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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shit gift

201 replies

15MinutesOlder · 11/03/2022 21:41

Just had my 50th birthday and my twin brother got me one of these

funblueplaques.co.uk/shop/blue-plaque/

I spent ages to find someone that could recreate a picture taken of us as children and then had it mounted and framed. It was his wife’s 50th a couple of months ago and I went halves with our other brother to get her a nice bracelet. I feel for a milestone birthday he’s got it so wrong, it’s like he doesn’t know me at all.

AIBU?

Should I say something or will the fact that it won’t be mounted anywhere say it all?

OP posts:
CBFA · 11/03/2022 23:17

I think that's really quite touching, bigging you up and celebrating you. Is.it the fact it cost £22...??

Original poster
15MinutesOlder · 11/03/2022 23:20

I love my brother dearly and we won’t fall out over it. The cost is irrelevant to me. Like a lot of PP have said he just missed the mark, I can see that. I’m still not putting it up though, it’s in a drawer.
I’m genuinely surprised how many people like it though
As for the people that think my gift was shit too, maybe my brother thinks that, maybe he doesn’t he has it in a prominent place in his home but who knows, maybe it only comes out when we visit….

OP posts:
PoshPyjamas · 11/03/2022 23:24

So - you think he was saying ‘Here’s a plaque, cos you’ll be dead soon.’? That’s what you’re kind of implying.

Original poster
15MinutesOlder · 11/03/2022 23:29

@PoshPyjamas

So - you think he was saying ‘Here’s a plaque, cos you’ll be dead soon.’? That’s what you’re kind of implying.
No, I think he didn’t connect blue plaques with death at all which is how come he missed the mark whereas the first thing I thought when I saw it was that they commemorate the dead (generally).
OP posts:
Silvershroud · 11/03/2022 23:33

Your gifts (photographs as children) is strange.It doesn't make sense. Which might explain the reciprocal gift. Throw it in the trash and forget about it, you don't seem to be a gift buying family. Is this a trailer for a Netflix original?

Sparkletastic · 11/03/2022 23:33

Classic downstairs toilet tat. Your gift to him was not tacky.

BridgesofMadisonfan · 11/03/2022 23:44

@15MinutesOlder

What do you mean when you say you had a photo recreated?

Restored?

LakieLady · 11/03/2022 23:49

@EdithRea

Does it matter? Most men are rubbish at gifts, siblings even more so. If you want things, buy them yourself. Surprises are often duds.
True.

My mate got so sick of getting shite presents from her husband, she bought him a plastic turd from a joke shop for his birthday.

AdultingInTheCountryside · 11/03/2022 23:51

Chill out, I think you’re more upset about turning 50.

Original poster
15MinutesOlder · 11/03/2022 23:57

[quote BridgesofMadisonfan]@15MinutesOlder

What do you mean when you say you had a photo recreated?

Restored?[/quote]
@BridgesofMadisonfan I found an artist online who recreates pictures in a stylised way, for example like Andy Warhol - it wasn’t that style but that’s the easiest way to explain what I mean - so I sent them a copy of a photo of us from the 70s, they recreated it in the new style and you can either print it yourself or they can print, mount and frame it for you. It was a picture of the two of us that our parents have always had on display.

OP posts:
RaskolnikovsGarret · 12/03/2022 00:01

I think I would have liked this, as the death thing wouldn’t have occurred to me.

It was my 50th yesterday, and my twin sister and I got each other what we wanted, as we told our husbands a few ideas, and they shared them with the other sister, who chose one of them, so it worked well.

Sorry you were disappointed. x

Original poster
15MinutesOlder · 12/03/2022 00:01

@AdultingInTheCountryside

Chill out, I think you’re more upset about turning 50.
I’m grateful for every day @AdultingInTheCountryside. Happy to be 50 as I have friends that didn’t see their 50th
OP posts:
StillMedusa · 12/03/2022 00:02

My DD2 got me one for Xmas with 'Nothing of note has happened here'
in English Heritage style... I love it and it is on the front wall of our house! It makes me smile because I love searching out heritage plaques in London.
Obviously not to your taste but I don't think it's a crappy gift.. !

Original poster
15MinutesOlder · 12/03/2022 00:04

@RaskolnikovsGarret

I think I would have liked this, as the death thing wouldn’t have occurred to me.

It was my 50th yesterday, and my twin sister and I got each other what we wanted, as we told our husbands a few ideas, and they shared them with the other sister, who chose one of them, so it worked well.

Sorry you were disappointed. x

We’ll have to do this at 60!

Happy birthday Flowers

OP posts:
RaskolnikovsGarret · 12/03/2022 00:18

You too Smile. Your present to your brother sounds great. I might try to do this for my DDs at Christmas, thanks!

BobHadBitchTits · 12/03/2022 00:20

I'm with you, OP. I think it's an ugly colour and if I got one, I don't have a room that it would fit the decor.

Straight in a drawer until it was found again a few years later and binned.

Ionlydomassiveones · 12/03/2022 00:23

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

MCbatcommander · 12/03/2022 00:24

I think it’s lovely as an idea, my next door neighbour has one on his shed and he’s definitely not dead

Notallcatsarenicecats · 12/03/2022 00:35

I would thank him and let him know you'll be getting someone to put it next to your grave when you die. Grin

mowly77 · 12/03/2022 00:42

Ooh I LOVE it. I actually have incurable cancer and I want one - might be a nice funny gift from me from The Beyond for DD who is only 3.5 - when she grows up. I’m going to design one for myself and get someone to action it when I’m dead; put it away for her.

But yeah I can see it struck a nerve if you’ve got a condition but also - men are shit at presents. Sorry they just are. Maybe you can ask for your pic back as it sounds like you bought him the present you wanted for yourself.

It’s only a present. You made it to 50, congrats and go make memories which are always better than gifts anyway

MrsClatterbuck · 12/03/2022 01:03

I'm with you op. It would go to the back of a cupboard never to be seen again. And eventually might have an accident

Bellagio40 · 12/03/2022 01:07

I’d love it

DrWhoNowww · 12/03/2022 01:14

Is everyone who thinks this is a great gift following the same link I am?

A blue plaque that normally goes on houses where historically significant people have lived?

OP if you’re a historically significant person then maybe it’s a nice gift, if you’re not it’s pretty crappy - it’s the sort of thing you’d give as a joke present surely?

mum2jakie · 12/03/2022 01:15

It's unusual and quirky. I wouldn't put it up outside my house though, admittedly!

Windypants21 · 12/03/2022 01:17

I used to call to a ladies house , always had to go through the back door/porch. She had one of these...I thought it was lovely. She was married with adult children, i figured it must have been a gift as she was so not self interested. As a gift...to me... it seemed a nice way of making her the 'lady of the house' . I do think its thoughtful. My brother is great at presents and I'm useless, despite agonising over them for weeks beforehand and want to give something meaningful. But usually ends up rubbish so I feel his pain

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