to think SIL is taking the piss?

[Ormirian]

DH is a teacher so has the holidays off. He also is an ex-carpenter so pretty good at building stuff SIL has bought a house in Cardiff - we live in Somerset - for her DD but it needs work so inevitably he has been asked to go and help. Not a problem. I am at work so and our eldest two are staying at home as they want to do their own thing. Holidays are too precious for them to be stuck in someone else's house with nothing to do. I am only 10 mins drive away if they need me. Not ideal but there we are.

SIL's plan was that DH and she would both drive to Cardiff seperately (she lives nearer the Severn bridge so less of a drive for her) but DH explained that I needed the car so she reluctantly agreed to come and pick him up. Admittedly it's a longer drive for her but I am more than willing to go and pick him and DS2 up from her house this evening if neccessary so she doesn't have to do the extra distance twice.

DH just texted me to tell me she asked him to go halves on the petrol....

My flabber is gasted.

She's taking the mickey!
He should, in return, ask her for his hourly rate as a carpenter.

She is BU!!!!

I hope he told her to get stuffed!

!

can he just cheekily text back and say you will only charge her half for DH's work.

She is taking the pish.
I assume he's doing the carpentry for free.
Some people have no idea when they're getting a good deal!

what skyblue said!

Very cheeky. He should remind her that the work is being done for free and that picking him up is the least she can do!! She should really pick him up and drop him tbh.

Cheeky mare!

I'm with Law, bill for the carpentry!

Who's paying the bridge? I think it's £5.80 now...

Agrees with skybluepearl, that's very cheeky of her. Is she broke?

Cheeky sod.

he should tell her yes he will give her half the petrol, and he will charge her half what a normal carpenter would charge (a fortune).

It's not that bloody far from Cardiff to Somerset - can't be more than an hour's journey so what would that be in fuel, a tenner? Twenty quid at most there and back.

She is a tight cow.

Remember this come Christmas time and get her some mouldy bath cubes

Get him to text back asking if she would like him to give her the invoice for his work at the same time as the petrol money.

ooo tell him to give her his hourly rate... cheeky so and so

tell her your DH will pay half but he will deduct from the money she owes him for doing the work for her. bloody hell

Unbelievable. Even if she is paying your DP for his work, I'm sure it will be at 'mates-rates' so she is still getting a great deal.

His going rate was about 150 a day - and that was a few years back. I guess half of that would more than cover the fuel.

It's funny really.

She's a good SIL and a lovely auntie but she does tend to expect him to do a lot of stuff for her (as does MIL). I think he feels obliged. Both his sisters are divorced with kids (grown up now) and his mum has been alone for years.

YANBU. She is lucky he helping at all, and she should be picking him up and dropping him off without hesitation as a tiny thank you.

Yanbu. Please come back & tell us you did what has been suggested! A gentle reminder that she's getting work done for free is needed here. Don't let your dh be taken for granted!

I agree with the other posters, she is being unreasonable. Is she maybe really skint and needs the extra tenner? If so she should maybe say that so she doesn't come across so ungrateful.

at mouldy bath cubes!

Even if she is really skint, she is totally taking the piss. Also it sounds like it is a 2nd home if she is buying the home for her DD. Most people are struggling to buy their 1st home at the moment.

my brother would have me committed if I expected him to work for me in his holidays and expected him to pay for part of his petrol to get to me. Am I'm a single parent with a 5 year old. Send you DH to me - I have loads that needs doing. Will pay his petrol money plus £2.50 pocket money per day.

Ooh! £2.50 pocket money Chuck in a few pints and he'd be happy.

No way! That is so rude! I hope your DH does not hand over a penny .... I would be cross if he did. If she mentions it again jokingly say that the invoice for the free carpentry is in the post!