To think being honest is normal?

Great post Carol. You should blog or something.

I think I would like to opt for the 'something' Jess. Does it involve fresh cream and chocolate?

Very thoughtful post Carol.

Mmmm... in a closed umbrella, now there's a thought!!

I know nanachrissy! I have grown some beautiful garden plants and bushes over the years, courtesy of the National Trust. Occasionally, a kind gardener will offer a little something when I have expressed interest, but more often it's furtive fumblings with a pair of nail scissors, into the brolly and as soon as possible it gets wrapped in wet tissue. I don't do it that often that the gardens are getting depleted - honest!!

Taking cuttings from a National Trust garden - the quintessential middle class theft! But surely it means you are creating more beauty in the world, albeit in your own garden, and I am sure you don't damage the parent plant, so what harm is done?
Of course the biggest thieves are the banks and credit card companies and thank goodness they are finally having to pay for some of their misdeeds - several billions so far in repaying PPI. They should have been charged with fraud.

Preferably National Tryst sorry Trust cake Carol. Pity you don't live nearer, I would treat you.
My Nana who was as honest as day long, used to nick cuttings

My Dad and I used to walk several paces behind my Mum and my (then) husband so that we weren't implicated in their 'theft' of cuttings in botanic gardens and NT properties.

Oh dear, I didn't realise I was inviting these confessions about swiping cuttings in the beautiful gardens around the country.

Any other crimes anyone wants to cough to?

I went to a police station once to hand in a roll of about £100 I had found in the street. While I was at the desk the policeman took a call, it was the person who had lost it ringing up to report the loss. The policeman said to the caller 'I have a lady at the desk at this moment handing it in.' According to the policeman the response was 'Good, I'll be in to collect it later' and the phone went down. Not even a perfunctory word of thanks. I wasnt bothered whether I got thanked or not but I still remain amazed at the incivility of the caller who could conduct a call like that knowing the finder was present and not feel the need to utter one word of thanks.

I was told that many ladies grew a couple of fingernails extra long for such subversive activities in National Trust Gardens . Wouldn't do it it the Alnwick Gardens 'Poison Garden', I suspect .....

FlickeyB; that's how I felt when my son found the £70. Looking back I'm not even sure if we questioned the person who had 'lost it' sufficiently. I do hope we asked exactly how much had been lost.

I used to live opposite a small park and on a number of occasions found handbags that had obviously been stolen, rifled and then abandoned. I always managed to track down the owners and return the bags, although cash and sometimes credit cards had already been taken. However, one woman had most of a year's receipts in her bag and needed them for a her tax return, another had a collection of family photographs and so on. Quite a few still had door keys. They were always immensely grateful and I think everyone of them sent me flowers.

Honesty is always the best policy, however not every one feels the same when we were at the airport couple of weeks ago DH lost his glasses . They were not handed in so now he has to buy a new pair which as we all know don"t come cheap so a little bit miffing.

I put my glasses down on a desk in the library beside my notes for 2 minutes. When I came back they were gone. Not even "lost" or "left" just put down while I went to the loo.