Mil parking when on holiday

[Flowerwords]

Mil lives in central London and regularly goes away for long periods at a time say 6 weeks. Because of road maintenance etc she feels she can't risk leaving her car in the roads surrounding her home for fear it will be towed away if they do any work on the road.
So every time she goes away (at least 3 x per year) she brings the car to us and leaves it in a local station car park that doesn't charge. We are just under an hours train trip from London. She never gets the train always coach as cheaper then we have to collect her from a local town and take her to pick her car up. She has just refused to get train directly to the station to get her own car btw.
We do not have room on our drive for her car btw this has been a past battle.
She is highly demanding about this and expects everyone to drop everything when she decides she wants to pick it up. Today she has just phoned demanding we arrange to pick her up tonight to do it having arrived back yesterday. This is not convenient we both work and have 3 children who include 2 school age with after school activities tonight plus a toddler.
To clarify no she never combines it in anyway with seeing her grandchildren, no she never has or does help us in anyway. Her standard line is "it's our duty to do as she wants".
So AIBU to be a little miffed and think she should pay airport parking like the rest of us or leave her car at home.
Also her other child lives in London and could surely check on said car occasionally? ( she does help other child regularly with child care also despite ignoring our children)
Or I'm a complete cow? (Probably but seriously she has been really rude today telling us her car is more important than our children's clubs)

If she's away so much the logical answer is to sell the car and join a car club.

Problem solved.

Just say 'yes, sure' but don't actually turn up until it suits you/DH. When she complains that you are late, be vague, blame traffic, busy, etc.. Just let it wash over you. Suit yourselves, like she suits herself.

I'm my local town councillors are allowed free parking at the station.
One dumped his car there and cleared off on holiday for 2 weeks. Unfortunately he forgot about the annual food festival which used the square in front of the station AND the carpark.
When he got back his car had been cordoned off and was surrounded by food stalls FOR A WEEK!! The cordoned off area was also being used as an unofficial bin.
Since then they are only allowed to park there for free while on Council business

I think the best thing would be for you ,or rather your dh, to text her a couple of cab company phone numbers .he might need to explain the concept of cabs to her since she has apparently never previously had to use one.

Some people travel by train to a place they may stay for a short while so leave cars at the station. Still 6 weeks is taking the piss a bit.

Is she definitely going to leave her Chelsea house to your DH in her will? As there are only two siblings, that might be worth fannying about for if it's mortgage-free and freehold.

Don't be rash. It's worth considering how long this annoying situation might continue.

How close to death is she? I mean in terms of age and health, rather than what you might want to do to her? Don't do anything silly unless you can make it look like an accident.

limitedperiodonly this is where you find out the MIL is 55!

when I lived in central London my car got towed because of street works. And it has happened to one of my friends. So it does happen!

It does Alanna1. It happened to me while I was on a three-week holiday and someone applied for a parking suspension for a house move. There were no signs when I parked. There was no car when I came back.

The council take the money for the parking suspension and also take the car pound fines for releasing yours too. And they collect on your resident's permit too.

It's why I don't have a car any more. I don't need one and if I do, I hire. No more scurrying about checking suspensions.

Being away for six weeks or more isn't wrong as long as the vehicle is taxed, insured and legally parked in the first place. Neither is being rich and living in Chelsea. But if it becomes a problem, then it is sensible to get rid of your car. Even if you secretly call it Betsy after your late dad's car.

I did about 12 years ago and it's been great. I ride Betsy the Bus now or sometimes Tilly the Taxi Mostly I walk. That's the great thing about living and working in Central London.

Come on ImperialBlether Two adult children? School age grandchildren? She's got to be older than 55. But living in Chelsea with loads of clinics on her doorstep, she's probably very well preserved.

limitedperiodonly that did make me LOL. She's about 68 but she's a scary battleaxe hypochondriac type thus will live to at least 100 and probably outlive us! But yes her home is in rather good location.
But she apparently can't cope without her car even for a day in London?
Anyway she came at 4 DH took her to station then, juggled work to do so and missed eating with children. Also he managed to have massive row with her so the normal situation. I didn't see her at least.

I live in the south too and know only of one station with free parking. Close to a town beginning with "T"? I won't give the station name in case anyone else guesses. I might be wrong of course!

She sounds an utter nightmare.

No not a T!

I am honestly surprised that her car hasn't been towed away yet,leaving it in a station car park for 6 weeks at a time!

No I know, think it's an "A"?! If not then I'm definitely wrong! But it has a very small car park and it's the only one i know that's free.

Never fear Flowerwords we're probably talking about 20 years tops for your MIL. That's got to be worth the wait at Chelsea prices.

My mum only managed 90 and a half despite disgustingly clean living and plenty of exercise. She was really nice too; so I'm not the only one who misses her and wishes she was still with us. It's been more than three years and my husband got teary about her last night. She was pretty great and I miss her every day.

However, back to your MIL. Lots of Chelsea houses have steep steps leading to a hard basement about 15ft down

Tell her to get in touch with her local council to find out about proposed road works? She sounds like a right entitled pita

Limitedperiodonly the nice ones always go first the difficult ones I.e my MIL live forever!
But yep steps in her flat and slippery marble path to her doorstep, you give me some hope of escape one day. Honestly she WILL live to 150 if it made life difficult for somebody it's the way she is!

Car park is a decent size, DH actually had a past car stolen from there but sadly not MIL's car.

Sounds like my local station. Free parking, next to a Tesco, an hour out of London.

Car park is always full.

She is taking the right Royal piss, and not just out of you and your DH. Any chance of her retiring to her warmer home country in light of Brexit?

She voted Brexit!!! And she is foreign. Sadly despite having 2 homes abroad she will always live in London. DH is constantly trying to persuade her to stay in her holiday home as she really does make his life hell but no she keeps coming back. She likes to be difficult!

No Tesco btw

Say no.

At least you didn't have to see her today - small blessing!

Suggestion

Some hotels near airports, if you stay in the hotel for one night
Give free parking to hotel guests for the time you are abroad
Use the hotel bus to get to airport, some free, some about £10

You can get good offers eg £50 a night if book in advance

MIL may find hotel with spa, so can relax

Yes but then she wouldn't be getting the attention she so desperately craves by being a pita.

It's the disruption and disturbance that she loves...

Suddenly your car isn't working, it just won't start. Might be the starter motor or the battery or the fact that you aren't picking its keys up from the hall table.

Shame on you Shame