Bottle Message Backfires: Woman Receives Rocks

A woman in East Sussex, UK, who has been sending messages in bottles for years hoping for a romantic connection, received an unexpected and unpleasant response. Instead of a reply, she was sent a box of rocks along with a note criticizing her for littering. The anonymous sender indicated that her messages were washing up on local beaches and requested she stop.

Adding insult to injury, Forbes had to pay approximately $9.20 to receive the package. She expressed that past responses were rare and usually just indicated where the bottles were found, not a desire to meet. Forbes has been using plastic bottles to avoid breakage and admits this incident has made her reconsider her hobby, fearing legal repercussions from environmental authorities.

This is not the first time Forbes has faced criticism for her actions; Eastbourne Harbor officials have previously cautioned her about throwing bottles into the water. The act of littering is technically illegal in England and Wales, with potential fines of around $99 per incident, a fact that weighs on Forbes's decision to continue her unconventional pursuit of romance.