To expect my sister to tell me she's not coming to visit at Christmas and that she's taking my mother to Madeira for a holiday?

[Indiechick]

I mean I know we hadn't exactly set in stone the arrangements but she did say she wanted to spend Christmas with me and family and now apparently she's taking mother to Madeira for a holiday.
Half of me is glad she's not coming, but it's so rude!

It's funny how threads like this highlight the different expectations of people. I'd love it if my family - and DP's too for that matter - suddenly announced they were all off on holiday over Christmas because then I could personally enjoy Christmas as i believe it should be enjoyed, i.e. a relaxing occasion, doing what I want (for a change) and without having to somehow accommodate 2 sets of families who have a very different idea of Christmas to me (as does DP unfortunately) involving much driving up and down the country.

However, all that aside, if your sister had led you to understand that certain plans would be effected, then yes, it is rude of her not to speak to you personally if they then changed.