Long backstory. We live 157 miles from ILs. We always visit them. In the time DH has lived up here - 10 years - they have been to us once when our son was born, once a few months after he was born, for our wedding. They have come on trips up this way (Blackpool, York, Leeds) and we have changed our plans to visit them where they are. (The trips are usually coach/train based so they have no transport so we have to drive to them - York and Blackpool being an hour or so from us).
So ILs are up this way again this week. They said it would be nice to see them. So we have both booked Thursday off and told them this. They said they would let us know on arrival when they are free and we said if needs be we would go and see them in the evening if they arent free on the Thurs. I guess we kind of (naively) thought they may give one of their trips a swerve because we have both booked the day off and are prepared to take our son out of nursery (which is already paid for at £45) so we can see them. I text saying what are your trips etc and MIL listed 3. So they arrive today and go home Fri. So the 3 intervening days are booked up with trips surely? She asked how far one of the places was from us and I said about an hour. We could always meet you there. She said she would let us know tonight after their itinery is confirmed. That they don;t anticipate being back late from their trips but they don't know what time dinner is served.
I feel a bit miffed I guess that we are willing to make several changes, book holidays etc to see them, but of course, they can't miss dinner!
GRRRRR