Apologies if this has been done to death. Its something I'm sure occurs all the time so it probably has but I don't remember a thread about this recently.
I'm getting a bit sick of lending things out and getting them back dirty, damaged or in the latest case not at all. I don't think I'm being overly precious with my stuff (I've stopped lending out things that are special to me). I really don't mind if someone breaks something I've lent them as long as they apologise. Accidents happen.
SIL is forever giving me back things (clothes) dirty...as in unwashed. Stains I can live with coz kids get stains on things thats fine but not encrusted with food thats just gross. So I have to check through everything she gives me back and wash most of it before it goes into the loft.
Anyway thats not really the point. My problem at the moment is that I was friends with someone I used to work with 5 years ago. We weren't great friends just occasional friends who met up for lunch every now and then but when she got pregnant for the first time we became closer. I lent her maternity clothes, books, newborn bits and some baby equipment (most importantly my sterliser). She gave me some maternity clothes back damaged (ripped) and for some reason gave me back most of the newborn stuff before the baby was even born (assuming it wasn't good enough for her?) but kept a fab pregnancy book I had sent from america and my sterliser (steam Tommee Tippee one).
I last saw her in about March. A few weeks later I dropped my mobile on a radiator and it smashed to bits so I ended up losing all my numbers. I hadn't backed any up but got most back from dh's phone or just waiting for people to ring/text me and save it then. But nothing from her. A mutual acqaintence (sp?) saw her a few days ago and got her number for me. I texted and got no reply.
I'm so annoyed! I want my book and my steriliser back. To replace both new would cost £50 which I don't have. Ok I know I could ebay a 2nd hand sterliser but no way I could get the book since its american and weighs a ton. But thats not really the point. I shouldn't have to buy it again! She should just give me my bloody stuff back. I don't particularly want to ring her coz I've have to be all pally pally and I suspect the number she gave is a fake anyway. Do I just write it off?
Its not an issue of her breaking friendship/contact. I didn't particularly enjoy the friendship anyway. Shes not a very nice person and always put me down and made me feel totally crap about myself. So from that point of view its a bonus shes f'd off.
Oh and I can't ring her landline as she doesn't have one. Shes still on maternity leave so no email access afaik no computer at home. Her dp has moved jobs so not at email address I've got for him. So my only choice is to ring mobile no she gave me (assuming not a fake) or write a letter. Could shove it in xmas card? Once again don't particularly want to encourage reunion of friendship (I don't want to sound a bitch here re this but this persons really not very nice...info if you want it but wasn't sure it was relevent?)
Oh and she might have more of my stuff like more newborn stuff but I'm not sure and tbh I don't really care about that. I'm 20 weeks pregnant with no3 child so I do need these things back. Book most upsetting as it was a week by week guide with pics etc which my 4yo would love as shes so excited about the baby.
So, sorry its so long, but AIBU to want these 2 things back?