Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think having to 'pay back' 2 paracetamol is very weird?

137 replies

bamboostalks · 29/04/2009 20:24

Had shocking period pains at work last week so asked if anyone had any tablets. Colleague (who has always seemed normal) gave me 2 parcetamol (generic now, nothing fancy). Thought no more of it. Today she says, " Sorry Bamboo but wonder whether you have those 2 paracetamol you owe me?" I was goggling at her trying to work out what she meant and she promptly reminded me of the situation. How bizarre is that? I was so miffed that I nipped out and bought her a packet and left them on her desk.

OP posts:
jujumaman · 30/04/2009 13:02

A friend at uni once left a post-it on my door saying "You owe me 2 1/2p, dont' forget!"

She also used to save water we cooked pasta in, once diving across the room screaming "saaave the pasta water" when I tried to let it go down the sink. And used to forage in all the bins at the end of term for food people had junked because they were going home.

She was an alumna of a top public school and her dad owned about 50 houses

fruitbeard · 30/04/2009 13:02

I once had a colleague say very earnestly to me as she handed over 2 paracetamol

"Now, FB, you do understand that I'm giving these to you as a friend and not in any way providing medical treatment to you?"

I was a bit ...um...of course I do, you're a bank clerk, not a doctor...

In the light of what you've just said, Katiestar, it now makes great sense (thought she was a complete weirdo at the time, though!)

I gave someone 10p for a parking machine this morning; they've just put all their prices up and this bloke in front of me was fannying around 10p short.

As DD was perilously close to being late for school I actually gave it to him in an act of complete self interest, in an attempt to get him to hurry the fuck up - when I came back out of school some 15 mins later (got collared by school secretary re. parents' association), he was standing there waiting for me and proudly gave me 10p in 1p pieces.

Bless, but I really do NOT need any more pennies rattling around in my purse!

Peachy · 30/04/2009 13:13

Ah no Nicks, my sister managed to get well off despite being an NNEB

She did marry quite well though, but in fairness only as their stingy natures suited; little things like not buying presents on Christmas for their DD because 'well other people will enjoy buying them for her so no point'

Sister even got angry at not being able to return to work at one week post birth; despite the fact that was not due purely to law but the fact she ehrself was in hospital after a PPH and her dd in NICU

We all vary massively in our priorities, eh?

Gillyan · 30/04/2009 13:16

Thats REALLY weird!

Gorionine · 30/04/2009 13:24

I once lent some vitamins to my polish boss. She came back with two packs of them the next day and gave them to me. When I told her there really was no need she replied to me that it is "bad luck" to not give back at least twice any medicine you had borrowed.

Maybe you friend has got this superstition in reverse?

Original poster
bamboostalks · 30/04/2009 13:35

Flippertygibbet I wouldn't say I am bitching about her. I just found it weird in the extreme. I gave her a whole box in return with a post it on it saying thanks and she has not commented on that. If you don't want to lend (give) your stuff because you are careful then don't. No one is going to rifle through your purse for a stamp are they?

OP posts:
LauriefairycakeeatsCupid · 30/04/2009 13:59

there are some serious weirdos out there

MissHooliesclassmonitor · 30/04/2009 14:06

seriously rich weirdos!

duchesse · 30/04/2009 14:13

< charitable reasoning > Maybe she'd run out and really needed some there and then?

RunningGirl · 30/04/2009 14:20

Saltire, is that really true about your mother in law and the cotton buds? If so, it's astonishing!

AnnasBananas · 30/04/2009 14:26

Fruitcake

iwanttolearn · 30/04/2009 14:58

YANBU, very odd.

wotulookinat · 30/04/2009 15:09

Maybe she is counting the pennies and was really worried that she might need them.

Saltire · 30/04/2009 15:50

Runninggirl - yes it is true. She can be very childish when she pute her mind to it. Such as when she was here at easter she bought several packs of cream cakes, and when the Dses said "ooh cream cakes can we have one" she replied "No they're all mine". She buys packs of chocolate and ckaes and sweets and won't let anyone have any because theyr are "hers".

PinkTulips · 30/04/2009 17:01

an old housemate of mine would bum fags even if he had his own!

after living there a week or so i realised if he asked for a fag you had to respond with 'do you have your own steve?' to which he'd eoften reply 'oh, look at that, i do'

sayithowitis · 30/04/2009 17:21

Going against the general feeling here, but actually, I think you should have given her the tablets back the next day. For all you know, they could have been her last and she needed them for herself. I think that to ask for tablets, accept them ( and their benefits) and to then be so nasty when the woman asks for them back, is actually very rude of you. It may only have been two paracetamol tablets, but clearly you thought they were worthwhile having to help ease your period pains! Maybe next time she should let you suffer! or maybe, and this is a radical suggestion I know, you could buy your own tablets and not ask for someone else to supply them free!

Original poster
bamboostalks · 30/04/2009 18:07

Are you that woman sayithowitis?

We are a friendly bunch and I asked generally when we were having coffee, someone else offered but she said she actually had them right there in her bag. I haven't been nasty, I have been amazed. Your post goes to prove that it really does take all types. I normally have my own btw and am the usually the last person to ask for anything.

She was quite happy to take a biscuit today though when I passed the packet round (Iam a biscuit woman at work)so perhaps this has been a one off oddness.

OP posts:
Flibbertyjibbet · 30/04/2009 18:18

Er, actually I think that posting about someone on the www and saying you think they are wierd, is bitching.

Am not a PA, I just keep a supply of things I might need and get pissed off when people say 'oh see flibberty she usually has some xyz'.

Or as I did in one job, put a pack of paracetamol in the cupboard with an honesty tin next to it saying 'paracetamol 5p each'!

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 30/04/2009 18:23

I had a boyfriend when I was young and was very impressed he had a car, he took me out for a drive, I bought us both fish and chips, we had a stroll along the beach, I was in love.

Until.... we pulled up outside my house and he started totting up sums on a pad. He figured out the approximate price of the petrol he'd used, then two cans of coke he'd bought for us, but reduced the amount I owed him because I'd paid for the fish and chips. I had to go in and ask my mum for the money.

He was swiftly dumped.

sayithowitis · 30/04/2009 18:52

No Bamboo, I am not that woman! FWIW, I am always more than happy to share what I have, including tablets, with others,but I do get fed up with the assumption that because people know I do always have painkillers with me, I am always going to hand them out like sweets. it is always the same few people who keep asking and yes over time, it does get a bit much.

I think it is somewhat different to take a biscuit that has been offerred, as opposed to someone asking for an item, whether it be tablets, spare tights, scredriver, whatever!

shivster1980 · 30/04/2009 18:54

YANBU what a loon!

AliGrylls · 30/04/2009 19:18

Hi Sayithowitis, I agree with you. It is annoying when people continually ask for painkillers etc and I am the only one that has some. However, I now have a tactic for dealing with them. Don't tell them you have it everytime or tell them that you are down to your last two then they will at least not take it for granted that you will have painkillers.

duchesse · 30/04/2009 19:19

TDWP- what a "Check please!" moment! Way to win the lady...

sayithowitis · 30/04/2009 19:24

Hi Ali, actually, nowadays, i am unable to help out on the tablet front because all my painkillers are prescribed and stronger than OTC meds. Obviously I don't hand those out! But I do notice that the same people who used to ask me, now ask one or two other people for tablets all the time. I wouldn't mind but we work in a fairly small town with several major chemists/supermarkets/drugstores as well as independant outlets, so it's not as though they can't pop out to buy their own!

bluejeans · 30/04/2009 19:28

I'm actually loving this thread - it's a bit of light relief and interesting to hear the ins and outs of others' offices! I also work in an office but we're all too busy/stressed out/depressed to communicate with each other most of the time - I always keep my own stash of pain killers and Kalms!

I think this person does sound a little weird - it's not as if paracetamol are diffcult to get hold of with most shops and garages selling them!. More fool her for giving way her last 2