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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Travelling to a wedding tomorrow...

75 replies

Imthecaffeinequeen · 17/02/2022 20:11

Due to attend a friends wedding tomorrow (wedding is going ahead!), I am in SE and wedding is taking place in Wiltshire.
Roughly 1.5 hour drive on motorway/ A roads/ some country roads.

Will be travelling alone with my 2 primary aged children.
Due to the weather forecasts/warnings I am very hesitant in making this journey, reasons being the distance, driving conditions and being alone with 2 young children should anything happen.

However friend has had wedding postponed previously due to covid and I would feel awful letting them down last minute.

What to do??

OP posts:

SC215 · 17/02/2022 20:26

I wouldn't drive. The wind is predicted to get up to 75mph here tomorrow, I'll be staying in!

ShirleyBadass · 17/02/2022 20:28

I'm in Somerset bordering Wiltshire and they've shut all of our schools tomorrow because of the weather and said don't travel unless totally necessary....

Liondolphin · 17/02/2022 20:32

If you going to be in or passing through a red warning zone I wouldn’t risk it. With risk we weigh up the likelihood of something happening along with the likely consequences. It’s unlikely that something catastrophic would happen but WAY more likely than normal. The outcome could be fatal in a worst case scenario (I’m thinking of the death of a ten year old in a storm recently). I think I wouldn’t go. I’ve cancelled plans tomorrow. Red alerts are as ‘rare as hens teeth’ according to this mornings weather report.

PJsAndRainyDays · 17/02/2022 20:32

Glad that's really tough but think if he too scared to drive. Could you get a train? If the are actually running that is.

oldstudentmum · 17/02/2022 20:40

I wouldn’t we have had red alert near us. Potential 105mph winds. Don’t travel etc warnings.

ohhooh · 17/02/2022 20:46

Are you staying over? If I was staying over I'd probably travel, but it really depends on how comfortable you are with the travelling.

Pumpfive · 17/02/2022 20:49

Can you book last minute drive tonight?! I realise it's 9 but if you've packed and ready to go, you'd have got the drive out of the way (this is assuming you're staying over tomorrow night. The worst seems to be tomorrow morning.

Tigersonvaseline · 17/02/2022 20:49

I couldn't do it.
Worst night mare, cars turned over , lorry struck on a motor way in high winds, due to accident, no amenities ,shit scary.

It's absolutely awful timing that her wedding has happened on this day but is that worth putting your small DC into a car to drive them through this? Won't they be absolutely terrified??

Original poster

Imthecaffeinequeen · 17/02/2022 20:50

@ohhooh

Are you staying over? If I was staying over I'd probably travel, but it really depends on how comfortable you are with the travelling.

Unfortunately not staying, due to drive there and back tomorrow as working the weekend. Weather doesn't normally bother me but in my area we are forecasted up to 80mph wind and alot of the schools locally have closed already. I think its purely the fact I would be alone with the children and don't want to risk anything happening to them or risk being stranded somewhere with them.

OP posts:

Northernsoullover · 17/02/2022 20:51

Anyway you can go now as others have said ? A few of my friends have just posted on Facebook that they are heading off on weekend breaks this evening ahead of tomorrow

Magicmelodies21 · 17/02/2022 20:52

I would also go tonight, really not worth the risk and stress!

MagratsDanglyCharms21 · 17/02/2022 20:53

It boils down to not wanting to upset someone vs you and your children's safety. Sorry but it's pretty obvious what you should do although I understand why you are conflicted. If anything happened to you or your children she wouldn't forgive herself.

2tired2bewitty · 17/02/2022 20:55

What time do you need to set off? The red warning is in place til 12pm so by mid morning it should be possible to have an idea of how bad it really is out there.

Original poster

Imthecaffeinequeen · 17/02/2022 20:58

@MagratsDanglyCharms21

Thank you, yes that's exactly the issue you are right. I can't go tonight as would have nowhere to stay. Have looked into public transport but that's not an option.

Obviously my DC's safety/wellbeing is absolutely my main priority and I am leaning more to not travelling purely because of the risk.
But I do feel awful letting friend down at this point!

OP posts:

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 17/02/2022 21:00

Isn't there anywhere within about a 15min drive of the venue? Travelodge Premier Inn etc?

Original poster

Imthecaffeinequeen · 17/02/2022 21:00

@2tired2bewitty

What time do you need to set off? The red warning is in place til 12pm so by mid morning it should be possible to have an idea of how bad it really is out there.

Would need to set off around midday, but that's roughly when then peak of the winds etc is set to hit my area.

OP posts:

Original poster

Imthecaffeinequeen · 17/02/2022 21:04

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Isn't there anywhere within about a 15min drive of the venue? Travelodge Premier Inn etc?

Thank you, I've just looked up 3 closest hotels I could find and all saying no availability for tonight

OP posts:

HelloDulling · 17/02/2022 21:05

If you can find a budget night’s stay, I’d leave now and get there before it starts.

Maggiesgirl · 17/02/2022 21:09

I'm in Wiltshire, right in the middle of the Plain. All the senior schools are closed tomorrow an most of the primary. I'm not going anywhere.

Summerfun54321 · 17/02/2022 21:11

Do you have to take the children? Could you go on the train just yourself and find someone else to watch the children for the day?

SynchroSwimmer · 17/02/2022 21:15

I’m near the M4, and absolutely wouldn’t be going on there tomorrow…

But perhaps I have lived through too many weather related incidents…

Wouldn’t want to be in a car with my most valuable assets - and being put in out of control situations with other vehicles, high sided vehicles, trees and uncontrolled debris.

Peasandcabbage · 17/02/2022 21:16

You go to bed and worry about it tomorrow. You are intending to go, who knows what will happen overnight. Yes it's late notice tomorrow but crikey it could be cancelled tomorrow. Just worry nearer the time.

Peasandcabbage · 17/02/2022 21:19

I don't say that in a light way. I'm very rural Scotland. No power 10 days Storm arwen. Not forecast for us to be as bad. So I think back to beast from east, not forecast to be as bad. Five days no power. Next storms, huge panic. I just now go day by day.

Original poster

Imthecaffeinequeen · 17/02/2022 21:19

@Summerfun54321

Do you have to take the children? Could you go on the train just yourself and find someone else to watch the children for the day?

Yes, at this point there is no one I could ask to watch them. No family/friends available nearby, usually rely on school clubs during the week for childcare but they require a weeks notice to book a session!

OP posts:

Original poster

Imthecaffeinequeen · 17/02/2022 21:25

@Peasandcabbage

Thank you, perhaps that is the best thing to do at this point and assess the situation in the morning. As I've said I am leaning more towards not going currently but perhaps best just to see what tomorrow brings!

I think it's just the anxiety of the unknown and the thought of letting my friend down. Wouldn't be so worried if I was travelling alone it's the thought of anything happening with my children with me.

OP posts:

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