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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Univited guests for Christmas.

372 replies

Pennybun4 · 06/12/2015 11:59

Have been brooding about this since yesterday. Received a Christmas card from this family we met on holiday in the summer. All very nice I am sure but note at the bottom thanking us for our kind invite for Christmas and saying they will be arriving 23rd Dec and staying until 2nd Jan.

We did not invite them!

Back story is Dad, Mum and three children at the same campsite we were staying on in the summer who decided they wanted to be best friends with us. We were polite and chatted but no more. They wanted to go round in a gang in the day which we told them didn't work for us. We wanted quiet quality time as a family, enjoying each other's company. Our two children were not keen on their three which was the decider for us. They then suggested meeting up and having dinner with us every night so we did a couple of times to keep the peace. Said our goodbyes (with a sigh of relief) at the end of the holiday and we know did not exchange addresses.

Two weeks later postcard arrives from them saying lovely it was to meet us and would love to see us again. No address so obviously no response from us. Several letters and cards since in similar vein then the Christmas card yesterday. We don't want them and have no room for them. My DPs are staying over Christmas and there is no way we can change plans and go to them.

Help, what shall we do?

OP posts:
ClashCityRocker · 06/12/2015 12:40

I would be sure to inform him that you have ordered and paid for loads of extra christmas food and drink for your unexpected guests.

It's a bit of a twattish thing to do, this would send me into a right tailspin.

gleam · 06/12/2015 12:42

Don't wail about it in front of fil - just tell him that as you've no room, the holiday family will be staying at their house!

ElsaAintAsColdAsMe · 06/12/2015 12:45

I would tell FIL that you called the police with your concerns about this family getting your address and threatening to show up and the police now have the letters.

Or make up a load of shit about the content of the letter and watch his reaction.

Salmotrutta · 06/12/2015 12:47

Gaaah!

We're now going to have to wait for hours to find out anything else because OP is away to PILs.

Bloody inconsiderate that!

PaulAnkaTheDog · 06/12/2015 12:48

Can someone please give me a link to the Janet and Roy stuff??

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 06/12/2015 12:52

I'd go all out and say you're REALLY excited about hosting this family (with no mention of any invite for the PILs)

Grin
Original poster
Pennybun4 · 06/12/2015 12:55

No, PIL live in Surrey. He has a Freedom pass so if him would be going up there for free.

Yes Fairenuff, will do that, so excited, gonna be just like the summer and all that, DP is up for it too.

My DS has an Elf on the Shelf doll for her DC. We have keys for the ILs house so whilst we are at the pub today she is going to creep in and take some photos of the Elf doing things in their house. To be posted to them in the lead up to Christmas. Elf in the kitchen cooking, Elf smoking one of his cigars, Elf in their bed............

OP posts:
Littleallovertheshop · 06/12/2015 12:57

Best AIBU for ages - please keep us updated

Original poster
Pennybun4 · 06/12/2015 12:58

DSis i should say not my son!

OP posts:
ShebaShimmyShake · 06/12/2015 12:59

Just placemarking, I've got to know how this turns out...

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 06/12/2015 12:59

Oh I think I'd go the police route as well - mention to your ILs that you have mad stalkers and you're quite worried about them being dangerous loons, so have asked the police to look into it for you! See if they squirm then.

This is actually unpleasant behaviour if it is your ILs - it's along the lines of ordering taxis and pizzas to your door at midnight - and I'm fairly sure the police take a dim view of it, as it constitutes harassment or something.

WitchWay · 06/12/2015 12:59

Could be genuine - they could have asked the campsite manager for your address, said they'd accidentally picked up something of yours & wanted to return it...

panicking slightly for you Grin

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 06/12/2015 13:00

Although I like your Elf ideas too

shouldwestayorshouldwego · 06/12/2015 13:00

You need to send a Janet and Roy from somewhere you don't go to and not likely to get to and think of some way in which he might have known them - holiday, long lost Uni friend etc.

I probably wouldn't mention the unexpected guests and see how hard he fishes for information on them/ Christmas plans etc. EoS sounds good idea too.

ShebaShimmyShake · 06/12/2015 13:02

No way the campsite would pass out personal details if they're halfway competent...they'd just tell the family to hand over the lost item and they'd get in contact to return it themselves.

OP, did the family tell you they live in London? I admit it does sound like a windup, but it's really not hard to find someone's address if they know the full name of everyone in your house and the city you live in, which you probably would have mentioned in conversation. I once tracked down someone who lived in my house 20 years ago quite easily (I had a good reason, I promise, found something I thought he'd value, and he was delighted when I made contact).

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 06/12/2015 13:04

it has to be a wind up.

Original poster
Pennybun4 · 06/12/2015 13:04

We've just arrived at the pub. Kids don't know anything about all this so unlikely to say anything. My DP agrees we say nothing and see what happens. EoS is happening, DSis is a past master at revenge and happy to help. Isn't her by the way as she is coming to us for Christmas and convinced this is to do with PIL not being invited.

OP posts:
ShebaShimmyShake · 06/12/2015 13:05

Does the handwriting look even vaguely familiar? Or is it printed?

MaisieDotes · 06/12/2015 13:05

Are you sure it isn't your DH?

somersetsoul · 06/12/2015 13:08

Marking my place.. I love a good wind up retaliation :)

UnGoogleable · 06/12/2015 13:12

Love this - can someone please explain what a Janet and Roy is though? Can't search on this machine!

OP I don't want to scare you BUT a family we once met on holiday came to visit us years back - it was all arranged, parents invited them. However, they told my Dad not to give them any directions to the house or the full address, as they wanted to see if they could work it out just from the things they'd told them during the holiday. They worked it out. Now, we lived in a pretty remote unique place, so I guess that's easier in some ways than picking the right house on a street - but it IS possible to do.

But I still think it's the PILs Grin

SauvignonBlanche · 06/12/2015 13:15

Why aren't the PILS invited for Christmas dinner, do they usually come?

ShipwreckedAndComatose · 06/12/2015 13:15

This is just brilliant!

Crazycatlady27 · 06/12/2015 13:16

This is sure to end up in 'Classics'

DinosaursRoar · 06/12/2015 13:17

fabulous! Say nothing and act like there's nothing going on, FIL might start angling to find out if you got any cards yet etc.

Mind you, I love the idea of the police/stalker routine.