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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To book a hotel?

24 replies

Toystorypants · 26/05/2019 21:15

Name changed just in case any if the family are on here as coukd be identifying and I don't want it linked to my medical postings etc.

Background - me and DP have been together for 6 years, no MIL issues, we get along very well

DP is joining the navy, as part of his initial training he has to complete 10 weeks of officer training in Dartmouth (literally about an 11 - 12 hour drive from our home). So, I won't see him for 10 weeks

At the end of the 10 weeks training, he completes a parade thing to signify the end of his officer training. Everyone dresses up in their Sunday best and watches their loved ones march about in their fancy uniforms and generally has a jolly good day.

Myself, MIL and FIL are going to the parade. MIL and FIL have decided to make a holiday of it and are going down to Dartmouth for 5 days before and then staying 2 days after the parade. They have booked a self catering 3 bedroomed apartment.

To save on money, they have kindly said we could stay with them after the parade and travel back up the road with them in the car, which is saving us at least a couple of hundred pounds in flights or trains - still all good so far.

EXCEPT here is where I genuinely don't know if IABU or not to book a hotel room for the night of the parade because... Well we won't have seen each other for 10 weeks (you can fill in the blanks here).

MN, what do you think? Wait an extra 2 days until we get back home after 10 weeks without each other or risk being rude and booking into a hotel for a night.

Plus if I book into a hotel its a bit obvious to MIL and FIL what we will be getting up to Blush although, we are all grown ups here!!!

OP posts:
Annabk · 26/05/2019 21:17

I would just wait the extra two days Smile

Notthetoothfairy · 26/05/2019 21:23

Just stay with them and keep the noise down

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 26/05/2019 21:27

When my DH did it they got a few night passes - I saw him a few times before passing out (managed to get pg!). We had a similar distance to travel - I drove down and stayed the night in a local hotel.

Won’t he have a ball after his passing out? You’ll finish late. Don’t waste the money on a hotel - you’ll be shattered after the ball and lots of cheap drink!

Cryalot2 · 26/05/2019 21:28

Only you know how you are, I wouldn't book hotel.
Just see what happens and ignore in-laws. They are hardly going to say anything or walk in ?
Enjoy your day .

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 26/05/2019 21:31

And you can pop up to his room during the ball!

Also I wouldn’t have booked an apartment just yet. Seems a bit forward.

BIWI · 26/05/2019 21:31

How much noise do you both make?!

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 26/05/2019 21:34

I wouldn’t book a hotel for the sake of 2 days.

SimonJT · 26/05/2019 21:37

As someone who was often away from their partner from anything from four weeks, to three months I would definitely book a hotel.

Toystorypants · 26/05/2019 21:44

See, I have heard about a ball but nothing official on any of the joining paperwork... Confused

And how did you manage to drive that far by yourself? I get really sore shoulders after about 4 hours!

OP posts:
NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 27/05/2019 05:56

I suppose it helped that I had my parents at 1/3 of the distance and my in-laws at 2/3! Lots of stops. Or fly down? Plymouth airport and Exeter airport are both equidistant. The drive is quite easy until you get to Totnes.

I’m sure there is a ball for every passing out.

stucknoue · 27/05/2019 06:09

I would be very surprised if you can get one to be honest, it's a small place and they can price gouge for passing out, though it's only phase one (or whatever it's called) I think DD's definitely a lot longer than 10 weeks and it's at the end of the whole thing that there's a ball, my friends son finishes in August and he went after Christmas. Dd has to complete university first. I know it's a huge thing at the end and we have to buy her a sword

user1493413286 · 27/05/2019 06:12

I’d book the hotel; 10 weeks is a long time!

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 27/05/2019 08:27

I don’t think you have to have a sword. They can borrow them.

I’m assuming the OP has a DH who is a SUY or a medic hence the shorter course than a normal entrant.

I’ll see if I can find the hotel we always used. It was the next village along IIRC. It was 15 years ago!

TK421 · 27/05/2019 09:57

OP, is your DH joining the regular RN or the RNR?

If regular then agree with @NearlySchoolTimeAgain SUY, doc/dentist or maybe chaplain.

OP there will definitely be a ball. On the Friday night after the Pass Out Parade, which is on the Thursday. Unless DH is RNR then it’s all different.

WRT a sword he can sign one out from the armoury for the parade. It is certainly not mandatory to buy one. They start at £800 and up if brand new.

violetdazed · 27/05/2019 10:30

I was at POP for my son last week - it was all over by 4:30 and there was no ball.
It was an amazing day though!!
This was at hms Raleigh.
I'd be tempted to book a hotel - like you say, you're all adults and 10 weeks is a long time.....

violetdazed · 27/05/2019 10:38

Oh, and we didn't have to buy a sword either!!

Toystorypants · 27/05/2019 12:38

Thanks everyone for your responses!

Just to clear up any confusion, DP is actually joining the Royal Fleet Auxhillary (RFA) which is the civilian manned support to the RN. A lot of people haven't heard of the RFA though so it's easier to say RN! So that's why he just does 10 weeks at BRNC.

I wonder if maybe RFA don't get a ball...? Though it does sound amazing so I hope they do.

10 weeks is a very long time so I am edging more towards the hotel idea but how to approach this with PILs!

OP posts:
Toystorypants · 27/05/2019 12:38

And I will not be buying DP a sword Grin

OP posts:
Aebj · 27/05/2019 12:47

Don’t bother with a hotel, Just keep the noise down!! 10 weeks is easy . No time at all! We’ve only seen my dh for 15 weeks in the last 2.5 years! Borrow the sword or look for a fake one on eBay ( dh got his from eBay).
You are better investing in a small packet of tissues and waterproof makeup. Your heart will be bursting with pride. Enjoy the day. Dartmouth is beautiful

YouCantSeeMeHere · 27/05/2019 12:49

How loud are you planning to be 😂😂😂

PawPawNoodle · 27/05/2019 13:39

Christ where do you live for it to be an 11-12 hour drive!

I wouldn't book the hotel room, I doubt much action will be going on anyway with the excitement of the day. Much better to shag in your own bed anyway.

BlueJava · 27/05/2019 14:09

I'd definitely be booking that hotel!

GemmeFatale · 27/05/2019 17:54

Not to put a downer on things but that date ten weeks after starting isn’t a sure thing. Around 20% of the course won’t make it (medical issues, failed modules, disciplinary bullshit, etc). And you’ll probably get a night/weekend together at some point in the ten weeks. See how it goes

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 28/05/2019 06:26

Ah, maybe no ball then. Unless they happen to coincide with the main ball. What a shame! Perhaps there will another one in his time there? I love the Dartmouth balls.

violet I’m assuming the one at Raleigh was a ratings POP? BRNC is for Officers.

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