Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to go to London?

31 replies

twentypence · 27/04/2007 08:38

It would mean 2.5 hours on a train each way. An hours car journey at one end and an hour crossing London at the other, and then doing it all again a couple of days later with a 4 year old. Not to mention the cost for 3 (although the NZ dollar is having a high, it's not THAT high).

When my SIL is able bodied, has no children will have quit her job and could join us instead on our lovely narrow boat, the marina is on one of the stops from the London train.

OP posts:
moondog · 27/04/2007 08:39

I wouldn't even consider it.

Oblomov · 27/04/2007 08:42

No. I could be in London in 1/2 an hour , on the train. But I hardly ever go. Just not that keen.

Original poster
twentypence · 27/04/2007 08:44

Good, it's not just me then.

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 27/04/2007 08:49

People without children really don't understand how hard and draining it is to travel with kids. I know I didn't, before I had kids.

Oblomov · 27/04/2007 09:12

Blesss her, she doesn't have a clue. As NQC says, none of us did, did we ?

Oblomov · 27/04/2007 09:14

I have to take ds to Kings hospital , it is a nightmare. Car to Weybridge,. Train to Waterloo. Bus to Kings. Ds thinks its all great. But it is a total pain.
You are doing the right thing!

Original poster
twentypence · 27/04/2007 09:36

She is a nanny for 4 children - she knows exactly how hard it will be.

OP posts:
PippiLangstrump · 27/04/2007 09:49

I would! but then again I'd rather be out an about than be stuck at home.

Stigaloid · 27/04/2007 09:58

You don't say why you are invited to go - what's the occasion?

I know it's tiring but if it is for a specific reason then perhaps you should consider going. Or else arrange for babysitting and go yourself without the kids?

kslatts · 27/04/2007 10:26

I would go as I love London, we live quite close and often go at weekends, but even if I had a longer journey I would travel.

But you are not being unreasonable not wanting to go.

Original poster
twentypence · 27/04/2007 10:29

I will have already travelled from NZ, we'll be on holiday.

It's not for an occassion as such - just seeing SIL while we are in UK.

OP posts:
NineUnlikelyTales · 27/04/2007 10:34

Not unreasonable at all. It sounds a nightmare.

My friend keeps hinting that she wants us to visit her for a change. She has no children and a part time job. She lives on the south coast and I am in the East Midlands. I have a DS 7months and don't drive so would have to catch a minimum of 3 trains not including the cross London transfer, with all DS stuff and DS. And I have to express 4 times a day, which I don't think British Rail accommodates. It ain't happening, but she can't see why. Pah!

elkiedee · 27/04/2007 10:36

Have you tried inviting her to join you, and expressing your concerns about how tired you and the kids will all be? What reasons does she have for expecting you to come to her?

Stigaloid · 27/04/2007 10:55

Maybe she wants to show you her home and where her life is whilst you are over? I'd go if you can. If you are only here on hols you probably don't come over all that regularly as it is such a long way - she may wish to show you her life here and have you know where she lives, works, plays etc.

PippiLangstrump · 27/04/2007 10:58

well in that case it's different. You have done enough travelling and you might want to relax a bit.
maybe your sister wants you to see where she stays etc

Original poster
twentypence · 27/04/2007 11:20

We have seen where she lives before and the family will not be there. It's gone from "we'll meet up somewhere" to "come to London, I don't want to travel".

I have had enough trouble keeping my parents down to a maximum of an hours travel each way for day trips.

Ds is four and used to countryside and sheep.

OP posts:
Stigaloid · 27/04/2007 11:22

well if she said she didn't want to travel then no, YANBU. She is. Explain to her that this is your holiday and you have seen London and that travelling with your DC will be inconvenient. She is more than welcome to join you, otherwise you will have to meet up next time you are both in the same country.

casbie · 27/04/2007 11:29

we went on a trip to london (10 hours with lots of stops playing at NT places etc) and this is the first time that many of my family have seen all my children in the flesh so to speak. not for want of me inviting. over the past 7 years (and three children), my parents have only come down 3 times!!

they say they are too busy... read retired and two second-homes.

honestly, some people just don't realise.

we did the science and natural history museum, and that made it worth it!

chocolattegirl · 27/04/2007 11:38

I rarely take my dd into London and I live quite close . Mind she doens't like the tubes, DLR is ok so that's another consideration. I was the same at her age, we rarely went into London for outings.

Tbh I'd rather pack her into the car and go into the countryside or the beach. The advantage of London is that a lot of children's activities are free - provided that you know where to look. On a long-haul holiday, that's not really what you want to be doing.

mumblechum · 27/04/2007 11:46

Taking kids into London is hellish in my experience. Totally stressful, dirty, exhausting. I only go into London when I absolutely can't avoid it.

mummydoit · 27/04/2007 12:12

Why not tell her that you're reluctant to go into London because of the terrorist threat? I know mums who won't take their kids on tubes anymore, especially when you remember that one of the bombers in the failed attempt deliberately sat next to a mum with a baby.

newgirl · 27/04/2007 13:38

i love going in to london as does my dd age 4 - it all depends on where you go and what journey you make

however, in this case, it sounds like too far and too tiring. but my advice would be let your dh/dp deal with this - its his sister. he could say that youd all love to see her but the travelling is too much.

from her point of view though, i get pretty hacked off when my friend comes for a visit from the us - we are all booked in and are expected to fit in with her plans. I know why she does it, but it was her choice to move there. we do have lives too. Just trying to add another perspective!

NotQuiteCockney · 27/04/2007 17:02

It's true that when you visit your old country, you have to work around people who are already there. When I go to Canada, I travel around quite a bit to see friends and family - I don't really expect them to come to me, iyswim.

(The terrorist threat is pretty insignificant, btw. You are much much more likely to get run over by a car, anywhere in London, than blown up.)

Original poster
twentypence · 27/04/2007 19:18

I'm not worried about the terrorism any more than I am on the plane (we are going to Manchester, which has had pretty bad terrorist attacks of it's own), but I am concerned about having a tired child who is at briefcase knocking height. And the cost of getting us all there.

The only time we can go on the narrowboat are the days immediately after she leaves her job, which is the only time she can see us.

Ds is British (and kiwi), but is too young to want to see any of the icons of Britishness that only exist in London. Probably the only one he would recognise is a red double decker bus (like Bulgy from TTTE), but they are probably more likely to be found here now! he is very excited about the Manchester trams though.

OP posts:
Original poster
twentypence · 27/04/2007 19:19

Also the reason we booked the boat was that because she was leaving her job she wasn't sure where she would be living - so factoring in going to see her (which we would normally do) may not have been possible.

OP posts: