

I assume you're joking with the chicken balls comment

@ChocOrange1 and @blinkfreetimes - no, that OP had a point. I should have logged it 101 and asked them to collect it for evidence. My bad!

Not remotely jealous of your food, op! I've already had some from a reliable source, thanks anyway 😂

@GreyhoundG1rl I just hope you got a more decent side dish - I might be more jealous of your food!

No, your chips sounds pretty good, actually!

I think your neighbour has just started a thread on here about you.

Of they are both you, there is no Chinese and you are just bored.

I ordered some pizzas online to be delivered for a hassle free dinner as I'd been busy. Over an hour and half later it still wasn't here and when I checked the app it said it had been delivered! We have a road on the other side of town from us with the same first name bit but a different second bit of the street name and this is where they delivered it too. The delivery guy was arguing with us that he had delivered it to us, but then said yeah mate it was a one way road, which ours isn't but this other one is. Anyway, almost 2 hours later new pizzas were delivered. So much for a hassle free dinner.
Do you have another road in your area which is slightly similar to yours? Might have been where it should have been delivered.
Now I really want some Chinese food.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4300236-neighbours-stealing-my-takeaway