How would you deal with this chicken, fox and grain scenario?

[CultureAlienationBoredomandDespair]

We’re driving to London to go on holiday. Our DCs will be looked after by 2 family members. Family member 1 (FM1) lives in South London and we’re flying from Gatwick with an early flight, they want use of car seats.

FM2 will collect DC part way through the week and take them to their house in Herts. We will then fly back to Heathrow around midnight.

Initially we’d hoped FM2 would get public transport to FM1s and drive our car to Herts (travel is quite straightforward midweek but tricky at weekends when we will be travelling down) but they’d rather not. We now find ourselves in a bit of a chicken, fox and grain scenario with the car. Have I missed something straightforward?

Current plan is for us to drive down to FM1 (about 5hrs), leave DC and car seats and then drive to FM2’s, leave the car and then get public transport back to FM1s (probably about 2 1/2hrs) at the weekend as they’re not near a station.

Or all of you drop car at FM2, then take PT to FM1. Luggage and car seats will be awkward from Herts to SE London but possible.

For the sake of £100 I would buy new car seats and have them delivered to FM1 (or see if they have any friends with a spare set to borrow) then you could drive to FM2 and leave car there and then make your way to FM1

Since FM 1 doesn't seem to need your car, why don't you buy or borrow car seats locally, then you don't have to worry about picking them up?

Great minds!

Fair enough.

it seems a disproportionate effort to get the car to FM2 though, where you don't even really need it to be.

You could perhaps leave the car at Gatwick and ask them to meet you en route, especially if they are heading Cornwall/Wales direction, but again it's asking more of them which you prob don't want to do and no use if they are heading in a different direction.

They have DC of their own so wouldn’t fit all of them in their car. It does suit us to have our car at FM2’s house as it cuts our journey home by about an hour and a half.

drop of children and seats to fm1 and then drive to fm2 and drop off car. Get public transport to Gatwick. All depends on what time the out bound and in bound flights are.

Take kids to FM1, drive to Heathrow and leave car there in carpark then PT to Gatwick.

Drop kids and car seats at their grandparents.
Drive to Gatwick. Park the car. Go on holiday.
Arrive back at Heathrow. Get this thing called a taxi to Gatwick, pick up your car.
Drive to wherever the kids are. Reinstall car seats. Drive home.

Little reflection that your FMs are fab for having your DC

So if he caused the problem, why isn't he trying to sort it out?
Taking FM 2 for granted by assuming they'll do all this extra stuff without asking them. Then taking for granted you'll come up with a solution?

How old are the kids… could you get away with trunki back pack booster seats?

It does sound like actually your question is how to get the kids, luggage and seats to FM1 as parking at FM2 makes the most sense. There are a few options, some mentioned above id cost out: 1) buy cheap car seats to be delivered and take PT as others suggested - may be best option if they are little and seats are big 2) look at foldable options if they are older - they are generally handy and so a decent investment 3) Do PT and accept it will be hard / find the easiest option - depending on the exact route national rail will likely be easier than the tube. You’re not in a rush so can take it slow and ferry the kids and stuff to each platform. Also remember you can mix it up - take a train the long distance and then an uber for any fiddly bits (you’ll have car seats for the uber! 4) Price up a large minicab - you can install your seats for the journey and may be less than you fear 5) look into a one way car rental - places like enterprise do this and have lots of mini branches across London - you could then also use it to drive to Gatwick and drop there saving you the cab price

I might have missed this, but how old are the DC?
I only ask because if they are old enough to buy cheap car seats for you could just get a couple delivered directly to FM1 to use.
Then you could leave the car at FM2 on your way down. Take PT with the DC to drop them off with FM1 and the take PT to Gatwick as planned.
The cost of the car seats might be recouped by less journeys on PT.

I think you’re reading something into this that’s not there. He’s not expecting me to sort anything, his solutions disadvantage him and I was just wondering if there’s another way.

I agree he should have asked FM2 directly, but his assumptions were based on things he’s done for them previously and wrongly assuming that that had set a president.

Yes they are. And DC will have an amazing time.

They’re preschool/ reception aged.

Yes fair enough, as long as he's not making it your problem!

You're right he shouldn't have assumed based on presumably him having given them lifts in the past. Unless you mean he's looked after children for them for several days too? They're already doing a lot.

He/ we have done both before but were incredibly grateful. DH booked it quite a while again and I’m sure just thought FM1’s house is nearest Gatwick and FM2’s house is nearest Heathrow and didn’t think of the finer logistics.

Current plan is to drive to FM1’s house after work and arrive with DC asleep and straight to bed, then the next day DH will drive to FM2’s and leave the car minus the car seats. He will then get PT back to FM1’s house where I will be with DC.

We will then either get a hotel at Gatwick (if FM1 is ok with the extra night) or cab in the early hours.

While we’re away FM2 will collect DC and the car seats and we will get a cab from Heathrow to FM2’s and then drive home the next day.

Spare set of car seats delivered to the most useful FMs house meaning your car can be left in the most useful place for you

Drive to fm1, drop off kids and car seats. Say goodbye.
Then drive car to heathrow, park up and leave for return journey.
Catch bus from heathrow to gatwick.
(No actual need to go to fm2 at this stage or retutn to fm1?)

Could that work for you?