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AIBU?

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Original poster

CF ILS - anyone else want to vent?

285 replies

CheshGirl · 31/12/2023 11:44

Cooked and hosted Christmas dinner for in-laws as well as my family including my 2 small children (also currently 12 weeks pregnant).

In-laws asked what they could "bring" earlier in Dec, I said nothing really as I had it ordered from Ocado.

By this MIL assumed it was all prepared as her response was "how lovely, Christmas in a box", throughout the day she continued to question what I had made and what had come "done".

We agreed they would bring "drinks"...

Considering there were 7 adults and 2 children, any guesses what they turned up with...?!

OP posts:
Arrestedforit · 31/12/2023 13:19

billycat321 · 31/12/2023 13:14

On page 4 of replies and poster STILL hasn't told us!

To be fair, the OP was also incapable of telling her in laws what to bring, so no surprises there Grin

Serene135 · 31/12/2023 13:20

Did they bring a periscope?

akittencalledjesus · 31/12/2023 13:22

A Brita filter jug?

raindropsonatinroof · 31/12/2023 13:22

One can of coke and bottle of Avocaat?

JANEY205 · 31/12/2023 13:23

Irritating thread but I’m going to guess they only brought soft drinks and a bottle of wine? I’d have no bloody idea what drinks to take as I don’t drink at all. Also why offer to cook and say don’t bring anything and then complain? Presumably you knew you had 2 children when you agreed to cook and the time to ask for help would have been once you were asked what to bring….I think you are CF for moaning about people who you told didn’t need to bring anything! I also don’t get the 12w pregnant relevance unless it’s making you unwell in which case why did DH not help?! Don’t host next time if you’re going to be grumpy as I’m sure the atmosphere was delightful…

ImCamembertTheBigCheese · 31/12/2023 13:25

A bottle of Diet Coke

ColleenDonaghy · 31/12/2023 13:25

I think you were unclear.

If you said "everything's ordered, but if you wanted to bring something you could bring drinks" then I'd assume you were covered for drink as well and I'd bring a couple of nice bottles as a thank you for hosting.

If you said "would you bring the drinks for everyone" then they would need to bring a lot more obviously but I think that's a big ask tbh.

IME hosting Christmas means providing the food and drinks, we don't expect anything other than a token thank you. If you want more than that then I think you need to be specific.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 31/12/2023 13:26

A dusty bottle of wine unearthed from the back of the cupboard and a bottle of lemonade for the kids

2catsandhappy · 31/12/2023 13:26

@Serene135 lol, no way 2 mn's got that.

MorningFresh · 31/12/2023 13:28

A box of mini tonics (but no gin)
Deja vu.

ANightmareBeforeChristmas · 31/12/2023 13:28

Half drunk bottle of pineapple-flavoured vodka brought back from a holiday in Majorca circa 1988.

Howbizzare22 · 31/12/2023 13:28

A penis beaker?

Hobnobswantshernameback · 31/12/2023 13:29

Well you can't have been that desperate to vent.
given that you posted an hour and a half ago and buggered off

Coastalcreeksider · 31/12/2023 13:29

Two pints of lager and a packet of crisps

Shinyandnew1 · 31/12/2023 13:30

Distantview · 31/12/2023 13:11

Not ILs but a half-cousin and his wife, both of whom clearly have mild learning disabilities/mental health issues and live about 10 miles from us - we are the nearest relatives on his side of the family.

I've been guilted into inviting them over for the annual Christmas family gathering we have with my DB and his family.

The half-cousin held down a job for many years until he was sacked fairly recently for what appears to be inappropriate behaviour (he speaks inappropriately to women, behaviour that was probably accepted earlier in his working life, but, rightly, isn't now).

Anyway, every time, they turn up empty-handed, which is fine, I don't ask them to bring anything, and then literally both eat and drink 3x the amount of everyone else. Fine, I know this will happen and cater accordingly.

But the cheekiest fuckery this year was when he WhatsApped in the morning (we were up to our eyes prepping lunch for 12 people) asking when we would pick them up (they don't drive, the buses were all running, no-one had suggested anyone would pick them up).

The message asking what date we're having the lunch will arrive next November - but we're definitely going away next year.

What did you reply to them asking when you were collecting them?!

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/12/2023 13:32

Haydenn · 31/12/2023 12:12

2 bottles of Buckie?

Guess you bide near my area then, 😆

Rimmer08 · 31/12/2023 13:33

Bag of weed, Jammy dodgers and a bottle of wkd blue

Icannoteven · 31/12/2023 13:34

2 pencils and a pair of underpants?

ripplingwater · 31/12/2023 13:35

A toilet brush, a rubber chicken and a packet of monster munch?

FancyJapflack · 31/12/2023 13:36

Well come on. Tell us. I need to walk the dog.

Serene135 · 31/12/2023 13:36

I know, I saw one of the posts @2catsandhappy. 😂 If my DH bought me a periscope for Christmas I would be using it to annoy him at every opportunity 😂

mangochops · 31/12/2023 13:36

Rimmer08 · 31/12/2023 13:33

Bag of weed, Jammy dodgers and a bottle of wkd blue

That's my kind of Christmas 😂

PinkyFlamingo · 31/12/2023 13:38

A bag of tea bags?

Distantview · 31/12/2023 13:39

What did you reply to them asking when you were collecting them?

That we had no intention of collecting them, and sent a link to the bus timetables (buses they have caught here before). DH took them home because he wanted to pick something up from a DIY store near their home (and the weather was terrible by then, plus it got rid of them before they settled down and asked for more food 😆).

They are also 'lobster thermidor' types - we have a mutual relative who visits our city most years and treats all of us to a meal - very generous of him.

The rest of us choose modestly and offer to pay for our drinks, but without fail CF half-cousin and his wife pick the most expensive steak on the menu, scarf 3 full courses and cousin loudly asks if there's any more wine after downing the first bottle.

They give us plenty to talk about!

MillarMountVandal · 31/12/2023 13:40

mangochops · 31/12/2023 13:36

That's my kind of Christmas 😂

Show quote history

Mine too, though i'd probably swap the wkd for a large bottle of red cola.