Discussion
Anyone else experienced the joy this Christmas?
Now I am the first to admit that I'm a bit anti-social. I'm not keen on fuss, noise and amazingly mess.
This year we have had the in-laws, and also my wife's sister and family.
The in-laws left yesterday. They don't seem to have done much apart from sat in the way, while the father in-law got pissed each day... I was particularly amused to note that the Beer he had not drunk, was repossessed and taken away from them...
Then there was the food contribution... which the sister in-law 'forgot' about. Twice. Particularly annoying as my wife bought extra expensive starters for her kids - as she was told they would like them, and sister would pay for them.... Nope - they did not like them at all.
I'm slowly working up a list of jobs to do around the house, basically repairing things they have broken - blinds and toys.
It is however great to get our house back. Anyone else had the pleasure?
Now I am the first to admit that I'm a bit anti-social. I'm not keen on fuss, noise and amazingly mess.
This year we have had the in-laws, and also my wife's sister and family.
The in-laws left yesterday. They don't seem to have done much apart from sat in the way, while the father in-law got pissed each day... I was particularly amused to note that the Beer he had not drunk, was repossessed and taken away from them...
Then there was the food contribution... which the sister in-law 'forgot' about. Twice. Particularly annoying as my wife bought extra expensive starters for her kids - as she was told they would like them, and sister would pay for them.... Nope - they did not like them at all.
I'm slowly working up a list of jobs to do around the house, basically repairing things they have broken - blinds and toys.
It is however great to get our house back. Anyone else had the pleasure?
Drove 600 miles in five days. Picked my eldest son up as he decided last minute to come for Christmas. So I planned a nice Christmas Eve in with surprise presents etc. He said he was popping out for a bit in the morning to catch up with some old school friends... early evening a mate sends me a photo of him spotted in a bar. He rolls in at 9pm pissed. His younger brothers have decided all their new smart stuff in their bedrooms isn't as good as a retro gaming station they've set up in the living room, which has wired remotes. That they pass to each other over the coffee table. Which had my only glass of wine on it. I'm back at work for a rest!
Yes it's exhausting. If I'd wanted to run a hotel I'd have bought a B&B.
I can't work out if I'm over sensitive and should "live and let live" or whether I'm in the right and some guests are lazy, selfish so and sos with bad manners.
My wife and I have spent the break clearing up after my son's girlfriend. The final straw for me was when she took a large slab of shrink wrapped chocolate from a Hotel Chocolat box. Any normal person would hold it via the shrink wrap, snap off the required piece and extract it leaving the remainder untouched. She took it all out and held a corner to her mouth and nibbled some off. She then dropped the remainder and broke it into three before inserting the crumbs back into the shrink wrap. She enquired if she should put it back in the box and I told her not to bother as I was going to put it in the bin.
How does one approach the subject with one's son that it would be pleasing all round if he could find a new girlfriend?
I can't work out if I'm over sensitive and should "live and let live" or whether I'm in the right and some guests are lazy, selfish so and sos with bad manners.
My wife and I have spent the break clearing up after my son's girlfriend. The final straw for me was when she took a large slab of shrink wrapped chocolate from a Hotel Chocolat box. Any normal person would hold it via the shrink wrap, snap off the required piece and extract it leaving the remainder untouched. She took it all out and held a corner to her mouth and nibbled some off. She then dropped the remainder and broke it into three before inserting the crumbs back into the shrink wrap. She enquired if she should put it back in the box and I told her not to bother as I was going to put it in the bin.
How does one approach the subject with one's son that it would be pleasing all round if he could find a new girlfriend?
Same problems as above with Son Wife & Grandson plus Stepson all 40, arrived Xmas Eve, I cooked for them after all the travelling they had done, no clearing up for them but expected the remaining days to have help.
Well they all leave tomorrow and I've cooked every day, my wife has laid up and cleared away each meal whilst they have all sat around drinking .
They bought 6 bottles of wine but drank 10+ then spirits etc, I could go on but no point.
They are all off tomorrow and they will not be coming back for next Xmas as WE will now definitely be going away.
Sad really.
Do hope that there are some nice Xmas times by others.
Well they all leave tomorrow and I've cooked every day, my wife has laid up and cleared away each meal whilst they have all sat around drinking .
They bought 6 bottles of wine but drank 10+ then spirits etc, I could go on but no point.
They are all off tomorrow and they will not be coming back for next Xmas as WE will now definitely be going away.
Sad really.
Do hope that there are some nice Xmas times by others.
Just wait until some family member you care about passes away.
A never ending procession of the idiots you never knew existed start rucking up.
None of them ever visited said family member - even when they were hospitalised for 2 years.
And even although at least five of them lived 5 minutes away from the hospital.
Then... just wait until you get the requests of
"He promised me the Grandfather clock"
"Our (insert name here) is heading off to uni - and could really do with the telly"
The list went on and on
I have found extended family to be the vilest and most toxic of human kind.
And no.... they (and I ) got jack s
t. He didn't have much - but everything went to the charity of the people who looked after him in his final years.
And .. extended family just disappeared as quickly as they came.... and never said a word - or got back in touch.
A never ending procession of the idiots you never knew existed start rucking up.
None of them ever visited said family member - even when they were hospitalised for 2 years.
And even although at least five of them lived 5 minutes away from the hospital.
Then... just wait until you get the requests of
"He promised me the Grandfather clock"
"Our (insert name here) is heading off to uni - and could really do with the telly"
The list went on and on
I have found extended family to be the vilest and most toxic of human kind.
And no.... they (and I ) got jack s
t. He didn't have much - but everything went to the charity of the people who looked after him in his final years.And .. extended family just disappeared as quickly as they came.... and never said a word - or got back in touch.
Troubleatmill said:
Just wait until some family member you care about passes away.
Where there's a will, there's a relative.But OP, did you invite these people to your home? If so, then whatever food and drink you lay on is up to you IMHO. That includes "more expensive" starters etc.. That is part of the host cost IMHO.
What a bunch of miserable buggers you are. 
We've had a few days of different family, I've loved it, we lost someone in the family very recently so it was even more important for us to make sure we got together like we used to when we were kids, and we all loved it.
Christmas is about being with family and having fun.
We've had a few days of different family, I've loved it, we lost someone in the family very recently so it was even more important for us to make sure we got together like we used to when we were kids, and we all loved it.
Christmas is about being with family and having fun.
I got nagged and nagged and nagged into joining in a Secret Santa for all the adult family members (about 14 of us). Budget £15.
I duly received my nominee, put some thought into their gift, and spent approx £15.
In return, I got a plastic sign saying "My dog lives here" which I'd never display on the house in a month of Sundays (since located on eBay, £2.99) and a box of Milk Tray containing SEVEN whole chocolates which I saw in the local petrol station today for £1.
And they wondered why I didn't want to join in the first place.
I duly received my nominee, put some thought into their gift, and spent approx £15.
In return, I got a plastic sign saying "My dog lives here" which I'd never display on the house in a month of Sundays (since located on eBay, £2.99) and a box of Milk Tray containing SEVEN whole chocolates which I saw in the local petrol station today for £1.
And they wondered why I didn't want to join in the first place.
Indeed, and I had a thread going here too.
I expected things to be rather annoying, turns out, I was worrying about the wrong things... whilst I was worried that my demanding sister-in-law would make everything precious about her kids - instead, they just let them (4 and 18 months) run wild and destroy loads of things.
Most annoying was the fact that depsite having rooms closed off, they still went in and then my sister in law saw things I had intentionally put out of reach of children, and got them down for them to "play" with.
Similarly, we bought a fair bit of food for them to eat and enjoy, nice food including my Christmas treat to myself of a decent cheese board. Mother in law takes it upon herself to get that out of the fridge because nephew wants some cheese. No, he doesn't want expensive Stilton, he probably wants a Babybel or similar which we have a big thing of especially - but no, my Stilton gets fully unwrapped and then "handled" by a slobbery 4 year old who naturally decides he doesn't like it. Thanks, MiL, that's my little treat ruined.
I expected things to be rather annoying, turns out, I was worrying about the wrong things... whilst I was worried that my demanding sister-in-law would make everything precious about her kids - instead, they just let them (4 and 18 months) run wild and destroy loads of things.
Most annoying was the fact that depsite having rooms closed off, they still went in and then my sister in law saw things I had intentionally put out of reach of children, and got them down for them to "play" with.
Similarly, we bought a fair bit of food for them to eat and enjoy, nice food including my Christmas treat to myself of a decent cheese board. Mother in law takes it upon herself to get that out of the fridge because nephew wants some cheese. No, he doesn't want expensive Stilton, he probably wants a Babybel or similar which we have a big thing of especially - but no, my Stilton gets fully unwrapped and then "handled" by a slobbery 4 year old who naturally decides he doesn't like it. Thanks, MiL, that's my little treat ruined.
In laws here at the moment, actually we get on well and they are useful to have about.
However, last night mother in law pulls out drawer in kitchen (which my FiL put up!) and out falls a tonne of glassware. Much smashing...
Then last night I retire to the 'play room' and start playing Elite on the Xbox with the door shut. MiL finds me after half an hour and tells my FiL what I'm doing and to go and join me
However, last night mother in law pulls out drawer in kitchen (which my FiL put up!) and out falls a tonne of glassware. Much smashing...
Then last night I retire to the 'play room' and start playing Elite on the Xbox with the door shut. MiL finds me after half an hour and tells my FiL what I'm doing and to go and join me
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff