To expect my parents to turn up at least vaguely on time?

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

They are en route as I type, part way through a 250 mile journey to surprise DS for his birthday. The plan was they would be here to meet him off the bus, which gets here in about an hour. Currently they are an hour and 15 minutes away
I'm not surprised, they have form for this and in all other ways are devoted if slightly indulgent GPs. I just despair of their appalling lack of urgency. They have text me three times so far to let me know they have stopped for "a cup of tea"
And I do appreciate them making the journey, I know it's a First World Problem etc. but this was supposed to be a surprise for DS. At almost 10 I am most unlikely to pull off a convincing enough excuse for the guest beds being made up and the suspicious tidiness of the house
I normally stipulate a time at least an hour before their presence is important but sadly cannot swing a bus full of children being parked in a lay-by until they meander into view

So they will potentially be 15 mins late...?

I would be seriously impressed if my dad was only 15 mins late. An hour, a day late...I have been there. Or rather he has. To be fair his worst offence was really Ryanairs fault.

And I would prefer it was like that....PILs are always bang on time which can be a bit trying.

YABU.

At least sunny
TBH DS will be thrilled to see them either way so I should probably just suck it up :)

I feel your pain john :o
In actual fact they will be nearly three hours late but only 15-30 minutes too late for the bus. Their current best is running at two and a half days but there was "Weather" to blame for that. Were they to turn up bang on time they would likely find the house in disarray ande in the shower :o

BIL was supose to come aroung to get eggs for his dc over two weeks ago. No sign. He lives less than a mile away. People are late. It happens
yabu.

This would drive me crazy too. Could you go meet him off the bus with an errand to do- post office, supermarket for milk, get fuel for the car, etc and they can just meet you back at the house?

I know its no consolation but my ils are always very late they turned up an hour after my DD birthday party had finished, with her cousins who were supposed to be attending, and then complained that we hadn't waited for them

My ILs are always late. Then swear blind that they're never late. Drives us mad. DH just gives them a time an hour before we really need them now.

Ah, so 3h late? It's not good, but you say it's something they've done for some time? Tbh I think that sometimes, especially with family, you just go with it, even if it is annoying. At least they'll get there not too long after your DS and it will still be a surprise.

I have a particular relative that always does this, has done ever since I can remember. Even for quite important occasions (although fortunately just made it in time for our wedding!). Almost all of DH's family does this It's annoying and now I just never think of them as coming at a time. It's "X might turn up today" and we carry on as normal. Whenever they then turn up is the surprise! Sounds a bit sad, but I enjoy their company so I just ignore that side of it. I'm not going to be the one to change them when they have lived their whole lives this way, so we just make the most and enjoy them whenever they're here. Takes a bit of the edge off of how I feel and I go out and do things as usual, and we've never had any problems.

However I sympathise as it can be very frustrating!

Johnogroats how can your PIL being on time possibly annoy you??? If you want them to arrive later, just tell them a later time?

I have seen threads complaining about visitors being early, and threads about visitors being late, (and understand/sympathise with both) but never seen anyone complain about visitors being 'bang on time' before!!! Feel sorry for them if that is your attitude, how can they possibly win?

Well, they turned up only 25 minutes after the bus which usefully was 15 minutes late today
After a lot of stupid and childish conversations (DSDad) and hero worshipping of everything DS has shown her (DM) we had dinner with friends (cooked by me) and we went to the pub for a drink. DSDad then insisted that DM stay with him rather than come home with DS when he got tired. She has always done this and I know particularly enjoys reading with him before he falls asleep.
So now they (DP's, DH, and our friends) are in the pub and I am at home, unloading one load from the dishwasher and filling it up again while grappling two overexcited spaniels
And they're here till Sunday