What's all this flipping tinkly laughing?

[MardyBra]

And bloody head-tilting?

Haven't been on MN much recently, and I've come back to find that the standard advice for dealing with MILs, SILs and Wendys is to say something passive aggressive with a head tilt and a tinkly laugh.

What's wrong with an assertive down-to-earth: "MIL, I know you want to spoil the grandkids with a large box of Quality Street for their tea, but I'd prefer it if you could feed them kale and quinoa. Thanks."

Instead the standard advice being doled out is increasingly a passive aggressive: "We don't want them getting fat MIL" [head tilt].

Fuck that.

I prefer to do a Barbara Windsor cackle myself, I don't think I have the tinkly gene. You need an RP accent for that imho.

Oh you are all such meanies

Irl I am more likely to tell someone to "fuck off".

tinkly laugh= mirthless laugh