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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

in thinking it probably wasn't a good idea inviting everyone round for Christmas

22 replies

standandeliver · 04/12/2009 16:37

.... given that I haven't got running water, work surfaces, a floor, a back wall or a functioning cooker in my kitchen? And we're about half way through having the entire house rewired?

OMFG, what am I going to do?

OP posts:

DecorHate · 04/12/2009 16:39

Cold buffet? Cook the meat & roast potatoes elsewhere and do veg in microwave? Order a takeaway curry?

Original poster

standandeliver · 04/12/2009 16:45

Current guest list:

9 adults
8 children (4 under 5)
3 dogs

Number of Christmas presents purchased:

Wonder how they'll feel about eating fish and chips out of a newspaper on their laps?

Are fish and chip shops open on Christmas day?

OP posts:

DecorHate · 04/12/2009 16:47

Probably not - that's why I suggested a curry - more likely that somewhere like that would be open...

CoffeeMum · 04/12/2009 16:51

That sounds like a recipe for, if not disaster, an extremely stressful Christmas. Is cancelling even an option at this point? Unless you are someone who thrives on chaos, i'd be seriously considering sending them all elsewhere...maybe with a promise to reschedule for next Christmas?

Northernlurker · 04/12/2009 16:53

Well is any of the work likely to be finished before Christmas? If not then just ring everyone and cancel so they have time to replan and then book a botel for your family. Don't try and cobble stuff together if you really don't have the facilities - 17 people deserve a proper Christmas not bearing with you whilst you melt down because you were too proud to say forget it!

ijustwanttoaskaquestion · 04/12/2009 16:54

Why why WHY have you invited them then????? mental

sb6699 · 04/12/2009 16:58

I do know someone who had Chicken Maryland for their Christmas guests one year as their cooker broke on Christmas morning half way through cooking the turkey!

I think it was an enjoyable day but theirs was adult only, not sure how it would work out trying to cater for dc's as well.

You could ask each of the guests to pre-cook one course and then you reheat everything in the microwave.

Original poster

standandeliver · 04/12/2009 16:59

Why did I invite them? Because my mum can't do it this year - she got a cancellation slot to have her knee replaced and is now recovering, but slowly. The kitchen was supposed to have been finished, also the wiring. Bluddy builders keep taking days off for no obvious reason at all so things are dragging on a bit.

Yup. Will have to rethink.

Maybe do it round at my mum's, but tie mum to her arm chair so she doesn't attempt to help at all.

OP posts:

nancy75 · 04/12/2009 17:03

just get them all drunk early and serve microwave meals, if they're drunk enough they'll never know!

nancy75 · 04/12/2009 17:04

probably best not to get the kids/dogs too drunk they might make a mess!

Ripeberry · 04/12/2009 17:09

Do they know you don't have a kitchen? Why not get THEM to bring along some items for a cold buffet?
Is there no-one else in the familly that can do it this year ?

Buda · 04/12/2009 17:11

Do it at your Mums then. People will understand it is because of builder issues surely? Is it all family? In which case ask for people to bring something so that your Mum doesn't feel she has to do it all.

Original poster

standandeliver · 04/12/2009 17:26

"just get them all drunk early and serve microwave meals, if they're drunk enough they'll never know!"

My sister is a recovering alky, so pouring sherry down her throat to stop her noticing the poor quality of the food won't make me very popular with the rest of my family!

OP posts:

AmericanHag · 04/12/2009 17:26

No, YANBU, it was a terrible idea. Sorry.

Now that you're probably stuck, do it at your mum's house. Be strong and insist she not help. Tell her she will actually be imposing if she even tries to help.

Northernlurker · 04/12/2009 17:31

Yup either do at your mum's or threaten the builders till they get their act together!

Original poster

standandeliver · 04/12/2009 17:34

I'm going to threaten the builders anyway.

Fucking lazy, disorganised bastards.

OP posts:

bentneckwine1 · 04/12/2009 19:26

Oh dear...builders are a nightmare. I do hope that you get something sorted.

Are you friendly with your neighbours? Will they be using their kitchen on Christmas Day?!

I moved into my house less than a week before Christmas and did not have a cooker right away just a microwave, deepfat fryer and George Grill.

So - I went to my dad's house first thing in the morning and made the pot of soup, put turkey in oven to cook and peeled all the veg. Went home, set table and waited on my gran bringing the trifle.

When it came time to serve up we entertained the neighbourhood as we carried each course on trays between dad's and my house!! Drafted in my BIL and teenage nephew to help with all the fetching and carrying. I supervised in dad's whilst gran dished up in my house!!!

Yes it was a bit stressful...but the kids still talk about that christmas dinner when we had no cooker. (My mum had died very soon before christmas and nobody felt able to have dinner in their house without her being there...so dad let me borrow the kitchen but we ate in my house).

PommePoire · 04/12/2009 19:52

Aw, bentneck, that's such a lovely story.

OP, are the builders seriously going to leave you without running water over Christmas? Insist on having water (and all the other jobs done too) and threaten to withhold payment or whatever leverage you might have under the terms of your agreement with them.

Can you find out if any of your neighbours will be away? If so, you could offer to 'house si' i.e. open and shut curtains, move their post and stuff, in exchange for use of their fridge and their oven. With running water and a bit of spirit of the blitz you could still put on a good lunch. Good Luck!

PommePoire · 04/12/2009 19:53

Doh! 'House sit'

ijustwanttoaskaquestion · 05/12/2009 09:53

Not all builders are a nightmare My partner is a builder and he would never ever leave a client without a functional kitchen over christmas, i can imagine it would only be those wearing stetsons and arriving on horseback that would do that.

OP, yours do sound like a nightmare - tell them to move their arses or you'll shoot their horses!

Can another member of your family not do xmas? what about a hotel/restuarant dinner - expensive i guess but if everyone pays for themselves - saying that, we can't afford it.

bentneckwine1 · 05/12/2009 11:27

ijustwanttoaskaquestion - sorry I didn't mean to offend or suggest that all builders are a nightmare. More that the whole experience of 'having the builders in' is stressful, messy and a bit of a nightmare...especially in a room like the kitchen which is so integral to family life.

Lauriefairyonthetreeeatscake · 05/12/2009 11:34

I think its less stressful the less likely you can make it perfect. If you have a half funtioning house you then have to exhaust yourself trying to make it amazing.

With it all being shite it sounds like a fantastic excuse for a really huge curry, loads of snacky non-cook things and a ton of chocolate. Don't bother trying to make a turkey unless you buy cold slices and microwave them on the day.

Relax and have lots of mulled wine instead.

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