Invited to a sparrow's lunch

[FluentRubyDog]

Having recently had a baby, I made friends with a neighbouring mom. We went together to vote today and she invited me over for lunch. We'll... lesson learned.

The lunch consisted of a kraft cheese slice between 2 slices of bread, crustless and cut in two between us, 5 grapes each, a custard cream and a cup of tea that just about reached middle of a cup to a generous eye.

She's categorically NOT struggling with money. Fridge was in the full view and well stocked. Looking at her you'd never guess she's sparrow minded when it comes to food. We both EBF.

Why then invite me to lunch? I don't even know how to reciprocate without either causing offence or spending 2 hours chatting, starving and trying to breastfeed? Was she trying to get a point across???

I’d be done with her.

Send her photos of the damage done, tell her you found it very rude of her to invite other people and eat all the food without leaving any for invited guests. Explain her family have ruined your sofa, curtains and expensive candle. You’ve nothing to lose really…she’s stingy, rude and doesn’t know how to behave.

Read the update.

This. No need to be offended or take it personally, everyone has their own way of hosting, maybe it is a cultural thing, who knows and so be it.
I suggest you take this as an experience and move on.

When you invite her to your place for lunch, you do your thing and give her your style of hosting which I assume would be more generous, so she can take that experience with her.

This is how we grow as human beings, being respectful, tolerant and understanding to differences and share experiences.

Best wishes

I've just read it. Scrap what I said earlier. She (and her entourage) are CFs and should be avoided at all costs.

You need to read OPs updates!!!

I'd totally do this. I really would. How incredibly rude is she?

@FluentRubyDog Why wouldnt you text her those pictures and a faux apology over SalsaGate?!

You have nothing to lose by standing up for yourself if you dont want their friendship anyway

I don't see what your problem is. You were a guest in her house, not a customer in a cafe/restaurant.

Maybe she's just not into offering guests expensive and overly stuffed all-you-can-eat buffets ....

cinnamonda · Today 09:47 *This is how we grow as human beings, being respectful, tolerant and understanding to differences and share experiences.

Best wishes*

<boak> where's the vomit emoji when you need it

All this scolding on the basis of the original OP 🫣 as the thread is trending again.

Honestly, the absolute CFery of some people is astounding. Once the tiffin stains are removed @FluentRubyDog this tale will become family legend.

So she is not a sparrow. Just a CF of the highest order

For your sofa have a look at Nancy Birtwhistle dryish clean method, here on YouTube.

Why don’t people at least read all your updates?

The sparrow has grown into a hawk, or is it a magpie that steals everything?

As PP have said, you have nothing to lose by texting her the photos and saying how upset you were that she’d invited total strangers to your house to eat everything before your own guests got a look in.

Be brave and stand up for yourself.

Well at least you know to avoid her from now on and you and the other two mums will laugh about it forever.

For the sofa, have you tried a baby wipe? Amazing what they can take out.

I don’t know how I didn’t see this story originally, but wow, those updates!

She’s a CF of the first order! Imagine that - providing such a tiny lunch for someone and then trying to feed the neighbourhood back at theirs.

At least you’ve made common cause with the other two mums of this - and a funny story for the three of you to tell in future.

My god, all those who are saying it's no problem 😡yes it is. Have you no idea about the rules of hospitality?

You do not invite someone for lunch and then be so mean. It's telling that OP says this woman isn't short of money - the well off are usually the worst offenders.

In many parts of the world (undeveloped and poor) anyone behaving like that would be socially ostracised. Hospitality is an obligation. It's commensurate with your standard of living to an extent, but people will even get into debt to comply with social customs. Also, if there's something special on offer the guest gets it, the family wouldn't dream of scoffing it first

OP's story is an example of our moral decay, especially her update.

Omg just read your update. What a c.f! Avoid that woman like the plague from now on. Block her on your phone before requests for help start up.

My god, all those who are saying it's no problem 😡yes it is. Have you no idea about the rules of hospitality?

I totally agree @Rightsraptor
We had some friends tound last night. I know they have big appetites, so cooked much more than I would normally (lots of pasta with meatballs and tomato sauce, garlic bread and two big (mumsnet) salads), and it all got eaten. I hope they didn't go away hungry 😰

😂😂

To be honest I would have written this woman off after she served me a Kraft cheese slice!!!!
Who uses Kraft cheese slices when you have so many wonderful cheeses. That’s pure embarrassment.

Surely people can’t actually think this is real!

I’m particularly impressed by the fact that in the five minutes (at a push!) the OP was upstairs, four adults and four babies/small children marched into the house, bypassing the other visitors, headed straight to the kitchen where they apparently had the foresight to grasp food was waiting, AND had left only crumbs of the OP’s taco buffet by the time she came downstairs.

With such military precision, they should hire themselves out as mercenaries.

A bit of embellishment at the very least 🤔

Wow I was ready to tell you to give her a break (I would have made a terrible host during my maternity leave, which is why I only ever met other mums in cafes) until I read your subsequent posts.

How incredibly rude! I wouldn't be inviting her around again in a hurry 😅

Well I suppose at least now you have the measure of her. The sparrows lunch wasn't just an oddity, she is an absolute CF! I wouldn't even have the audacity to turn up with one other person without first checking with the host (and to be honest, I wouldn't even do that unless it was absolutely unavoidable!).

Now you have kids though, that sofa is a goner anyway!