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Embarrassed ourselves with good friends.

(48 Posts)
BrightandBreezy Wed 26-Oct-22 10:45:47

Hi wise gransnetters. I am hoping you can give me some good advice this morning.
Basically DH and I were out for a night out couple off days ago to celebrate a dear friends significant birthday. We were one of three couples who have been close for 40 years, holidayed together, know each others families ext.
The evening went very well. Until near the end DH brought up an issue somehow in the course of conversation that we disagree about. It started amicably enough but became heated with the others joining in and giving their opinions as well (this isn't the issue, we live them and are close enough for this to happen) but the group seemed to see things particularly from the side of one of us so the other was upset and ultimately the ending of the evening was spoilt.
One couple (bless them) phoned is yesterday to check we were ok (we are)Very genuinely concerned for us
Here is the problem I have. I WhatsApp the other woman in couple regularly. Should I WhatsApp to apologise that we spoilt the ending of her birthday celebration.? Do we drop by on our way to walk dog at coast with flowers. Having dog is good idea because genuinely just dropping by not coming in...say really sorry for spoiling evening or just leave things to blow over.
Appreciate any thoughts on the issue . Thank you.

Caleo Sun 30-Oct-22 11:11:08

Obviously controversy is not enjoyed by your friendship group and is thought to be bad manners.

If you want to continue friends with them your plan for an apology seems to me to be faultless and you should go ahead and do it.

Prentice Sun 30-Oct-22 10:59:16

Very good advice there Madeleine45 smile
Never be proud when you are in the wrong, an apology is always appreciated and goes a long way to heal.

Kim19 Sun 30-Oct-22 10:54:59

Obviously a deep and true friendship. Well done to all of you. Lovely...... 👍🌷

madeleine45 Sun 30-Oct-22 10:08:27

Just got round to looking on line this am and so have read all the posts, and pleased to see that it is sorted, which is good news. Long time friendship is worth more than one argument. My only comment I would add is that I would always go in person and speak to them. I have taught TESOL and english is such a wonderful complicated language that you can say one sentence, but the tone of voice, body language and eye contact tell you so much more than just the bare words. I know younger people live all their lives on their phone, but it is very easy for you to type a sentence which, in your head sounds a reasonable request. However the reader may take it quite another way and without context totally misread the whole thing. I would always want to see the person face to face for incidents that could be misconstrued, and if not possible to visit their homes would suggest meeting for coffee somewhere, where you could choose a more private area to sit in and then you could judge when and how to bring up the subject. The other thing is speed. The sooner you can deal with the problem the better. Reliving incidents , they can become more of a problem than they were actually or you can all misremember what actually happened. The longer it goes on the more difficult to keep it in proportion. My husband and I lived by the old maxim of never going to bed without making up any argument. The great thing was that if you have got in a situation where it is difficult to get out of it, sleeping in the same bed meant that either one of us could reach out and touch the other persons arm or hand and that was enough. We did not have to go through the topic again and might still retain the same attitude about a subject , but our relationship was much more important than any disagreement and that physical touching allowed you to remove that subject and not brood over it. So pleased for you that it was all sorted. Here the weather is grey but the leaves are falling and it is lovely autumn colours of gold and brown on the ground. Meeting for an autumn walk is also useful so you are not face to face but walking side by side and it is often easier to apologise or discuss some difficult area when you are moving and hot on a confrontational position opposite each other.

GreenGran78 Sat 29-Oct-22 22:53:12

I'm glad that you have cleared the air, and are all still friends.

My DH did the ultimate in messing up the end of a birthday party. He had a stroke!
Luckily he made quite a good recovery, and was forgiven for trying to be the centre of attention, instead of the birthday girl! 😀

Cossy Sat 29-Oct-22 10:59:52

OS just read the outcome and that’s awesome !! Xx smile

Cossy Sat 29-Oct-22 10:58:35

Take flowers on dog walk, say how much you enjoyed the evening just briefly mentioning that you hope you didn’t inadvertently ruin it and leave it at that xx Good luck smile

Ning74 Fri 28-Oct-22 18:41:55

So glad everything has turned out well and your long term friendships continue.....

minxie Fri 28-Oct-22 16:09:23

Excellent news, it’s resolved

grandtanteJE65 Fri 28-Oct-22 15:03:13

In your place I would text, phone or drop in to say thank you for a nice evening and apologise for ruining the end of the evening.

It cannot possibly do any harm.

Something in your post makes me suspect that your husband perhaps does not feel an apology is called for.

I think it is, and so do you, so go ahead and apologise.

I tend to agree with other posters that your husband should apologise himself, but if he is unwilling to do so, better an apology from you than none at all.

Eloethan Fri 28-Oct-22 14:33:32

That's really good news, and so nice that everybody behaved like grown-ups in the end.

Sometimes these things happen. If we never touched on subjects that might be a bit sensitive, conversation could be very boring. Having said that, it is easy to get up in arms if it is a subject you feel strongly about, so it is wise to try and keep things low key.

undines Fri 28-Oct-22 14:30:17

I'm very sure this isn't nearly as bad as you think it is! A pleasant apology and maybe yes, flowers to the 'significant birthday' person - you've all known each other long enough for this to be no big deal!

NotSpaghetti Fri 28-Oct-22 13:56:34

Yammy, Nannan2, minxie, Tanjamaltija, Awesomegranny... you will be pleased to know that this is resolved ??

honeyrose Fri 28-Oct-22 13:26:52

So pleased it’s all resolved. You’ve done the right thing with the apology. Hopefully a line can be drawn under it now as genuine contrition was shown. I get quite het up over these sort of situations, if I feel that offence has been caused, so I feel that an apology never goes amiss. It can take courage, too, to apologise and your friends will recognise and appreciate that.

JaneJudge Fri 28-Oct-22 13:24:57

good outcome smile

I do think though that people you know very well do just let things go or just understand your side or opinion and it is okay to disagree on somethings or have discussions without anyone being upset

icanhandthemback Fri 28-Oct-22 12:44:57

Awesomegranny

Yes definitely apologise in person with flowers and maybe a nice card written by your husband if he isn’t walking with you so that they know he’s genuinely sorry. Don’t leave it too long either

They didn't...they went before you posted. ???

Awesomegranny Fri 28-Oct-22 12:40:07

Yes definitely apologise in person with flowers and maybe a nice card written by your husband if he isn’t walking with you so that they know he’s genuinely sorry. Don’t leave it too long either

Larsonsmum Fri 28-Oct-22 12:38:22

Glad this is resolved. These kind of things very often trouble me far more that what would be deemed much more upsetting and serious issues to many.

Tanjamaltija Fri 28-Oct-22 12:35:39

If you have both dog and flowers it's obvious that you are not just 'passing by'. Go with either one, or the other. Or, maybe, call on phone, not messsage on social media.

minxie Fri 28-Oct-22 12:33:46

A couple spoilt my 40th birthday by having a nasty spat at my birthday meal. It still grinds my gears now as there was no apology ever. We were also on holiday,and my children witnessed it as well.
So an apology would go along way

Nannan2 Fri 28-Oct-22 12:28:56

Yes go apologise & take flowers, if OH wont go (despite you asking him) then say he IS contrite but very embarressed to come say sorry and that he IS very apologetic & does'nt know what came over him, he really did'nt mean to spoil her day etc etc.Then nag him to apologise before you next visit or meet them.Thats all you can do im afraid if he wont go..If he will go then good for him.?

Grantanow Fri 28-Oct-22 12:26:07

Well done. Shows the friendship is an enduring one.

Yammy Fri 28-Oct-22 12:13:50

Go with the flowers and make DH come with you. If you are all such good friends surely they know what he is like.
Say sorry and go for your walk.

icanhandthemback Fri 28-Oct-22 12:06:23

I am so glad that you were able to resolve this and I admire you for taking responsibility for your role in this. It take two (or more in this case!) to tango and it is always nice if both people recognise they could have handled things better. flowers for you too!

NotSpaghetti Wed 26-Oct-22 18:00:13

SO pleased!
Swiftly resolved.
Well done you two. Here's to many more happy years with your lovely friends. ?