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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:
Roryno · 06/12/2024 23:31

How funny!
Do we think the thief lady is a mumsnetter who has seen this thread and realised that people have worked out what her business is?

WickedWitchOfTheEast87 · 06/12/2024 23:33

OMG what a CF of the highest order!! I don't think I'll be picking my jaw up off the floor until after Christmas! 😱😱😱

@12FreeRangeEggs I would have bloody snatched that bag off her but at least you got the holly back. However please out this thieving cheeky fucker think of it as cheeky fucker karma 🤣

WearyAuldWumman · 06/12/2024 23:33

Roryno · 06/12/2024 23:31

How funny!
Do we think the thief lady is a mumsnetter who has seen this thread and realised that people have worked out what her business is?

Yup!

BeensOnToost · 06/12/2024 23:34

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 😲

Sounds like her husband has had words with her...

WearyAuldWumman · 06/12/2024 23:34

WearyAuldWumman · 06/12/2024 23:33

Yup!

Wisnae me! I've got my own holly and I live in Scotland.

Mind you...I would say that, wouldn't I?

Roryno · 06/12/2024 23:36

BeensOnToost · 06/12/2024 23:34

Sounds like her husband has had words with her...

I doubt it, he was probably sent out to return it when she realised loads of Mumsnetters were working out who she was/what her business is.

SnoopySantaPaws · 06/12/2024 23:37

OldJohn · 06/12/2024 18:22

As the thief was still at the scene a quick response from the police would have her apprehended and charged. If she still had the secateurs and the holly that is adequate proof that she intended to steal.
If catching a thief is not the police’s job I’m not sure what their job is.

Bloody hell, you were actually serious?! I assumed you were joking.

SleepPrettyDarling · 06/12/2024 23:37

You can’t exactly stick the holly sprigs and berries back on. What are you going to do now??

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 06/12/2024 23:38

There’s some lovely holly (with loads and loads of berries) on a bush near my work. I was going to pinch a sprig (literally to put in my house and only one). This has made me realise that it actually belongs to someone and I feel awful!!! I’m probably going to get shot down and I’ll take it! I just didn’t think for one moment the owner would mind!!!! So if nothing else happens regarding yours being stolen (and that’s exactly what it is!!), you’re stopped someone else from doing the same!! Going to sleep now and think about how I need to rewire my mind!! Thankyou!!

BeensOnToost · 06/12/2024 23:39

Roryno · 06/12/2024 23:36

I doubt it, he was probably sent out to return it when she realised loads of Mumsnetters were working out who she was/what her business is.

Surely it would be more damaging to her if that was the case. If she wanted to repair her rep she would need to send a free wreath and a lengthy apology.

I'd still track her down and tag her implying that you've used strong pesticides on your Holly and they should not be handled or placed indoors die to the risk to human health so anyone buying a wreath should vet their supplier...

Mostlyoblivious · 06/12/2024 23:50

😂 is she one of the 2% who voted YABU do you think!?

You know what, she’s obviously realised she’s in the wrong - not as good as her apologising however it’s some form of contrition.

I would thank your daughter for this - if she hadn’t cracked the case your boughs would be bare!

WearyAuldWumman · 06/12/2024 23:56

Mostlyoblivious · 06/12/2024 23:50

😂 is she one of the 2% who voted YABU do you think!?

You know what, she’s obviously realised she’s in the wrong - not as good as her apologising however it’s some form of contrition.

I would thank your daughter for this - if she hadn’t cracked the case your boughs would be bare!

I'm more cynical than you. There's no contrition, in my view: she's just scared of bad publicity.

Has anyone made a thread about making wreaths on here?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 06/12/2024 23:56

I think she must be a MNetter who found this thread and the bit about your dd finding her Instagram. It’s the only explanation!

murasaki · 06/12/2024 23:57

She must be a mumsnetter to have returned it. My guess was Richmond. Shes a cheeky mofo and no mistake.

murasaki · 06/12/2024 23:58

SleepPrettyDarling · 06/12/2024 23:37

You can’t exactly stick the holly sprigs and berries back on. What are you going to do now??

Taking them to the cheeky fucker's wreath making class would be a funny move....

BrightOrangeDahlias · 07/12/2024 00:00

SleepPrettyDarling · 06/12/2024 23:37

You can’t exactly stick the holly sprigs and berries back on. What are you going to do now??

Make some wreaths and sell them for £80...?

Merryoldgoat · 07/12/2024 00:48

This has genuinely been one of my favourite threads ever 👏🏽👏🏽

WearyAuldWumman · 07/12/2024 00:51

Merryoldgoat · 07/12/2024 00:48

This has genuinely been one of my favourite threads ever 👏🏽👏🏽

Agreed. Such a satisfying read...but I want to know who the culprit is. Oh, if only there were a way of knowing who had read a thread!

DiscoBeat · 07/12/2024 01:02

OldJohn · 06/12/2024 18:17

An imediate 999 call and get the police to deal with the thief.

😂
'999, What is your emergency?'
'A woman has snipped my holly bush with her secateurs'
'Hold tight, we're sending an officer right now'

But yes, it's extremely cheeky!!

PyongyangKipperbang · 07/12/2024 01:04

Could your DD have sneakily let her know via insta (following her? Liking her vid or whatever? Dont know how insta works) that you found her so she got spooked and sent her poor DH or DS to put it back?

CatDays · 07/12/2024 01:06

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 06/12/2024 23:38

There’s some lovely holly (with loads and loads of berries) on a bush near my work. I was going to pinch a sprig (literally to put in my house and only one). This has made me realise that it actually belongs to someone and I feel awful!!! I’m probably going to get shot down and I’ll take it! I just didn’t think for one moment the owner would mind!!!! So if nothing else happens regarding yours being stolen (and that’s exactly what it is!!), you’re stopped someone else from doing the same!! Going to sleep now and think about how I need to rewire my mind!! Thankyou!!

Bless you.

Thunderpants88 · 07/12/2024 01:10

This will go down in mumsnet history

Amybelle88 · 07/12/2024 01:37

Havalona · 06/12/2024 19:13

We need to see a picture of the hedge. Before and after the misappropriation.

I am falling around in stitches of laughter at the amount of dander that's up in this thread over a few branches of holly. I'm sure there's tons left for OP. I won't believe there isn't unless I see a pic of the damage, then I shall be chastened into silence.

There are so many more things to get mad about. This ain't one of them.

All you lot are short of doing is calling for a firing squad. Typical self righteous mumsnetters. So over the top with reactions.

'Over the top with reactions' and yet here you are saying you're falling about in stitches at this thread.

I'd put good money on it that you were not in fact falling about in stitches.

SlimeSuspect · 07/12/2024 02:54

This is up there with the gooseberry CF lady who trespassed on the OP (of that thread’s) land. She was furious that she couldn’t pilfer gooseberries for her dinner party guests

Abi86 · 07/12/2024 03:11

Did she use foliage you had planned to use or damage your plants in any meaningful way? If not, I couldn’t be arsed.