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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Confronted friend for pulling out of trip

135 replies

anxiousannie2022 · 20/03/2024 12:59

My friend, let's name her Mary is friends with Ann and Jo. I have met Jo a few times & we get on. I'm not a direct friend but I would socialise with her when with Mary and Ann.

Jo has organised a weekend trip this year. Mary got on to me a few months ago and said I have to go, last year's was so much fun. A Whatsapp group of 15 people was set up and all said they were in. I don't know anyone except for Ann, Mary and Jo. Jo booked her flights, Mary said she'd book when she had a free minute and I said I'd book on payday. Payday came, I spent 300 euro on flights. Radio silence from Ann & Mary.

I PM'd Mary to ask was she booking and she said she wasn't sure now, she's going to try for another baby and will have to see closer to the time. I was miffed as there was no indication before this that were was any doubt, & while I realise having a baby is a priority, a heads up would've been good as I don't really know anyone else going & was missing a good friends hen party to attend this trip. I also am aware trying for a baby is private so no need to share those details. Just a "I mightn't be able to go for personal reasons, just in case that affects you wanting to go" kind of thing.

Weeks later, I'm having dinner with Mary. She drops in she's going on a weekend away with Ann and did I want to come on xxx date - the same date of Jo's trip! I said no as I'm going on Jo's trip? Mary said "oh is that the same weekend?" Then said she wasn't sure about going on Jo's trip as it was a different group of pals and her and Ann didn't like them. They told Jo they are not sure about their trip, as both trying for babies.

I was annoyed as felt I could have been given some indication they may not be going as I wouldn't have booked otherwise. Financially, I could have done without a trip where I know 1 acquaintance and the rest are strangers.
I voice-noted Mary this morning - a nice message with general chit chat & brought up re Jo's trip. I said nicely, a heads up would have been good & while I'm not trying to make them feel bad, I feel awkward about going and I wouldn't have booked if I'd known they may not be able to go.

I got some long texts back about being stressed due to a variety of personal goings on, that she didn't know she would be trying for a baby, this trip was far down list of her priorities, she's mixed up the dates and her and Ann's trip is not the same weekend & nothing to stop me heading on my own or cancelling and going to my friends hen (at a significant expense now as can't get refund for flights).
I replied to say I was unaware of all that going on and that's completely understandable - from my perspective I'd been told a few different things and was confused but that's all fine.

She kept going and said I was told a few different things as there's hopes and reality and reality happens quite often for most people. Again I said I understand, but I'm not a mind-reader and could only go but what I was told and what is in messages and I have more of an understanding now. Have had no response since except a thumbs up and now feel really awkward and bad. Was it correct to call her out without knowing all the details of what was happening with her? I just feel like I couldn't have known only what I was told. I feel awful now. She is a very close friend.

OP posts:
SwingTheMonkey · 20/03/2024 13:14

They should have told you that they weren’t going. It’s was completely out of order to tell you you should book, commit to booking themselves and then drop out.

You’ve been totally reasonable in this situation. Of course they didn’t need to share their situation if it was private but to let you book tickets for a trip where you’ll know nobody when they knew they wouldn’t be going, is awful and I’d feel very guilty if I’d done that to a friend.

The story about booking their own trip because they don’t like the other group of friends, that coincides with the original trip and then apparently doesn’t, sounds very sus by the way…

TigBitss · 20/03/2024 13:19

They should have told you, but also I would never haven booked until they were booking at the same time if I heavily relied on them being there (I have been in that situation where I was only going if a good friend did, I booked when she did at the same time for this reason)

Picklestop · 20/03/2024 13:20

I think you were right to have said something, although it seemed like quite a loose plan and I think I would have double checked before booking the flights, especially as they had gone quiet.

Scaffoldingisugly · 20/03/2024 13:25

So ttc won't affect the new trip she has booked? Using a dc to alter plans and she isn't even pregnant yet stinks...

Friend2023 · 20/03/2024 13:26

Who knows you might become good friends with Jo or someone else who's going on the trip and you won't need to rely on these flaky 2 for friendship anymore. You'll have a good time either way if it's as good as they said it is.

ohdamnitjanet · 20/03/2024 13:26

I’m with you, I’d be bloody furious and I think you were very polite.

CatamaranViper · 20/03/2024 13:26

So petty! Why basically tell you you have to go on this trip then leave you high and dry?

That's really shitty and they both have treated you badly. It's the lies that are probably the most hurtful.

If they are close friends of yours, they should be open to apologising and making peace.

inkblackheart · 20/03/2024 13:28

She sin the wrong not you.

However Id go on the trip. You might end up with a whole new group of friends.

anxiousannie2022 · 20/03/2024 13:28

Thanks all - update! She responded with the below:

"Nobody expecting you be a mind reader. Any time you asked I told you what was true for me at that time and I just made a mistake on London (this was the other trip!) dates. The rest of time, this has been so far from my mind"

I responded to that with the below:

"That's all seriously grand!! From the conversations in the Lisbon group, I just got the impression everything was good to proceed with booking. I booked at the end of January, and I made sure to mention a week beforehand that I was planning to book then. I sent a text on the same day I booked in Jan, and it was only on that day that I became aware there might be a possibility you couldn't make it.

I completely understand that priorities and circumstances can change in life, and people have a lot going on. Until this morning, I wasn't aware that London (this was the other trip btw) was planned for a different date - I get that was a mix-up up but until this morning, I just thought it was the same weekend as what I was initially told.

I also wasn't aware that you guys weren't keen on joining the particular group of girls heading to Lisbon and *Jo had messaged me to ask about you guys heading with us. I'd like to put this to bed now but I just wanted to give you some context from my perspective/where I was coming from, and totally understand that this trip is far from your mind x"

No response and I fear this incident has damaged our friendship - we have never had any remotely harsh words before.

OP posts:
Autienotnaughtie · 20/03/2024 13:29

I'd be really annoyed if a friend did this to me. She's either thoughtless or selfish. Even if she has stuff on it's takes 2 seconds to say I've changed my mind. She had the mental energy to plan another trip so I suspect she bullshitting You. She would have redeemed herself slightly if she had properly apologised and admitted her mistake. But she didn't.

I would probably try to get out of the other trip as I would feel awkward going. But I would definitely distance myself from Mary.

Caroparo52 · 20/03/2024 13:31

You were right to get it off your chest as somehow by Mary and Anne not being 100% upfront about what was really going on you are now left with a holiday you don't really want to go on.
1.Go ....it might work out

  1. Take the hit and put it down to experience.
  2. Can the flight be used at a later date?

Mary and Anne are both probably rightly feeling guilty about this.
It's been said now . Just move on and enjoy being friends.
It's probably cheaper to just not go on the holiday and save on food drink accommodation etc.
Next time double check before diving in.

IhateSPSS · 20/03/2024 13:35

Can you get a credit note from the flight provider? They might not refund but might give you a chance to re book a different trip with them?

Soddy behaviour in a friendship btw! YANBU.

anxiousannie2022 · 20/03/2024 13:37

Thanks. I will go on the trip, and am sure will have a good time - it's just it's not something I would have spent time or money on etc. had I known the main people I wanted to go with it aren't going. I'll suck that part up but now just worried as feel I have upset her greatly.

OP posts:
therealcookiemonster · 20/03/2024 13:40

these people are not your friends

ditch them

PinkArt · 20/03/2024 13:42

anxiousannie2022 · 20/03/2024 13:37

Thanks. I will go on the trip, and am sure will have a good time - it's just it's not something I would have spent time or money on etc. had I known the main people I wanted to go with it aren't going. I'll suck that part up but now just worried as feel I have upset her greatly.

Why? She's being a prick to you. 'The rest of time, this has been so far from my mind' - she's trying to minimise your silly little holiday problem because she has big grown up problems like making babies.

A decent friend would own their part in this and say 'fuck yeah you're right I did sell this trip to you and then back out when you were finacially commited and that's a bit of a dick move on my part. No excuses but I've had a lot on, how can I help make this up to you?'

Scaffoldingisugly · 20/03/2024 13:44

Take it as a chance to make some better friends op.

OriginalUsername2 · 20/03/2024 13:46

I would be really disappointed with friends response. You shouldn’t be annoyed because this was so tiny in her mind?! That’s a new one.

Precipice · 20/03/2024 13:48

YABU to send a voice note rather than text and YABU to book without checking with her and possibly also to prioritise this get-together with some people you don't now well (and supposed friend Mary) over what you describe as a good friend's party. But generally, YANBU to be angry and to have raised this with Mary.

WhingeInTheWillows · 20/03/2024 13:48

I don’t know why you’re worried you’ve upset her, she should be the one who’s worried! She’s treated you very badly.

Precipice · 20/03/2024 13:51

OriginalUsername2 · 20/03/2024 13:46

I would be really disappointed with friends response. You shouldn’t be annoyed because this was so tiny in her mind?! That’s a new one.

No, it's a classic. Bagatellising an issue someone raises with you that's upsetting or annoying them is a classic dismissive response. "Oh, it's such a small thing, hardly worth a bother", but it's clearly no small thing to the person upset and trying to get it to stop, or they wouldn't be raising it, and apparently not such a small thing to the person responsible, since they're invested in getting to continue doing it.

MoscowMule765 · 20/03/2024 13:52

Op when you confronted Mary, did you ask her why she said that you must go as last year’s was so much fun?

It all sounds a bit fishy to me. You don’t think they palmed you off on to other trip so they could go with someone else and then the other person dropped out?

RedCarWithDice · 20/03/2024 13:54

Go and have an amazing time!! ...and maybe make some closer connections. They have been very thoughtless.

anxiousannie2022 · 20/03/2024 13:54

Precipice · 20/03/2024 13:48

YABU to send a voice note rather than text and YABU to book without checking with her and possibly also to prioritise this get-together with some people you don't now well (and supposed friend Mary) over what you describe as a good friend's party. But generally, YANBU to be angry and to have raised this with Mary.

We would normally voice note each other rather than text and the voice note was not explicitly about the trip - it was a general chit chat and I brought the trip up within it. I didn't check on the actual date I booked but had noted on the group chat I was booking flights the following week, and her last message on that he would book once she had a free minute. I took that as nothing had changed from plan to go, but I will more cautious in front.

When I brought that up, she said she wrote that during a very hectic few weeks after Christmas, when her child was sick and her husband was absent etc. I prioritise this trip over the hen as had committed to it before I knew the dates of the hen - but again, will be smarter in future! :)

OP posts:
misskatamari · 20/03/2024 13:55

If you have “upset her greatly” then it’s on her. She’s behaved really poorly and selfishly, and if she doesn’t like to be called out on that; should be looking deeper at her own responses and reactions. Any good friend would ditch the defensiveness and “woe is me, you’re being mean to me by telling me you don’t like something I’ve done” mentality and apologise sincerely for being thoughtless and putting you in this crappy situation. Such a lack of any responsibility or empathy on her part, jsut excuses and “I’ve not done anything wrong” vibes. Please don’t feel bad, you’ve done nothing wrong and had every right to bring this up!

Candleabra · 20/03/2024 13:58

I hate it when people do the wrong thing and instead of apologising turn things round like it’s your fault or act like victims