Looking after neighbours suitcase

[ShakyBake]

Neighbour of ours, friendly known her for about 7 years is off on holiday next week.
We were talking about it over the wall yesterday and informed me she will be taking 3 cases and would it be ok if I keep the suitcases (packed) in my living room until the morning she gets picked up. I said yes of course and didn't ask why. My husband doesn't understand why we need to keep them here. I said don't be silly we are neighbours and it's the right thing to do. That's not unreasonable is it?

😂😂😂

I’ve a couple of older relatives like this. They don’t want to be seen leaving their house with cases. They think people are watching and waiting to rob them while on holiday.
if they leave without bags then they might be back at any time.

Your husband is right. Why would you agree to such a bizarre request? I've lived next door to my neighbours for 30 years, we have a quick chat if we see each other, I'd think they'd gone totally mad if they asked me to keep their suitcases!

That is very, very weird.

Is she a celebrity? Who else needs three suitcases for a holiday?

Yabu, I'm with your husband.

I'm afraid I listen to too many crime podcasts and my mind went to she has drugs in them, and is going to frame you in case she gets caught.

But seriously, I wouldn't be wanting someone elses packed cases in my lounge for a week, I like to keep it tidy and they would bug me being there.

She needs to just keep them in her own house, its a strange request

I would tell her no - she will be asked at the airport if the cases have been with her all the time. Plus no way would I risk doing that - who knows what is on them. Bizarre request!!

That's a possibility; or it could be kind of similar but less dramatic. If her DH always complains that she packs too much and wants to go through her packing to question every item as to why she needs to take it, she might just be thinking that she can pack whatever she wants, get it out of his view, and then, once the taxi/coach arrives in the morning, it will be much too late for him to start quibbling her luggage.

It’s a no from me (overactive imagination and I’m imagining she’s a drugs mule - not unheard of at 70 believe it or not). Or just strange (in which case she would have given you a reason). Did you not ask why??

Suitcase subculture. Next in our series of ‘new cultural insights’, courtesy of Mumsnet 🔎

Generally speaking - if someone asks you to do something ridiculous your first question should be 'Why?'. Not 'oh yeah, sure, I'll do that really stupid thing you're suggesting and no of course I won't ask any questions. I'll just do it'.
Are you fully in possession of your faculties OP?

This is so funny

It's definitely an odd (and slightly cheeky IMO) request... but a blazing row is also a major overreaction.

🤣🤣🤣

I'm 68 and your neighbour is fucking weird or up to something dodgy!

I wondered this too. Is she maybe one of these people who cannot stand the appalling untidiness of a stray teaspoon on the side, so the idea of three cases in her living room - even just overnight and obviously there for a purpose - fills her with horror?!

Either that or she knows she always procrastinates and leaves her packing until the very last minute, so she reasons that, if she sets a firm deadline and forces herself to have it all completely ready for the night before and then temporarily inaccessible to her, she draws a line under it in good time and can then relax without stress for the last night.

But actually IS a blazing row an overreaction? Because if my husband, say, said 'Oh, I've agreed that the farmer's donkey can live in our bathroom for a week starting Monday' then that's the same level of stupid and yes, there would be a blazing bloody row!

This is very strange. As others have said is she running away from an abusive partner at the age of 70?

I’ve stored a couple of large Christmas/birthday presses for neighbour but only about 3 in 20 years

you need to find out her thoughts behind this and let us know

I do wish you'd come back and explain the bit about her being in 70s. I am in my 70s too and I'm completely puzzled by it. Do you think 70+ people are harmless, so she couldn't possibly be a gun runner or a drug mule? Oh yes she could. Have you seen how troublesome my generation is: chucking stuff over paintings, blocking roads, bedecking themselves in keffiyah to shout at more rational people? Those suitcases could bring you a whole world of grief.

My mother is in her 70's and going on holiday is such a fucking weird thing for her.

She is almost certainly ND (where the rest of us get it from). She has decided that she loves holidays, probably because her parents genuinely did and she wants to be like them as that is "how things should be done". She makes a huge deal out of holidays. The reality is that packing, preparing etc gets her so stressed and she goes totally OTT. There was one holiday where my sister had to help her with packing as she couldnt fit the 48 (yes you read that right) tops into her case for a 10 day holiday. DSis managed to get her down to 27. Then she is like a cat on a hot tin roof the whole time they are away, all she is doing is counting down to when they go home. Father has tried to talk her out of holidays but she wont back down because she "enjoys its" except she doesnt and neither does he.

After her case is packed the day before she is like a caged lion, prowling the house and getting more and more stressed. If my father puts the cases in the garage (neither can drive anymore) then she is a lot less stressed because the reminder isnt there anymore. She is starting with dementia but she has been like this as long as I can remember, DSis and dreaded holidays due to how she would be at times.

So maybe it is something like that. Three cases seems a lot, and sounds like something Mother would do so I am definitely feeling a similarity.

Just here for the update

Not unreasonable at all. I'm just surprised at your lack of curiosity.

The amazing thing is, several of the very different scenarios suggested all seem to have some plausibility!

This seems more plausible than something dodgy?

Unless shes off on some deluxe cruise, why 3 suitcases. At 70, im baffled as to why shed want them stored at yours, or she could be a gangsta granny drug lord??