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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

CF Stole my hedge

492 replies

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 18:09

We live in a naice part of London which thinks it’s the countryside but is actually just a green suburb. To the side and front of my property is our hedge. It’s a mix hedge; Holly, Ivy and other trees. Our Holly has been very good this autumn and we have lots of red berries. I make a door wreath for my front door each Christmas, and I usually forage from my own hedge to make my wreath. So far this year I haven’t gotten around to it but was hoping to make my wreath this weekend.

Well, I returned this afternoon and there was a lady stood on my driveway with a large blue IKEA bag in one hand and a pair of pruners in the other, helping herself to my holly.

I politely challenged her, but she didn’t seem to think that she was doing anything wrong helping herself to my Holly in my hedge. Infact when I protested that I was going to make my own wreath with my own Holly she told me she had a business making Christmas wreaths and usually only made 10 a season despite huge demand because she simply doesn’t have the time but was willing to make a professional wreath for me using my own Holly and charge me £85. I, less politely this time, declined her offer for a professional wreath and asked for my Holly back. She refused and accused me of being bitter and uncharitable.

OP posts:
DreamTheMoors · 10/12/2024 04:04

My uncle was a true horse’s arse.
His “family discount” for us was a generous 5% off lol.
My aunties used to have a small orange grove. One day, they looked up from their sewing to see this uncle picking oranges left & right and filling bags with them.
One auntie ran outside and yelled at him to stop, and asked him what in the world he was doing. “I’m taking oranges for my family.”
He meant he was taking them for my aunt’s in-laws, people my aunties had met once or twice, but basically strangers.
Uncle thought he could just take what he wanted without asking permission.
There are people in the world so entitled, it never occurs to them that not everything belongs to them.

MaisieMacabe · 10/12/2024 07:39

Commonsense22 · 10/12/2024 03:31

The baseball cap man surreptitiously returning the holly is really a good plot twist.

Yes, it is! Although - do the sprigs on the drive match the missing parts of the hedge....🤔

BettyBardMacDonald · 10/12/2024 11:12

We had a family friend years ago who would gleefully steal materials from building sites. I could never look at him the same again after he laughingly recounted one of those anecdotes.

AmIEnough · 12/12/2024 06:36

I’ve heard it all now!!! WTAF!!!

Delphiniumandlupins · 13/12/2024 01:14

Now you can book a place on her wreath-making workshop and use your own holly. If you have more than enough for your own wreath, sell the excess to her to pay for your place

CannotWaitForSummervibes · 13/12/2024 06:19

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 19:54

DD has found her on Instagram. Teens can be bloody brilliant sometimes. Not sure what to do yet. Will mull it over

Can you tag her in a post saying you caught her stealing your holly?

Melodyfair · 13/12/2024 06:30

I don’t think this was real, the conclusion was that someone dumped the holly back on OP drive and was caught on camera doing it, but as I’ve seen said on here ‘pictures or it didn’t happen’ and there have been no pictures to back it up, which could easily be edited to protect privacy.

sassyclassyandsmartassy · 13/12/2024 08:23

12FreeRangeEggs · 06/12/2024 23:22

Errr I’ve just got my Holly back.

Watching Netflix together and DH received a security camera notification. Thinking it could only be a car thief at this time of night he checked the footage and we saw a man in a baseball cap walk on the driveway, empty a bag of Holly onto the driveway then swiftly retreat 😲

This is brilliant! Clearly in MN and realised it was better to take evasive action than be outed for such outrageous theft and profiteering from it!!!! Well done OP.

People need to realise that, in the age of the internet, CF can’t get away with quite so much as they once might have. Anything that makes they review their entitlement is welcome in this day and age.

Hope you have an extra smile on your face whilst making your beautiful wreath this year OP!

Emmz1510 · 13/12/2024 08:42

FlangeSprocket · 06/12/2024 18:32

Can you do a bit of sleuthing and find her through her overpriced wreath making business. At £85+ she shouldn't be too hard to find?

This OP! Guaranteed she will be somewhere on socials if you look up wreath makers in your area.

WomenInConstruction · 13/12/2024 12:54

Melodyfair · 13/12/2024 06:30

I don’t think this was real, the conclusion was that someone dumped the holly back on OP drive and was caught on camera doing it, but as I’ve seen said on here ‘pictures or it didn’t happen’ and there have been no pictures to back it up, which could easily be edited to protect privacy.

Maybe op can't be bothered providing evidence to doubters.
You can draw your own conclusions or accept the element of doubt. Does it matter?

Melodyfair · 13/12/2024 13:17

WomenInConstruction · 13/12/2024 12:54

Maybe op can't be bothered providing evidence to doubters.
You can draw your own conclusions or accept the element of doubt. Does it matter?

No

DangerousAlchemy · 13/12/2024 17:08

Bloody hell Op -what a CF!! Feels like a scene from Motherland (sorry -just finished rewatching it) Not surprised you are furious. & the way she tried to say she'd make you a wreath and sell it back to you!! Just wow! New level CF going on.

AmIEnough · 15/12/2024 07:34

DangerousAlchemy · 13/12/2024 17:08

Bloody hell Op -what a CF!! Feels like a scene from Motherland (sorry -just finished rewatching it) Not surprised you are furious. & the way she tried to say she'd make you a wreath and sell it back to you!! Just wow! New level CF going on.

I love this show!!! You are so right!!! 🤣

Packetofcrispsplease · 15/12/2024 08:14

I am now invested in this thread !
absolute CF of the highest order !
and someone had popped all the holly back in your garden ?

LunaTheCat · 15/12/2024 09:07

I am totally overinvested
Please move to classics!

Radoslav · 15/12/2024 13:06

@12FreeRangeEggs @Abi86 ----Post

Arran2024 · 15/12/2024 13:16

I too live in a very green part of London and we have a bush of some sort on our front. Several years ago we heard a huge commotion outside. A guy who did odd jobs for us had discovered a neighbour taking leaves from our bush. Turned out they were to feed her stick insects! She got hysterical, felt the odd job man was threatening her, tried to call the police..her husband turned up to calm her down and stop her calling the police. Meanwhile the odd job man wanted to call the police on her! We were trying to calm everyone down. This woman never speaks to neighbours, she was also convinced she had done nothing wrong. Anyway, we told her she could have leaves in future if she wanted.

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