stuck at PILs, send help. Losing will to live.

[OtraCosaMariposa]

So far this morning we've had:

1. Why Brexit is a great thing.
2. Why Europe hates us.
3. Why all social problems are down to "the ethnics".
4. Why education isn't really that important for girls.
5. Why Donald Trump actually has a lot of good ideas.

We're here until this time tomorrow. I'll be a quivering wreck by then.

Go out for a really really really long walk.

DH and I escaping this morning. However there is a fsmily barbecue this afternoon. Luckily we are escaping the bright pink "gorgeous" Richmond sausages as we are doing the shopping.

Yikes! Have my sympathy. My own father treated me to a "What Would They Know??" grade 1 rant the other day - "they" being the Bank of England when they issued a warning about what no deal Brexit would do to the country financially

I'm glad my dad, accountant who has been retired 35 years knows better than the head of the Bank of England. I guess I'll stop worrying then.

When you’re shopping, buy a bottle of gin & keep it hidden in your room.

"The ethnics" 😡

I don’t think I’d stick around to listen them banging on about “ethnics”! Appalling!

TBH I’m not sure you’re looking too well, OP. Hope you haven’t got that tummy bug that’s doing the rounds.

Oh my word. Are you able to start drinking early? Then have a little fun of your own. Ask them if they're serving Pangolin sausages - they do them in Tescos now. And lion burgers. (You have to ask for them specially because stocks are usually quite low.)

He's not racist though.

Luckily we live several hours away and only see them once or twice a year. And my kids are old enough to challenge his nonsense and see it for what it is.

I’m at my pil this weekend as well
I love them to bits but they are daily mail readers
This morning about 30 seconds after I’d woken up I was treated to a rant about how there is ‘too many (read any) women in football’ ‘that markle woman’ and ‘bloody brexit’
I adore them I really do but they can push every button I have

Home tomorrow!

My mum is here and I can see she's flicking through the DM online. Can't wait for the next nugget she's read on there.

I read the Daily Mail sometimes... amongst many other news sites. If you don't then it is hard to understand WHY some people have some strange views. (I'm an "ethnic" Remoaner by the way)

Though of course, no-body else on MN reads it - despite knowing everything that is said in there...

Thisis usually my Mum. I no longer have heron FB due to all the lovely Britain First memes.

Last time she was her she started on about . We took an intake of breath and said you cant use theat word. She protested for a while and asked "well what can I say then, can I say ?". Now she does know what's exceptable, but she is a fully paid up Daily Mail reader.

She's dead chuffed with Brexit, though her face was a picture when OH told her that as his firm has lots of non British workers, if they all 'went back' his firm may relocate.

My FIL used to be like this. I soon learnt to turn up armed with lots of inconvenient facts and figures which I'd drop into his rants like little bombs which left him looking as stupid as he was. Ultimately he worked out that it was probably best to keep off his favourite subjects when we were around.

That sounds terrible. Can you just say I don't agree, then change the subject. And go out as much as you can. What does your partner say when they say these things?
Giid luck and I'm not surprised you are counting down the time!

They dint read anything, that's the problem. They usually exist in an echo chamber where they're not hearing other opinions.

LMAO @ Echo chmaber, yes that's a very good description, my Mum waffles on for hours never coming up for breath and not listening to anyone else at all

God that sounds awful!

Strategies - LA LA LA - sorry, did you say something?

What interesting opinions you have PIL, I've never heard ANYONE say that before!

Are you quite well, you look upset?

Show 'em this - A NO DEAL STORY – remember no analogy is perfect.
You live rurally, bit cut off from all the nearest towns, so you source nearly everything via your local supermarket. You don’t like the layout, the prices, the uniforms the staff wear, lots of things get on your nerves about the place. Over the years you complain about this and that and they listen to some of your concerns and change things, but there’s always something else you can find to complain about. Maybe you (secretly) don’t like the fact that some of the checkout staff are – shhh – brown!

Eventually all of your objections get the better of you and you tell them you want a sweeping new arrangement or you’re going to shop SOMEWHERE ELSE and they’d better listen because THEY NEED YOUR MONEY MORE THAN YOU NEED THEM. You and the supermarket enter into lengthy negotiations but your demands get ever more strident and they do not budge on certain things.
So you decide you really don’t need them.

And without having anywhere else to shop, or understanding that actually wherever you shop you’re going to encounter things you don’t like and are going to have to put up with, or admitting to yourself that the next nearest supermarket or shopping complex is about a thousand times further away than your local one and is going to cost you in time and fuel way beyond anything you’re going to save, plus it’s currently run by someone who many people view as, at best, volatile and unpredictable and distinctly out for himself, not you as a potential customer, without resolving or even admitting to any of this you get so angry that… you blow up the road that you drive along to get to the supermarket.

Delighted with your handiwork, it then takes you so long to get to your alternative shopping centre that you run out of fuel on the way and by the time you’ve sourced fuel and driven there they’re closed, and you bang on the door but they’re not opening for just you, why would they?
Sitting in your precious little car, your domain, your home turf, celebrating your great achievement, you starve.

Or just leave as soon as you decently can!

I didn't realise you knew my parents, OP

This sounds like my dads fiancee. We will fall out soon regarding her fb posts.

You need PIL bingo, the children can join in if they are old enough. Needs a little prep though. Brainstorm a list of key phrases. Need quite a few. Each person picks 5-6 key phrases out and memorises them. There can be an overlap but make sure no two people have exactly the same list.

Topics can be introduced by the bingo players but not the actual phrases. First one to get all their phrases is bought a bar of chocolate by the others. Can substitute alcohol if dc are older.

Yikes. Do you have any DC with you (that can understand the racism and sexism?)

If no DC (or a tiny baby or an eye-rolling teen) I'd just smile/nod/go for a nice walk

If I had a pre-schooler primary age DC I would have probably had a row by now.

The kids are old enough to be at the eye-rolling stage. Inlaws are planning a BBQ for food today and as everything takes them 8 hours to prepare, they should be safely ensconced in the garden for the forseeable.

And I've just put a bottle of prosecco in the fridge.

Sounds like when I go to DFs. Trump apparently is "sorting it out" and "he can't be a sexist, he has a daughter".

Also doesn't believe catcalling happens and refers to all Muslims as terrorists. I object a lot but it never makes any sodding difference.

Except for number 4 it sounds like an afternoon at my PIL They now have pay TV which allows them to watch Sky News non stop which is great entertainment for me too. Only in slightly different ways.

My god, do we have the same in-laws?! The drive me INSANE with the shite they trollop out.

Good luck, I just completely ignore them nowadays and find reasons to leave the room!