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Christmas

Are we going to have the same travel/snow/Christmas nightmare this year?

18 replies

levantine · 12/09/2011 08:03

Does anyone know what sort of winter we are supposed to have?

Last year we dragged a newborn and a three year old on a four hour train journey to inlaws as the roads were very dangerous and we didn't want to disappoint them, then came home and drove to other set of grandparents for Christmas itself.

I DO NOT want to trail my children across teh country in icy weather again, but it is the very elderly IL's 'turn' to have us for Christmas. I would like to seed this idea now, but DH is very dutiful and there will be no one else there this Christmas, other siblings out of the country, we alternate with childless DBIL and DSIL.

Also while my MIL is lovely, FIL doesn't like having small noisy children around and the whole thing is a strain anyway

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HallnotOates · 12/09/2011 08:06

Yes. Let's worry about it now.

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levantine · 12/09/2011 08:14

oh fuck off why don't you just hide the Christmas topic?

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cjbartlett · 12/09/2011 08:16

Well you won't know until the week before you go
So just make plans with the proviso 'weather permitting'

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cjbartlett · 12/09/2011 08:17

Sounds like this isn't anything to do with the weather though, more about you not wanting to stay with inlaws
Just say to dh we're staying home for Xmas, inlaws are welcome to join us

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levantine · 12/09/2011 08:24

yes - it's the weather permitting bit that we need to stress. No I don't want to spend it with the inlaws, but FIL is 83 and hardly leaves the sitting room, no way would he come to us and I just couldn't bear MIL's disappointment if we couldn't go

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ExpensivePants · 12/09/2011 08:37

I hope not. I don't want a home birth! No snow please between 20 Dec and 4 Jan. Thank you :)

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GypsyMoth · 12/09/2011 09:11

No way would I go. The fil who can't bear small children would be the reason. A Xmas spent on eggshells, no thanks!

How far away is it?

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cjbartlett · 12/09/2011 09:14

Do your fil a favour and invite mil to yours!

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GypsyMoth · 12/09/2011 09:15

In laws aside, it does look like we are in for a bad winter. All those berries on trees and bushes. That's a sign apparently!

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Hassled · 12/09/2011 09:19

I thought I saw a thread recently talking about a veritable Armageddon of snow and ice and shit this winter. I'm alright - I never go anywhere for Christmas anymore. I'm the irritating matriarch who forces people to come to me.

levantine - just sow a lot of seeds now re bad weather/travel. Get the thought in their minds that it may not happen early on.

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Hassled · 12/09/2011 09:20
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CherryMonster · 12/09/2011 09:22

this winter is rumoured to be the worst on record, i wouldnt hold out too much hope for travelling anywhere.

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levantine · 12/09/2011 13:51

Thanks for that, I thought I remembered seeing a thread along those lines.

What I don't want is for MIL to plan for months and spend lots of money (which they don't have) and for us not to be able to go. Perhaps I'll suggest that we provide the food then there won't be the worry of waste, which they would be very stressed about

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OhYouBadBadKitten · 12/09/2011 13:54

no-one has the foggiest what sort of winter we will have yet. Berries are a sign of the weather conditions that were around when they formed.

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psiloveyou · 12/09/2011 13:56

I the only one jumping for joy at the thought of more snow.

Can't be enough for me I love it. Blush

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YouWinOrYouDie · 12/09/2011 14:12

I like snow but since DS can't travel 200 miles and his great-grandmother can but with some difficulty then I will worry about it now thanks Smile

After last year when hotel reservations had to be cancelled and I had to carry my disabled three yo son to the post office several times to receive and post presents there is now a plan in place:

No presents for adults! We'll send vouchers for SIL's baby-to-be and the in-laws will send easily-posted items for my DC. I don't think that's unreasonable.

Yet another reason to like the snow.

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Doyouthinktheysaurus · 12/09/2011 14:27

After last year we will be telling my family that plans to visit are weather dependent, if I were you I would do the same.

We had the most horrific journey to and from my mums before Christmas, I will never do it again! A 2 hour journey took us 5 hours and it was immensely stressful.

I will have to work Christmas too which can't be helped but coming home on Christmas morning last year, the car in front of me skidded out of control and crashed!

Taught me a new respect for road conditions. Being on the south coast we have become accustomed to milder winters but last year was awful.

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25goingon95 · 12/09/2011 14:39

Oh no im really worried about driving on the icy roads...last year i was driving to the doctors really slowly and carefully when my car just suddenly spun right round about 3 times!! Luckily the road was empty and it was a really slow spin but still!!! I was terrified!! Happened when i was following a bend in the road, must have gone over a big patch of ice as i turned the wheel or something...bloody scary :(

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