to think that the father of two very small children should provide an effective means of contact when he goes away for work

[babyledweaner]

...as opposed to leaving me his mobile number (but switching the phone off as he's forgotten the charger), someone else's mobile number (also off, as they are in meetings) and, that's it, no other means of contact (no hotel/conference centre name or anything).

Feeling quite raw/furious about it. DH is away most of the week every week, though usually contactable if needed, but this week he's been in Germany and DD2 got ill with the same thing that hospitalised DD1 for a week last year.

I would never ever be somewhere that I couldn't be reached (I leave alternate numbers when I pop to the frigging hairdressers FFS). Should I take it as a compliment to my ability to manage alone with two under twos, or as more evidence that my partner can barely manage his own life with any competence? Sorry to be so harsh, but I needed to vent...

Poor DD2 (sleeping peacefully now) is very poorly, and I just wanted some support from his dad.

Sorry haven't got time to read whole thread, can see that it's been quite controversial... I was actually thinking more along the lines of I wouldn't even know if anything had happened to him. Even something silly like 'missed my train will be home in the middle of the night don't worry'.
If I was going on a business trip on my own abroad I'd like to have my phone with me. I might even like to make a quick call just to say hi...
So don't understand the desire to be unreachable or thinking that travelling without a phone is better than with.
But whatever... haven't got time to get in to whole thread now and don't feel that passionate about it either way.

The thing is, if you are in a job where you can't answer your mobile in a meeting, that's absolutely fine, I do know people who can't answer phones for hours on an end, and as a PA have supported them in the past. But then their partners/families would be given the number for reception or their PA to get a message through. I wouldn't interrupt a meeting with "DS needs calpol" but I'd walk in with a note saying "Your wife called, she's taking your son to X hospital because of Y."

Most people who work in jobs where they can't have a mobile switched on, provide alternative means of contact. Before mobiles it was normal to give the details of your hotel and/or the switchboard of the office you'd be visiting. Mobiles have just meant we've got out of the habit of providing details like that.

OP - YANBU - he should provide contact details, even if it's just the main switchboard (which if it's a base where mobiles aren't allowed, they will be used to taking and passing on messages of this nature).