A friend invited guests to our cottage for her birthday without asking for permission
Six years ago, my wife and I bought a cosy little cottage in the countryside. We handled all the renovations ourselves, tidied up the garden, and tried to make it out there every weekend or at least every other week.
We didnt really set up a full vegetable patchjust a small bed with cucumbers, tomatoes, some herbs, onions, courgettes, and peppers. So, only the essentials really, and only in little amounts.
The previous owners had left us a garden full of raspberry bushes, various currants, and plenty of strawberry plants. Most summers, we’d end up with an abundance of fruit and Id bring some into work to share with my colleagues, which always went down a treat.
This year, a woman named Ann joined our office from another department. She seemed perfectly pleasant and well-mannered. That just happened to be on a day Id brought in some strawberries, so naturally, I offered her a few.
She ate them and began praising how delicious they were. Then she started asking about where Id got them and what our cottage was like. I was quite happy to chat about it all.
A few days later, Ann approached me and asked if she could have the keys to our cottageher daughter apparently wanted to spend a few weeks there with her children, so they could enjoy some fresh air. She explained that since my wife and I werent planning on going up that week anyway, and because her daughter was on maternity leave, it would be the perfect opportunity for her to get away from the busyness of London.
I refused, of course. Ann looked quite put out by this, but thankfully didnt pester me about it further.
Two weeks later, another woman from the same department stopped me at work and asked for directions to our cottage. Naturally, I wanted to know why on earth she needed them.
She explained that Ann had invited her and several other colleagues around for a birthday party at our cottageapparently everyone was expected to get there on their own.
I was absolutely stunned.
I confronted Ann, asking what she thought she was playing at.
Whats the problem? she replied with an innocent smile. Its only for my birthdayjust one day. Nobodys going to move in or anything. You dont mind, do you?
Actually, I did mind. I minded because of all the hard work Id put into the place, and because I had no idea what a group of people might do to the lawn, the flowerbeds, the fruit bushes, or the cottage itself.
Moreover, she hadnt even bothered to ask me, let alone invite me to the party.
Again, I said no, and once again, she took offence.
So be it. Im not bothered. For years Ive shared fruit with my colleagues, but none of them have ever been so cheeky as to assume they could treat my cottage as their own without even asking.
