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AIBU?

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Original poster

I did a naughty thing, I think, and am feeling a bit evil

42 replies

NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:30

I'm currently feeding the pet of my friends, while they are away on holiday. It is quite a hassle, but I like them and they were desperate...so.
Anyway, a month or two ago, I gave/lent them a buggy, as theirs was falling to bits and they asked me for help to get spares - so I just said have one of mine, I'll have it back when you're finished with it.
It was in very good condition, but had some mildew on it from being stored.
I have an almost identical one also, I hadnt had a good look and decided which to use myself, but anyway now my LO is big enough to use it and we need it in the car.
So I have found that the one I kept, is a bit less high spec. I mean, the footrest bit does not lift up but only has a 'down' position and a 'further down' position (bear with me) and I always use a slightly 'up' position for a baby - which theirs has. Their child is much older and heavier so doesn't need that setting - however they are using it, as I found when I went there today, and because of his weight it is making a hole through the fabric
I am hoping to have this back to sell one day and a hole is not a good look - the people are great but not a clue about buggies etc and wouldn't know they were doing it. I would not want to confront them iyswim...it seems so petty but I can't afford to write it off.
This is about the only difference.
So today I did a Bad Thing. I took my spanner to undo the bolts and I swapped the covers over, and took their frame, and left mine in its place.
God this sounds really bad doesn't it - I really doubt they will notice but I just feel so underhand. I cannot think how I would have broached the subject without much embarrassment all round plus it took about 20 minutes to do, and if I had to ask them I would have confused them and felt terrible, but I didn't want my buggy damaged, and I wanted the footrest bit thingy to use for my child.
If I had had the chance to check initially I'd have given them the other one I guess - they don't even use it much, just as a backup if he doesn't want to walk etc.
They are away for quite a while so I had the chance to do this and now I feel really horrid and guilty.
Please MN condemn me or offer a suitable penance.
What would you have done?

OP posts:
bran · 03/05/2008 20:34

I'm laughing too much to condemn you. If they're not buggy people they probably won't even notice the change. Don't worry about it.

oldwomanwholivedinashoe · 03/05/2008 20:34

don't worry. they wont notice. good on you for having the guts. they should thank you for feding their cats anyway!

stitch · 03/05/2008 20:34

i think you did a good thing initially, but now you have doen a bad thing, which completly negates the good thing you did, and puts you well into the negattives.
i think you should swithc it back, and ask for your pushchair back. that is less bad than the thing you did right now.
i wont condemn you, as that is not constructive. but i have offered my opinion on your deed

Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:37

Thankyou, Stitch, what aspect was bad - the underhandness or the swapping? Because the buggy is almost identical in other ways, so I haven't given the a shit buggy instead of a nice one - it just does something that I need it to do and mine didn't iyswim, and I really doubt they will notice.

OP posts:
yorkishbirdy · 03/05/2008 20:38

Why don't you just explain when they get back? Just say you gave them the wrong one but didn't realise at the time so you have swaped the covers over and they can keep that one as long as they like.

I think I would be confused but put it down to you being a mad biggy lady

yorkishbirdy · 03/05/2008 20:39

Of course that is meant to say buggy lady

ElizabethBeresfordSW19 · 03/05/2008 20:40

I had to read that twice to come to my conclusion..... This is your buggy. You haven't stoelen their property. You have just done a bit of a 'switch' while you were in their house, for legitimate (helpful to them) reasons.

You are a kind-hearted village idiot and you remind me a lot of me. You are turning your life into an episode of the fawlty towers though!!

stitch · 03/05/2008 20:40

i think the fact that you took something from them, without asking permission. because once you have given it over to them, it belongs to them and you cant take bits off it without discussing with them. iyswim.

you wouldnt have taken the cover off the buggy if it was one they had bought themselves, so why is it different if you gave it to them? it is theirs now.....
okie, going now, coz ds annoying me now. he is reading over my shoulder and wants to know who stole waht, etc etc.

JustRose · 03/05/2008 20:41

its your buggy FGS, dont worry about it..however they may 'notice' the leg rest is different now?

Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:41

Yes that's what I was thinking Yorkie, I think I will say something like that when they are back. I hope they will just think nothing of it but I will feel ever blemished by having done it in secret. So I will have to tell them.

OP posts:
Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:42

Ah but I lent it to them Stitchy. Therein lies the whatsit.

OP posts:
FourPlusOne · 03/05/2008 20:46

I would just explain what you did and say you needed to as your DD needed the bits that they had and their DC didn't - if that makes sense. Wouldn't mention about the hole in the fabric though. It's not as if you broke into the house.

saadia · 03/05/2008 20:46

I wouldn't worry about it, sounds more funny than anything else. It's the kind of thing that would bug me too - my property not being used properly, after all they are supposed to give it back. I think in the scheme of things it's really not that bad.

Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:46

Thanks Elizabeth, what a lovely name btw
JustRose, I don't think so - it is a funny little switchy thing you use to adjust the angle, one goes a little further upwards inclined than the other is all...I think they have no idea it is even there, which is why it wa son permanent 'up' and was making the lickle hole.
They would not care at all but it is the fact I was in a subterfuge situation I cannot live with.

I think I was feeling passive aggressive about the animal feeding (their other friend who was on mornings, ducked out leaving me with morning duty as well, and they said I would do it ) and also the fact the woman was a bit ungrateful at first about the buggy - she was like, 'has it got a big shopping basket, I am not sure it will be any good for us' despite the fact their old one was truly buggered in the basket department and mine was plenty big. She didn't say thanks for weeks till they realised it was a better buggy.

OP posts:
bran · 03/05/2008 20:47

If it bothers you then just breezily say that you swapped the covers over between the pushchairs because the footrest on the low-lift one is better for older kids when you next see them. It's a free pushchair for goodness sake, they really won't mind.

onebatmother · 03/05/2008 20:47

lol at frantic spannering. I bet you were thinking, bollocks, they're going to come back early and catch me and I'll look like a madwoman. A klepto madwoman.

Tell them - you don't need to mention swapping covers. Just say you;ve swapped them bcs you need the footrest function thingy for your small baby.

Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:50

I was, actually, very frantic. I felt almost like I was on Spooks. or the crystal maze, lol.

That is how I know it was naughty iyswim.

I can't say I swapped the whole buggy, because, well the mildewy one was still a bit mildewy
which is why the cover swap.
That is really mean actually isn't it. I should have put up, or taken mildew along with footrest priviledges shouldn't I.

Meany meany madwoman.

OP posts:
Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:51

The cat will probably tell them won't it.

Shit. I am done for.

OP posts:
ElizabethBeresfordSW19 · 03/05/2008 20:51

I think that's the best plan really, say it to them in a calm, normal, cheerful, confident NORMAL voice, oh yes, btw, I just swapped the footrests 'round because my son needs a foot rest and a baby doesn't..... more tea vicar??????

Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:52

I struggle with normal, Elizabeth, as you may gather.

OP posts:
gracepaley · 03/05/2008 20:52

This is a very funny thread.
Am pmsl at your covert buggy action.

I think partial fessing along the footrest lines is the only way to go.

Was expecting something WAY more evil.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 03/05/2008 20:52

Yep you are.

Why you couldnt just ask them at the next available opportunity I dont know. As for everything else - honestly, its a load of hot air about nothing.

saggers · 03/05/2008 20:53

I agree with yorkishbirdy.

Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:54

But it would have taken 20 minutes to swap things over and I didn't want to have to tell them, 'Oh by the way you can keep the mildew because I like my child better than yours'.
It would have been hurtful, non?

God, looking worse and worse. Thank gawd I namechanged.
agh I didn't.

OP posts:
Original poster
NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 21:07

Ha, well I have now been punished. I was trying to get it indoors as the baby woke up and I realised it was dark, and I have now cut my finger on the damn thing.
That is karma isn't it.

Thankyou for all your wise answers.

OP posts:
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