AIBU to ask for some good excuses

[Ghanagirl]

To ask you to think of good excuse for getting out of having lunch with my cousin.
She's over staying at my mums and I've seen her once and will be seeing her again before she leaves but she wants to have lunch with me in London 2moro.
I don't want to leave kids with husband on a bank holiday plus she annoyed me a bit when we saw her yesterday.
I don't want to fall out so need a good excuse please.

You already have plans. Sorry.

"Sorry, something has come up/not really feeling up to it/have to do something for work I can't do later in the weekend"

I can't say we have plans because I already agreed, I've changed my mind as I'm bit cheesed off with her and as we are going in to London with kids on Saturday I don't really want to spend 2 days on tubes.
She's American and can be really hard work but don't want to fall out as we previously went through a time when we weren't communicating

You feel ill (migraine/vomiting).

Something has broken (tumble dryer/boiler) and you are waiting in for someone to fix it.

One of the kids needs something urgently (not medical attention).

When I don't want to do something I just say sorry I can't make it, rather than give a long winded excuse which usually gives it away as a lie

Husband is p'd off because he'd a surprise outing planned for you!

And you don't want to let him down because he rarely makes an effort (that bit has to sound true surely!)

Say you've got to bring the kids and they'll only eat curry or something she hates.

I think 'Sorry, I can't make it' for an arranged meeting is rude. I expect an excuse, even when it is an excuse. Only manners!

Migraine is perfect. It's an all day issue so no way you could go meet her tomorrow anytime, and no point in her changing plans and coming to you, which she might if you just said you have to be home for something.

Text her early so she can make new plans for her day, and just say you've woken up with an awful migraine and won't be up to seeing her.

Trifleorbust
I know that's why I'm thinking of excuses, it's a complicated family situation and my mum will also be annoyed if break the arrangement but I'm tired of trying to please family members☹️

If you don't want to try and please family members then say no in the first place. Rude to cancel at the last minute.

Text, 'Sorry but dh has been asked to work so I am in charge of DC who have several complicated arrangements. Pity but it was good to catch up yesterday. Have a safe trip home.'

You have the runny shits

Yes this is where the shits can come in useful. Early doors text apologising as you have been up half the night and are going back to bed (and turning your phone off).

I think having the shits is far too obvious an excuse!

Just say DH has to work and you need to take the kids to a party.

To be fair I very often do have the shits with my chronically misbehaving arse, so it is very believable if that's my reason for not going to something. Lucky me

Take a couple of senakot and then it won't be a lie!

Then phone her while you're on the toilet so she gets the sound effects.

Sorry, I'm on the bank hol wine. Do it though!

You've tripped and twisted your ankle!!

Migraine. I suffer with them and stress brings them on so perfect excuse.

Update not only did my cousin call to cancel our lunch after her day out sightseeing with my Mum, she also said (demanded) that I pick her with kids in tow from Hertfordshire and drive (past my house in London suburbs) and Park in central London as she didn't want to "deal with public transport" when I said no as parking would be impossible she said she didn't feel up to it!
I was fuming as kids were looking forward to it and my DH had kindly prepaid for her and my Mums tickets, so I'm now relegating her to "extremely distant cousin"