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?

On the cheese front, I assume you already have some cheese in. So whilst it’s a lovely idea in theory, it would have been preferable if she told you in advance.
You could make a big thing of it “Ooh these cheeses are marvellous, so much better than what I was able to buy” then “Shall we put you down for cheeses going forward “ which turns it from a pain into a useful task which saves you some money. Speak to her during the year about it “Oh yes we’re really looking forward to your yummy cheeses, they were so amazing last Christmas “ she gets to be the hero and you save some fridge space and money.

I live Arran gold, it’s a great present. We get one every year. I’ll be disappointed the year we don’t!

I have never had Arran Gold but I have had similar from another distillery we have visited in Scotland.

Thanks for the update!

Okay, that’s it. I’m going to bookmark Arran Gold for gifts next year.

A wheel of Stilton!! I called it! #smugface

Those cheeses will be perfectly happy in a cool place, rather than the fridge.

Its a pain it being so warm. You used to be able keep everythi g in the garage or shed and not have to worry about fridge space at all.

I already had tons of cheese in, I have a plan for the Brie and considering making some broccoli and Stilton soup as family really like it and it will use loads of it up. Family member is off with sister this afternoon, they need to find wrapping or bows for the “surprise bottles” I’ve told my sis I couldn’t possibly spoil the surprise - she knows it’s booze but I have led her to believe it’s some type of home brew concoction. Family member has form for this - we all got chipotle cranberry chutney couple of years ago - I’m enjoying stirring things up now I know the surprise 😂

I love people that update - thanks OP.

Yes thanks you for the update. Couldn’t you just tell her (in a very subtle way) not to do this again to you and that fridge space is at a premium at Christmas. What did you do with the Holly?

The holly is still in a bag in the porch - I don’t know what to do with it. I did consider a sprig for the Christmas pudding - or Yule log but other then that I’ve no idea. I’m not particularly crafty or arty, not sure what to do with it.

Lay it out on top of a bookcase or something? It looks really pretty. I always decorate with it and wish I had more! It lasts for ages.

To be fair, Little Baby Cheeses was born in a stable, so….

A sprig of holly for each bottle of Arran Gold instead of bows? Then you could go retro with the rest and put a few sprigs along the top of picture frames. Obviously if it’s very jaggy delegate this task back to provider of the holly. Or if you’ve got somewhere that you want to be “out of bounds” to guests (cupboard of doom in my case) could you arrange all the holly in a big vase or even a bucket with a big bow and place it there.

That made me snort out loud!

Same here. Also, I was in John Lewis yesterday and they were giving out samples of Coole Swan which is an Irish cream liquer and that was very nice too.

MIL used to make her own but she's not really well enough to do it now. I must ask her for the recipe.

i thought the same. It dies look delicious though.

Arran Gold? Isn’t that a potato?

Surprised that unopened bottles of liqueur need any kind of refrigeration.

In the 50s my grandparents were promised a turkey by country cousins and they said they'd drop it off. All well and good - everyone was looking forward to the fresh turkey dinner including my Mum who was a wee slip of a thing.

Anyway the cousins arrived and dropped the turkey off. It walked up the drive and into the backgarden. That was not expected.

My grandfather had to chase it around the garden but managed to kill it, my grandmother then had to pluck it and prepare it for the oven.

No-one could eat it.

I thought this 😂

Is OP in the marketing department for Arran Gold? 😂

We had to store leftovers from Christmas dinner in the car one year 😂

If so, s/he should get a bonus!

They don't while sealed, only after opening. I wouldn't gift anyone cream liquer unless I knew they really loved it. It's a very aquired taste (there's only one person in my entire family who enjoys it. Even the smell pouring it gives me the ick!).

@ScottyandWestie is being very diplomatic, but the main character guest in question sounds a royal pain. They've probably sampled the liquer at a fayre or such like and because THEY liked it, well, everyone else will too.

If you're a house guest over Christmas the thoughtful thing to do is ask the host can I bring anything, and if nothing is needed then a M&S/tesco voucher is appreciated by most. All that said, I'm bit of a grinch when it comes to guests at Christmas, I just can't be remotely arsed with any nuisance value.

Maybe she ran over a pheasant on the way and has put it in the boot of the car. Or if she hasn't come yet, maybe she is planning to run one over?