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Original poster

Inappropriate present, hideous bookends and me in drag!!!!

514 replies

confusedgoldilocks · 26/12/2025 14:53

I love christmas, and I love christmas presents, I got my best friend a lovely calendar showing photos that were precious to me throughout the year of all the good times we have shared, in return, and this is so strange, I got two bookends, which have obviously been handmade, but look like my face, but in a grotesque punch and judy way, I'm not sure whether they are supposed to look so scary, but they are hideous, I actually had nightmares about them last night, and on top of that, a smaller 3D figurine which is basically me looking like a drag queen in hideous blonde hair and a massive red bow, they obviously took a long time and I get that, but I wonder what they are trying to tell me, they have sent me a message asking what I think of them and I really don't know what to say, to be honest, Im quite upset they see me that way. Im just a normal person who loves christmas, I was hoping for tickets to see a christmas carol or something like that.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
IMissTheLittleBluePackets · 26/12/2025 21:52

Bigboldfont · 26/12/2025 20:56

OP, are you in fact a transwoman?

This is a good question.

Rubyupbeat · 26/12/2025 21:57

Just pay them the 300 quid, return the bookends and end the friendship, you all seem extremely odd and awkward and should not mix together.

Jane143 · 26/12/2025 22:04

I think they are quite clever if homemade! Anyone arty would be pleased

PleaseStopEatingMyStuff · 26/12/2025 22:05

I'm not surprised you're confused. I'm also very confused for you. I hope you will consider posting a picture of the bookends. It might help other us to decide if she was intentionally taking the piss out of you or perhaps trying to be artistic but failing miserably. The bust isn't great but could perhaps just be shit art.
Your brother sounds like a bully. He's part of the problem. And I would have paid that bill back straight away, but I suppose that's done now if your friendship is badly damaged anyway.

Grrrzelda · 26/12/2025 22:09

Even if you don't want to acknowledge witchcraft, there is clearly ill intent. Get rid of objects, pay back 'friends', block 'friends' and no further contact or explanation.

Manxexile · 26/12/2025 22:11

"... I got my best friend a lovely calendar showing photos that were precious to me throughout the year of all the good times we have shared,..."

Personally I think this on its own is sufficient to explain the bookends and the figurine. No need to look at the restaurant faux pas.

GhostsJulianforPrimeMinister · 26/12/2025 22:30

I can’t get over offering to take her for a meal but not having the funds to pay for it.

Kittenwatch · 26/12/2025 22:33

This is one of the strangest threads I’ve read in a while.

Kittenwatch · 26/12/2025 22:33

GhostsJulianforPrimeMinister · 26/12/2025 22:30

I can’t get over offering to take her for a meal but not having the funds to pay for it.

Same. Mad.

forgetfullarkspur · 26/12/2025 22:35

GhostsJulianforPrimeMinister · 26/12/2025 22:30

I can’t get over offering to take her for a meal but not having the funds to pay for it.

@GhostsJulianforPrimeMinister

Completely unrelated to the thread but your username is excellent!

BlackCat14 · 26/12/2025 22:39

confusedgoldilocks · 26/12/2025 15:57

yes but the bill for the meal I took them out for was £300 which is about the same as the tickets, although, obviously, they ended up paying, its such a mess now and I feel I have lost a good friend, and no they did not order them, they look homemade, my friend works with computers and has 3D printers

I’m sorry but are you for real?

You “took them out” for a meal, encouraged them to get as much as they want, including £40 wine, and then every single card of yours bounced, so they ended up paying, AND YOU HAVENT YET TRANSFERRED THEM THEIR MONEY BACK? Also why werent
your cards working? Did you have no money in your account? Or was there just a card error?

And to top it off, for Christmas you got them a photo calendar made, costing what, £30? But you expected them to buy you £300 tickets for a Carol concert?! Am I reading this right?

Howmanycatsistoomany · 26/12/2025 22:39

Rubyupbeat · 26/12/2025 21:57

Just pay them the 300 quid, return the bookends and end the friendship, you all seem extremely odd and awkward and should not mix together.

This. Inviting them out for a meal and not having the means to pay was a piss take on your part OP. Send them a bank draft or hand them the cash when you return the bookends and whatever the fuck the thing with the bow is supposed to be.
And your brother's a twat.

mathanxiety · 26/12/2025 22:41

What gifts did you exchange with this friend last year, OP?

What was the price range?
Were the gifts like the calendar you sent this year? Or more extravagant like theatre tickets?
Any jokey gifts?

What I'm getting at is why you read "Tickets to the show" into the conversation you had, and why you think the bookends are not merely evidence of being very bad at art?

LoopyLeela · 26/12/2025 22:44

All I want for Christmas is to see these bookends

blueumbrella2016 · 26/12/2025 22:46

people still have books in their house? what

Wonderlandpeony · 26/12/2025 22:51

I'm with you on this, and do think it's quite a strange present. Especially as they must know you well,and clearly should realise it's not something you'd like.

Howmanycatsistoomany · 26/12/2025 22:51

blueumbrella2016 · 26/12/2025 22:46

people still have books in their house? what

isn't that the point of a house - somewhere to keep all the books?

SixtySomething · 26/12/2025 22:51

confusedgoldilocks · 26/12/2025 14:53

I love christmas, and I love christmas presents, I got my best friend a lovely calendar showing photos that were precious to me throughout the year of all the good times we have shared, in return, and this is so strange, I got two bookends, which have obviously been handmade, but look like my face, but in a grotesque punch and judy way, I'm not sure whether they are supposed to look so scary, but they are hideous, I actually had nightmares about them last night, and on top of that, a smaller 3D figurine which is basically me looking like a drag queen in hideous blonde hair and a massive red bow, they obviously took a long time and I get that, but I wonder what they are trying to tell me, they have sent me a message asking what I think of them and I really don't know what to say, to be honest, Im quite upset they see me that way. Im just a normal person who loves christmas, I was hoping for tickets to see a christmas carol or something like that.

Perhaps they want to be creative, but are not very good at it yet? They are genuinely proud of their effort and don't realise that it's hideous?

Sweetbeansandmochi · 26/12/2025 22:58

Having seen the bookends - there is no doubt that present had ill intent. You are correct in that it’s a hideous present and the videoing you opening it was to laugh at your expense.

However, your dinner story is also bizarre. I think your friendship is bookended.

SixtySomething · 26/12/2025 23:04

confusedgoldilocks · 26/12/2025 16:11

this is it

I think I'm the only one to say it, but I think it's actually a good piece of work. You would need to be skilful to make this, unless it was done from a mould. If she bought the mould, that would explain why it came out looking masculine. The eyebrows have been done with a marker pen, and the details are crudely marked, but the actual shape is excellent. Like I said perhaps she bought the mould. I think she might have been genuinely proud of it.

Isayitasitis · 26/12/2025 23:07

bonquiqui · 26/12/2025 18:21

Deliberate mischaracterisation of my comment. My asking the OP if she had ever considered she might be ND was the unusual hyper focus and misreading that this was all some elaborate joke by the friends and brother. Which seemed to be unhelpfully missing the point and might have helped her make sense of why her behaviour was also slightly batshit

I never said I didn’t think she was also being cheeky, thoughtless and selfish too. I alluded to that further down in my comment. ND people can be ND and also act like knobheads

Show quote history

But that doesn't make it being ND does it?

That's their personality and you basically said that at the end of your comment.

Do you think only ND people have batshit behaviour? I am so tired of people on here suggesting every little thing off is ND. It's bloody offensive, understand that!

It's on nearly every post where someone is awkward, slightly strange and even to downright abusive behaviour. It perpetuates hamrful stereotypes and from the reactions I get to my comments, many others think so too. Think before you comment as I'm tired of people assuming that we all have no idea of proprietary or what is common sense!

BlondeBonBon · 26/12/2025 23:12

Regardless if you want to pay for the meal or not, pay half the bill for the meal as it’s the fair thing to do.

afterwards be honest with your friend. Tell her that something is only truly funny if both parties find it funny .. and in-fact you feel really hurt by the Xmas gifts, you feel made fun of, which is unexpected and unkind.

BlondeBonBon · 26/12/2025 23:14

Or just return them to her saying you find them too upsetting to have in the house

Or take them to the charity shop

DoneWithMen · 26/12/2025 23:16

FeliciaFancybottom · 26/12/2025 15:49

You might have jumped the shark, OP.

Definitely.

PullTheBricksDown · 26/12/2025 23:24

Transfer her the money for the bill, as then you've got the moral high ground. Do that, take the book ends to the charity shop, and just don't contact her again for a while. Don't react again about the present. If it was a prank, then no more attention to it will take the wind out of their sails.