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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Desperate for help (Birmingham, Twitter, car keys, NCP)

406 replies

LostCarKeys · 04/08/2023 13:06

AIBU to beg for help from strangers on the internet?

I’m on holiday in Birmingham with three kids. I parked in an NCP car park on Monday night and we’ve been staying in a car park since.

We checked out this morning to leave and head home (Brighton) via Coventry to see my Nan (90 years old).

I can’t find my car keys 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
LostCarKeys · 04/08/2023 15:13

User5653218 · 04/08/2023 14:38

I would forget about finding the keys for now. Can you get to your nan's by bus or taxi? I sense that's really important to you.

Then can you get spare keys sent to you from home and pick up the car tomorrow? I know that will cost but ££ spent on an extra night in a hotel feels like less of a waste than ££ spent getting into your car.

Or sod's law says that as soon as you arrive at your nan's in a taxi the ncp people will call to say they have your keys.

Which would be annoying but at least you'll have your keys and have seen your nan.

You’re right @User5653218, it is important to see my Nan but, I can’t risk missing the key technician so I need to stay here until I get the call that they’re 10 mins away.

OP posts:
Usedandhurt · 04/08/2023 15:13

Op join a local fb page ie community page and ask if they have been found- if you can’t get access to the page then a local shop owner may well post an online message for you

Original poster
LostCarKeys · 04/08/2023 15:14

Wishimaywishimight · 04/08/2023 14:33

Don't dismiss St. Anthony OP, honestly he's come through for me many times!

Any chance you would have given a child the keys to hold and then forgotten to take them back so they could be mixed up with toys?

Absolutely not dismissing anything @Wishimaywishimight. No toys, well actually one bear but he’s been searched.

OP posts:
WestOfWestminster · 04/08/2023 15:15

Go on google maps on your phone (or your kids of DH phone).
Click on your timeline and then the relevant date, and see if its tracking your location so you can more easily retrace your steps.

I'm guessing you were paying for something when you got your keys out and commented that they wouldn't be much use.

Good luck

Original poster
LostCarKeys · 04/08/2023 15:17

tattygrl · 04/08/2023 14:34

I've added to the group St Anthony prayer!

I really have everything crossed for you, OP. Things like this are horrible and frustrating. I empathise with your feelings around wanting to get to see your Nan, too.

Something I do when I'm trying to remember something is tell myself "this is something you already know". I can find myself casting about for ideas when actually, it's some boring old thing already in my head!

Any joy on that foggy memory yet?

Thank you @tattygrl.

I’ve visualised having the keys in my hand but I’m seriously fatigued now.

When we walked to the little Sainsbury’s, I had a flashback to Boots so we popped in there but no joy.

OP posts:
Year12stressedmum · 04/08/2023 15:18

Washbag?? Makeup bag?

getting out car keys to go into hotel room? Maybe when looking for room card? That’s why you said it would be no good.

I’m so sorry this has happened.

Iwasafool · 04/08/2023 15:19

Any chance you have key cover on your car insurance. I'm crossing my fingers.

MXVIT · 04/08/2023 15:19

Im forever losing my keys, heres a list of places i ususally leave them:

  1. Hanging on a hook
  2. Down the Centre console
  3. Down the side of the seats
  4. In baskets/trolleys if I'm shopping (i put them in there which is daft)
  5. On the till when packing my shopping

Hope you fnd them!

rileynexttime · 04/08/2023 15:19

@ReviewingTheSituation sorry I missed that.

KittensandPerverts · 04/08/2023 15:19

Not read the full thread...can you join and check local Lost and Found Facebook groups?

BaroldBalonz · 04/08/2023 15:20

Do you have your car park ticket? Where did you keep it? Would the keys have started in the same place?

Winewednesday · 04/08/2023 15:20

Have you felt around in the lining of your bag?

Original poster
LostCarKeys · 04/08/2023 15:21

AHugeTinyMistake · 04/08/2023 14:35

This is a very good point re: having your keys after parking your car

You were trying to get something out of your bag, so you were not in the hotel room at that time either

So - paying for something, needed a tissue, tickets for entry, a lipstick, a pen

If you can remember what it was then you can hopefully narrow down places where you may have left them.

Show quote history

Yes! This is what I need to work on.

I have two handbags with me; my big ‘mum’ bag and my little ‘going out’ bag. They are both cross body.

I think, but not certain that I pulled my car keys out of the mum bag. They are definitely not in there now. So either they were in there and I moved them somewhere ‘safer’. Or I didn’t pull them out of that bag.

OP posts:
WWPPSLKD · 04/08/2023 15:21

I'd recheck pockets. I always check my pockets and whatever I'm looking there is not there, but then it teleports in there and I find it when I look again.

I once lost my work pass and was seconds away from calling the police (unfortunate work rule) and found it. It was around my neck. 😐

Winewednesday · 04/08/2023 15:21

Not helpful now but if you get key cover with the AA they give you a keyring to put on your keys with a telephone number should someone finds them.

Original poster
LostCarKeys · 04/08/2023 15:22

Vebrithien · 04/08/2023 14:34

St. Anthony of Padu, hear my prayer,
My car keys have vanished,
Into thin air.
Help me to find them,
This I pray,
Please reunite them,
With me, today.

Amen.

Don't forget to say thanks, afterwards!

🙏🏼 @Vebrithien

OP posts:
faban · 04/08/2023 15:22

I found my car keys under the car before! Hope you find them x

Coffeeisnecessary · 04/08/2023 15:22

Have you still got the car park ticket? Does your bag have lots of compartments it might have got stuck in when you tipped it out so you thought it was empty but it was still in there? I'm joining the St Anthony prayer, it's helped me many times!

Original poster
LostCarKeys · 04/08/2023 15:23

Whiskeypowers · 04/08/2023 14:24

I am not a member anymore as the amount of utter shit emailed everyday was ridiculous, but yes you’re right you do and I forgot that.

I found this on Facebook @LostCarKeys

Show quote history

Thanks @Whiskeypowers, I’ll try that now xx

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 04/08/2023 15:23

Might be easier to stay another night, get the keys sent next day delivery to the hotel (spares) and take the train to see your nan?

Might cost less as well - I feel for you OP it's so stressful

ScribblingPixie · 04/08/2023 15:24

Is there a local Facebook group where someone might have posted if they'v found them?

AtomicBlondeRose · 04/08/2023 15:25

If you were in Sainsburys when you pulled them out, did you buy anything? You might have put them in the bag with whatever you bought?

user1469908686 · 04/08/2023 15:25

Are they keys that go in the actual ignition or the type that just need to be in your pocket?
If so, worth taking bags/coats to the car and see if they’re hidden in lining or similar?

Thereislightattheendofthetunnel · 04/08/2023 15:25

Check the hotel linen department in case they found them when doing laundry

HeritageBlooms · 04/08/2023 15:26

LostCarKeys · 04/08/2023 15:17

Thank you @tattygrl.

I’ve visualised having the keys in my hand but I’m seriously fatigued now.

When we walked to the little Sainsbury’s, I had a flashback to Boots so we popped in there but no joy.

Show quote history

Be kind on yourself @LostCarKeys You’ve had a very stressful 3 hours trying to find your keys and worry about not seeing your Nan and processing and following the helpful advice you’ve received.

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