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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think the novelty has worn off after 3 hours

169 replies

pinkginandtonic · 26/11/2017 18:26

Went to brother and sister in laws today for an early Christmas get together. We have just got home.

Had a lovely lunch, a few glasses of wine etc. All good fun and a bit of a laugh.

Then they get out the giant party poppers and before long the meal has descended into a riot with food, napkins etc being thrown across the table.

Now, I find this all quite fun and amusing but this literally goes on for 3 hours. No real conversation just constant throwing of food at one another. I know they all think I am really boring but I just find it very dull and childish for so long.

The brother and sister in law are in their 50's.

Every "do" that involves them always ends up the same way - in the summer the water pistol super soakers come out and that also goes on for 3 hours too.

It's not just at their house but at mine or at parents-in-law.

I have come home feeling like I must be a right old misery, but am I?

OP posts:
Original poster
pinkginandtonic · 27/11/2017 12:08

Father in law lives next door. I never see him unless someone is having a "do".

OP posts:
Ceto · 27/11/2017 15:30

I'd be pretty furious about having visitors running round my house grabbing receptacles to fill with water, particularly given that I assume that said receptacles had to be emptied first. I really don't know how you've tolerated this so far, OP.

Mxyzptlk · 27/11/2017 19:14

I wouldn't expect my OH to walk out on my family because he finds them dull (he does), so I don't walk out on his family.

I think tolerating a bit of dullness is not quite so much of an ordeal as tolerating a bunch of giant 6-year olds running around, shouting, flinging food and chucking water.

FloControl · 27/11/2017 19:58

These people sound like the worst ever dream. Food fights for the

over-fifties ? Unbelievable. Chimps' tea parties sound more civilised. I seriously wonder if everything is OK upstairs given the apparent lack of boundaries.

MrsAJ27 · 27/11/2017 20:13

Oh fuck no...I would not be putting up with that and they sure as hell wouldn't be behaving like that in my house.

If some one chucked a bin full of water on me I would absolutely lose my shit, I am raging on your behalf Angry

Be3Al2Si6O18 · 27/11/2017 20:20

Went to brother and sister in laws today for an early Christmas get together

What is an early Christmas get together? Is it like a prelude to the main event? A reason to make Christmas start earlier and earlier?

MyOtherNameIsAFordFiesta · 27/11/2017 20:25

@Be3Al2Si6O18 My in-laws also do the pre-Christmas get-together. It involves eating Christmas dinner 2 weeks before Christmas, with exactly the same people that we'll see on Christmas Day.

Another excuse for "banter" and tediousness fun.

Original poster
pinkginandtonic · 27/11/2017 21:00

Christmas day is at ours this year. So sister in law has to get her dinner in before hand. Parents in law will do theirs at some time around new year. I probably won't see any of them for months afterwards. They all seem to think we have to have a "do" each.

OP posts:
Mxyzptlk · 27/11/2017 21:10

Having a 'do' each is lovely as you all get on so well Grin

shushpenfold · 27/11/2017 21:13

Sounds incredibly annoying. Me in this situation........lobbing roast potatoes as hard as I could at their heads just to see if they wobble or alternatively knock some sense into them.

If they squawk; ‘it’s only fun....I thought this was what you wanted?’ (Face of innocence)

WashingMatilda · 27/11/2017 21:21

My own family are very steady and I'm sure my other half thinks they are all very dull

You can tell your OH that my family are some of the most vivacious, gregarious people, two of them are stand ups and we can party with the rest of them and even we would find this utterly tedious and bizarre af.

Don't let him say it's because you've not got a sense of humour, it's because you've got a sense of humour that you don't find this funny.

Sweetpea55 · 27/11/2017 21:27

The food throwing and water pistols sound very childish. It would irritate me to the point of going home early I think.

Bahhhhhumbug · 27/11/2017 22:23

I have one friend in our circle who whenever it's a hen do or a big birthday for one of the women in the group has to always try and bring along plastic willie's /rude versions of kiss me quick hats and so on. She was warned.my very quiet friend would hate all this for her hen night and had specified she just wanted a nice quiet meal and a few drinks afterwards.We are all in our forties/ fifties btw. But no she had to bring all sorts of phallic toys ,from straws to four foot blow up ones. My friend was in tears in the loo but put on a brave face and managed to laugh through it the whole evening. I was curious on her behalf and also hate stuff like that and ended up being called a miserable bugger, stuck up and who did l think l was etc.
These self professed party animals are a real pita.

Bahhhhhumbug · 27/11/2017 22:24

furious

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 27/11/2017 22:30

They sound awful. ZANY PEOPLE are boring as fuck.

Original poster
pinkginandtonic · 28/11/2017 07:03

Yes, to the hen do. Sister in laws then daughter in law to be's hen do was full of phallic straws, Penis party games, phallic balloons etc etc.

Again, not really my "sort of thing". Hmm Again, I just thought I was being dull.

OP posts:
Candlelight234 · 28/11/2017 07:14

I think you need to practice a death stare for next time they look like they are about to chuck a roast potato your way, or a bin full of water....

wictional · 28/11/2017 08:15

My family enjoy wrapping paper fights at Christmas (ten points if you miss your target and get it in the fire instead) and water fights in the summer (beware the person with the hose). We have a laugh. Nice to know that we’re common though, good old mumsnet. I’ll get radio 4 on and my slippers this Christmas, and not interact with anyone whilst wearing a cats bum face. Perfect.

shakingmyhead1 · 28/11/2017 08:51

Oh yes, I've had the bin chucked over me
You know when you've made an effort to do a nice BBQ and make yourself look presentable, put on your sunscreen etc and then it all descends into a riot

someone would have been tackled and savagely beaten if that were me, i don't like that sort of shit and i don't care if i piss people off saying they are not to involve me in their shit or i will become violent! if they then chose to involve me.... and i lose my shit so be it.... one birthday i was headed out afterwards to go clubbing with my BF, i got changed and went to grab my bag and go and the chefs said we have a gift for you, YAY!!!! went in the kitchen door and they slammed me with a tub of rancid whipped cream ( they knew i was off out) apparently i was out of order shoving one of them against the door frame and i turned to leave, with rancid whipped cream dripping off my hair and face... another time the kitchen boys would make up bucket of slops to throw on each other when they were leaving the job, the boss said its cool as long as the person agrees to it and they clean up, they wanted to get one of the girls, who wasn't into that at all, in the end i had her sit at my managers station all day till her shift was over and then i got her in my car and drove her home, when i got back i was accosted by 4 big guys saying i had to take ti for her since i got her away...i grabbed the biggest ones finger ( it was pointed at me) and slowly bent it backward and told him i would personally break his arm if he tried... he believed me ( may have helped that the boss said if i do break his arm he still better turn up to work) I dont play stupid games!

Bahhhhhumbug · 28/11/2017 09:09

wictional fine if you enjoy that but l bet you wouldn't do that for three hours whilst a guest or guests were tbere ,nor do you throw food around or full bi s of water over people so not the same.
People who hate this sort of thing are not all Radio 4 slipper wearing, po faced bores either. I have lots of laughter in my life and great times on nights out etc and will get up on an empty dance floor if l like what's playing and no one else will.
But l don't call the ones sat down miserable buggers and so on ,each to their own but as long as everyone is comfortable doing it

Ecureuil · 28/11/2017 09:11

wictional do you throw food at each other for 3 hours over the dinner table?

TheMaddHugger · 28/11/2017 09:31

I........... What?........... can't wrap my brain around this one.
Bizzare

Ceto · 28/11/2017 12:36

wictional, you do know that there are other ways to have a good time without water fighting for 3 hours or putting on Radio 4 and your slippers, don't you? Like, I don't know, talking to each other?

Faithless · 28/11/2017 12:40

Just the thought of these "dos" is making me feel anxious and stressed out.
I think it might be an extrovert - introvert thing rather than a class thing - I can imagine toffs having food fights more readily than (more familiarly) working class people who struggle to pay for food in the first place. I recently did an online personality test and one of the questions was something like "do you like to be around people who play practical jokes". No, I most certainly do not. Its about the need for extroverted people to constantly look for stimulation. Raucous behaviour is excruciating to us more introverted types.

Marylou2 · 28/11/2017 12:46

Wow OP I’m almost at a loss for words. What a bizarre situation. Perhaps invest in a festive kagoule and sit there with the hood up?

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