Being visited by flying monkeys this afternoon - how to deal?

[RainMoon]

NC as some of this could be outing.

Pretty sure getting our first flying monkey visit this afternoon. We are LC with in-laws and another relative and partner who are probably pro in-laws are coming to visit us today when they’ve not been for many years.
I’m not sure if they know we are LC with in-laws but I can imagine they will ask if there are any problems. How do I brush it off as I don’t want to have to explain the whole history to them, it will not do my partner any good. He does not want the visit to happen.

Or just to say in one sentance yes we’re LC things aren’t good but we tried etc

Don't let them in, keep them on the doorstep if you have to.

Assuming this is your husband's family can you not just cancel the visit?

If your partner doesn’t want them to come, just cancel the visit. Develop Covid symptoms.

Big smile and a breezy change of subject, "Oh I'm sure no one wants to listen to all that, mince pie?"
Repeat each time they bring it up "Relationships can be complicated sometimes. So are you ready for Christmas then?"
Hopefully they will get the message if you just refuse to engage.

Are you in the UK? If so it's likely you are in Tier 2 so just say you are following the Covid rules and they can't come in the house.

If you can't cancel this unwanted visit,
I can imagine they will ask if there are any problems. How do I brush it off

How about something like 'nothing worth discussing...' and then immediately ask them something innocuous about themselves or their family, or some topic they may be interested in.

On the other hand you might be surprised.
My mad bad MiL had her crew, but without her they were all lovely sane people, they just had given up trying to keep her in check years before DH had even been born.

"Sorry, I've got a bit of a cough. Better not come in."

Just a nice vague 'we haven't really seen much of anyone these days because of Covid'

why are you entertaining them in the first place?

Anyway just keep things breezy with LOTS of information topics talking....so they dont get a chance or the right moment to talk about it....

Yes its very tricky isnt it - there are two sides of course to every story and X does not wish to talk about it - so we have to be respectful of that.

OP we have had this too - and its best not to engage with any of them.

Why are they coming if your dh doesn’t want to see them? Just say you have symptoms.

If your dh doesn't want them I cant understand why on earth you are entertaining them, I agree just make symptoms...

Wby would they ask if there were any problems? Seems a strange thing to ask if they're not aware of the situation.
I would just cancel them all coming.

Pick a person in your household and urgently text the visitors to say X has a temperature and can't taste anything so they can't come.

Cancel. If your DH doesn’t want them then why entertain it? Stop people pleasing!

What is a flying monkey visit?
I'd go out for a long walk this afternoon, and not be in if I was certain someone I didn't want to see was going to pop by unexpectedly.

What is a flying monkey visit?

A visit by flying monkeys.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyingmonkeyss(popularpsychology)

Such a shame you've been up coughing since the small hours!

I am slightly confused about your post - although others don't seem to be. But if you don't want to meet up just say so, personally I wouldn't make up CV19 symptoms, but "I'm sorry, we're trying to really reduce the risk of CV19 so not doing anything socially at the moment" is fine.

If you do meet up why do you feel your IL relationship will be discussed and be an issue? If they enquire how you getting on with PILs, just say yes all thanks and ask them a question - it deflects their question. If they press just respond with "well tbh we haven't seen much of anyone recently".

Thanks, Errol, I had tried googling, but didnt find anything that fitted.

Thanks @DemolitionWoman really good advice.

Weather stopped play, we were due to meet at an outdoor venue