Losing something and then finding it - or not!

This is lighthearted. By that, I don’t mean losing a loved one or anything devastating, like a house or investment etc. My neighbour called to ask if I could have her spare keys. I always used to have her keys in an emergency, as her family don’t live close by and her sister, who is 90, has just given up her driving licence. I wasn’t aware that I still didn’t have her house keys (had the old ones) but she told me she had recently had new doors/locks fitted and forgotten to give me her spare key. She was locked out recently, and realised that I didn’t have her new key. She eventually managed to drive to her sister’s house and managed to get in.

I sympathised with her over a cup of tea, and tried to make helpful suggestions, such like could they be in another coat pocket, had she inadvertently put them in the boot of her car when putting her shopping away, in the hood of her coat (clutching at straws here!) but no, they didn’t turn up and haven’t turned up since.

I consoled her by saying that weeks ago, I’d lost my car keys and was using the spare set. I was due to have a cataract op on the Tuesday, and the day before, did a large supermarket shop, as I knew I wouldn’t be able to drive for a bit. I shopped, put the shopping away, next day went for my op and everything was fine. My partner did all the driving in the meantime and I got an online delivery for shopping in the interim (didn’t want to shop myself, even with my partner driving, and, to be honest didn’t want to send him on his own, as at least I knew that if I did an online shop, I would get the things I wanted!). I know, maybe I’m a little bit controlling! (I warned you this was lighthearted). Anyway, when I did decided that I was confident enough to drive, could I find my car keys? NO. As I suggested to my neighbour with her house keys, I have looked everywhere (pockets, behind furniture, in the car boot) but they haven’t turned up and I’m still using the spare set until I get another set. (Let’s hope that I don’t lose the spare set, until I do!).

To top it all, a few days ago, I was looking at downsizing a bit and was looking at my jewellery collection. Obviously, I was going to keep valuable and sentimental stuff, but decided to take a bit of unwanted costume jewellery to the charity shop. I came across a vintage “Return to Tiffany necklace”. I thought about putting it on eBay so took it out to take photos. I then decided, no, maybe my partner’s granddaughter might like it. If not, I would be happy for her to eBay it and spend any proceeds as she liked. BUT, could I find it, when I looked for it again? NO! I’ve hunted, cleaned behind the sofa and the like but can’t find it. So, it it the gremlins? A poltergeist moving my possessions around? OR, have I put them both in the bin? I may have done that with the car keys, but surely not the necklace as well?

My aunt’s good friend was a staunch and practising Roman catholic who used to pray to the Saints when something went missing. She used to pray to St Anthony and St Ann(e) “Dear St Anthony and St Ann, please find my keys (inset missing item) as soon as you can”. She always maintained that you had to thank the Saints in anticipation or else the prayer wouldn’t be answered. My aunt tried it a few times, but it never worked for her!

Has anyone lost an item and found it in an unusual place? Did it turn up weeks/months/years later. Please tell me your successful stories, in the hope that I can find my car keys/necklace and that my lovely neighbour can find her keys. The latter would, of course, would now be irrelevant, as she has already got several spares cut. Sorry for the long and rambling post, but I’m just SO frustrated to lose my keys and necklace when I’m almost certain that they’re somewhere in the house!!! Apologies if this has been done before.