Family member has bought refrigerated gifts

[ScottyandWestie]

AIBU - Family member arriving on Saturday to stay for the whole of Christmas has just advised me they are bringing gifts which need to be refrigerated. It’s not alcohol but they will not explain what the items are for fear of “spoiling the surprise” and will need “possibly two shelves of the fridge”. I have a large fridge but due to catering to a huge amount of people over the Christmas period it’s full and will be at capacity tomorrow. I explained this but they are adamant. AIBU to suggest they store their gifts in a cool box in our shed?

Two whole shelves....what the helly??!!

It depends I suppose whether it's something (things) that absolutely need to be refrigerated, how cold the weather is in your area, and whether your fridge is actually half full of drinks. Your cool box arrangement in the shed sounds good. Any other family nearby who could help out?

My money is on some kind of desert.

I think it has to be OPs parents otherwise she would have told them to F off with the fridge space.

They are definitely being unreasonable to expect you to have 2 shelves free when hosting over Christmas! I’m very intrigued to find out what it is!

It will stay perfectly chilled at this time of year in the shed in a suitably sized box. What a weird thing for a guest to do, especially at Christmas!

Place marking to find out what this cold surprise is.

My guess is a tower/cake of cheese. We did that for DD's wedding. It took up a lot of fridge space in the days prior. We had to take out 2 shelves to fit it in.

Thread has got too long for me to read whole of it but just wanted to say if they are coming from 3 hours away isn't that too long for refrigerated items anyway?
Tell them to hire/buy a mini fridge you can plug into car and use when they get here.
Cheese actually doesn't have to be refrigerated except soft cheeses. In fact specialty European cheese shops here sell it off the shelf and only have aircon on for hot days.
It seems like a ridiculous gift really, as surely you will all have enough to eat anyway, most people overbuy food for Christmas anyway.

Have a great Christmas everyone.

I'm thinking at least three, possibly four large live lobsters that you will be expected to clean, cook and otherwise prep for an impressive meal (that they will get all the kudos and thanks for)

Haha. Mum and I used the outdoor fridge too. We also had "the Big Fridge" - the supermarket is on our doorstep.

"have we got any cream?"
"There's some in the big fridge"
"I'll get my coat"

Do you know what it is yet?? I am far too invested in this!

I’m also concerned it will be out a fridge for 3+ hours while they travel

Don't be daft. It's freezing cold and 3 hours is nothing, especially in the car boot. That might be a normal shopping day. Out of the fridge in the trolley while you wander round the supermarket and pay, few more errands and the drive home could take nearly that amount of time week in week out. I'd only worry about that timescale if you're talking about frozen food or seafood in summer.

Sounds like the OPs sister needs to give lessons to all the people pleasing Mumsnetters who talk about all the inconvenient things they 'have' to do to accommodate the ridiculous demands of friends and relatives who need to be told no a lot more often.

Depends on the car. If it's a station wagon and they have the heater on. Hopefully they have it in a chiller box, but you just don't know with some people.

Maybe a big cake? You need to be firm op!!

When will we know what it is??!

Surely cheese doesn't need two shelves though? I'm going for an elaborate dessert that can be stored in sections then needs to be "assembled".

I completely agree. But then we wouldn’t have all the whinging threads on here every year, which keep me entertained for weeks 🤣

Gosh, I was thinking it could only be the OP’s in-laws, as my parents would never have thought of not checking if it was OK if they were bringing food, and if they had ever turned up with something huge at Christmas, they would have been given short shrift from me (and not have been surprised!).

So I think I've read the gist of the thread.

You have relatives who annoy the whole family with their demands.

They demanded 2 shelves in your fridge at Christmas.

You told them no, repeatedly.

Then you created an outdoor fridge to accommodate their unreasonable demands. (And what's the betting your fridge contents go in that box and their stuff goes in the fridge! )

Way to go, OP. You and the rest of your family have got this pair really well trained in how to get what they want.

One splendid year, my sister actually nipped to the local supermarket mid-Christmas lunch for more cream and brandy butter (she was the assistant manager at the time).

Today’s the day!

I’m now betting they’ve won a turkey again or one of those meat hampers in a Christmas raffle .

It's 4 degrees here right now, rising to 7 later. The car boot is not going to be far off fridge temp.

My wonderful in laws would never have been so presumptuous.
I thought parents as OP said her brother is picking them up.