Univited guests for Christmas.

[Pennybun4]

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?

Definitely a prank. My parents did it on my aunt and uncle a few years ago, almost identical except they were Aussie 'friends' from way back on holiday in Europe. DM even got a friend to post a letter from France .

Anyway, A&U pondered and mildly fretted for some weeks sound familiar? until Christmas Eve. They went for a pub meal with my fun loving DPs who arranged for another friend to dump a load of luggage on their doorstep to find when they got home.

How that all laughed.

How have you come to the conclusion it is your PILs?

Well, if they did turn up you just simply send them on their way. No reason to stay out all day.

None of this makes much sense really.

You have also gone from saying it can't be a wind up as no one else knows their names to being convinced it in your FIL.

A really horrible part of me is hoping this is true and you have a bunch of nutters turn up on the 23rd.

I suspect that it's a wind up though. I think you need to be cautious about assuming it's your PIL though. Be on the lookout for people who start asking questions about your Christmas plans in the hope that you mention this. The perpetrator will want to see your reaction to this card....

How old are their dc? 2 and 4 is very young not to like other children.

Place-marking for the 23rd!

(Though good luck getting "someone else" to be present all that day, just "to open the door". Two days before Christmas? Not likely!)

Imperial, they sat there in stunned silence. The the bloke did an exaggerated yawn and said Well we're off to bed and went outside, and they drove away. My friends DH phoned the police who were able to catch up with them.
I'll never forget the look on her face when she was telling us in work. She said it was surreal sitting staring at the screen like this

I think the op has jumped on the suggestion that it is a wind up too quickly too, why would you PIL do this? Did they know about the people from the holiday?

What will you do if they do actually turn up?
Do you have it in you to turn them away?
Would you tell them that you never got a letter, or would you tell them you thought it was fil on a wind-up?

These are very important questions.

I think it's dh
Think elf thing is taking things too far tho. If it's not them then that's a huge infringement of their privacy

Awaiting 23rd December update when you get a houseful of uninvited nutjob
Guests!

Fascinating. I can't wait to see if the family turn up.
Sounds like fun messing with the PIL.

I think it's either DSis or DH. I think you should secretly tell DH you think it's DSis, and secretly tell sis that it's DH, then plan a few things, each to do to the other.

Well, I wonder if this thread will last till the 23rd!

Surely it must be your DH, OP?!

Just a thought was the inside of the card addressed to you by name. Im wondering if they've put the wrong card in the wrong envelope?
Im not placemarking for the 23rd

Excellent. Save me a seat, I'll be back with Bailey's.

Phew, just home from the pub. FIL kept up a constant barrage of how much were we all looking forward to Christmas, was I looking forward to my parents staying......

Asked at least three times whether we had received many Christmas cards yet. DP and I said a few cards but my family tradition is to not open them until Christmas Eve (a lie) to see what reaction we would get. He seemed to wait 30 mins and then ask again. MIL told him to shut up in the end.

Have to say DSis is very excited about the revenge thing but then she doesn't like the PIL. Suspecting everyone now - feeling paranoid.

Oh and their names are Tom and Catherine, DC are Robert, Emma, and Lucy. Don't know their surnames. The Christmas card said they been down to the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park so assume that was the London postcode thing.

Sudden thought, Dracula was buried in Whitby wasn't he? Are they the undead do you think.

But I don't think you are Hully!