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Birthday present dilemma

(12 Posts)
BlueSapphire Sun 12-May-24 15:45:13

I have a problem!

It was my.birthday recently while I was on a cruise, and just before I left I visited a close friend to exchange presents and cards (her birthday three days before mine). She handed me an envelope containing a card, and said that my present was enclosed with the card.

Come my birthday on board ship and I open her card, expecting to find something like a gift voucher inside - nothing! I shake card and envelope, definitely nothing else. This is very unlike her.

Now my quandary - do I mention anything to her or not? What if she expects me to say thank you for the present? I don't want to cause her any upset.

DD says to speak to friend's sister, who I also know quite well, but this feels like going behind friend's back.

I don't know what to do for the best.

OurKid1 Sun 12-May-24 16:02:43

I seem to recall a similar problem on here a while ago, where it was thought that a relative had mixed up two presents. I think the general consensus was to leave well alone. In this case, I would say thank you for the lovely card and leave it at that. If she did intend to give you a present, then she'll say something about it, I'd have thought.

MissAdventure Sun 12-May-24 16:05:13

Perhaps when you talk about your birthday, she may ask "Did you like the......"?

kittylester Sun 12-May-24 16:13:22

It was my brother who had mixed up my present with that of our other brother.

I said nothing which I think is probably best in this case too.

Germanshepherdsmum Sun 12-May-24 16:29:38

I would say nothing unless she asks if you liked your gift. It was probably a voucher which either she will find somewhere or she sent to someone else by mistake. If she asks if you liked it I think it’s better to come clean as if the mistake comes to light later your friendship may be damaged by a white lie.

BlueSapphire Mon 13-May-24 07:32:25

Thank you for your kind advice; I think I will leave well alone, unless I am asked; it might be kinder.

BlueBelle Mon 13-May-24 07:39:40

I had a similar incident this year my close friend put a card through my door the night before my birthday inside it said present a bit late so I didn’t say a thing the weeks went by and I presumed she’s missed it completely, again I just buried it and said nothing then nearly two months after my birthday I got a lovely present from her but it was nothing that she would have sent away for or be waiting for and she’d had no ongoing family or health problems so a real mystery !
Best just go with the flow and hope it doesn’t happen again

Gummie Mon 13-May-24 08:34:33

I think that you should mention it. She thought that she had put a gift in the card and will want to know that you liked whatever it was. I'm sure it's just a simple error and a voucher is lingering in a drawer or a handbag. You can both laugh about it together.

Ali08 Mon 13-May-24 14:25:32

kittylester

It was my brother who had mixed up my present with that of our other brother.

I said nothing which I think is probably best in this case too.

Did your other brother not say anything?
Wasn't this vouchers or something, for an expensive shop?

kittylester Mon 13-May-24 14:54:34

Ali08, I doubt my other brother knew what he should have had. And, I suppose we could actually both have been given the same. Too cringey to mention.

They were John Lewis vouchers.

BlueSapphire Tue 14-May-24 15:51:31

An update on the present situation - we have a mutual friend who is a member of my walking group; at our walk today she passed on to me the gift that friend had forgotten to put in the card. It was a gift voucher for a well known high street store, so will look forward to spending it.

All's well that ends well!

Grammaretto Tue 14-May-24 16:45:18

That's good BlueSapphire a relief. smile