Dear Baldmonkey,
Back in january, I lent a mate £100 who was going through a bit of a rough patch with his family (wife and 3 kids)
Wife has severe anorexia, and wasn't able to continue her job, and he has a full time job as a teacher. All 3 kids are 7 or younger
I was told I would get the money back in March, when they got back from a 'much needed and pre-booked' Holiday to Eurodisney. In the time since March though, his mother in law has now developed terminal lung cancer, and the father in law also had a cancer scare last month. The wife in all of this has also been hospitalized recently due to the anorexia, levaing my mate with a full time teaching job (albeit extensive paid leave) and 3 kids to look after. She is now out of hospital and has a part time job at.. wait for it... Macdonalds. My question is this: How much of a c*nt will I look if I ask for the £100 back now, which he assured me would be mine back in March? It's The Present Mrs. Architect's Birthday shortly, and I'd like that £100 to put towards a nice long weekend away for the two of us, as we could do with a holiday too.
( The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 25 May 2009, 15:15, archived)

I wouldn't ask for it back just yet, to be honest
as a rule, if I lend money to friends I don't expect it back.
( spangolin - the odds are good but the goods are odd, Mon 25 May 2009, 15:16, archived)

In other words, I'll look a HUGE C*nt then.
/as a rule, I don't lend money to mates or otherwise, but given the fact there were 3 young chiddlers to support in all of this, I felt obliged to help
( The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 25 May 2009, 15:17, archived)

yup.

( spangolin - the odds are good but the goods are odd, Mon 25 May 2009, 15:18, archived)

I must admit
I tend to think, would I rather have the money or the friendship? That is normally the decider.
( The Cat's Mother Not a People Person., Mon 25 May 2009, 15:26, archived)

Ask for it back. See if he could do it in 2 x £50.
At least his food bills won't be that high.
( The Cat's Mother Not a People Person., Mon 25 May 2009, 15:18, archived)

*stifled guffaw*
I was tempted to gently bring up the subject in conversation. I haven't seen him lately, and he hasn't mentioned it.
I didn't want to sound like a patronising bastard with phrases such as 'I'll take £20 a week etc or variations thereof.
( The Great Architect is still waiting for his account to be deleted on, Mon 25 May 2009, 15:20, archived)

*snort*

( spangolin - the odds are good but the goods are odd, Mon 25 May 2009, 15:21, archived)