Would you expect me to do this?

[R2D2candy]

I'm an au pair and the family I work has been away out of London for a long weekend since Friday.

On Monday the boiler was acting up and Tuesday it broke down completely. So Mum has a new baby and a toddler decided to stay where she was and not come home until it's fixed since there is no central heating or hot water.

Today I got a text asking me to Travel out of London to help her with the children with the kids for one day. She has family where she is and she doesn't want to have to cope. Nor has she offered to book a ticket for me to go to them. I think she's really just being unreasonable. At one point she wanted me to stay in cold house to do the weekly cleaning and then said oh well it didn't make sense until the weekend. She's expecting me travel out of London and then come back on Friday to do the cleaning when she gets back.
I'm trying to think of polite way to say no but I just think this is the final straw with this job and I'm going hand in my notice on Monday.

Really? You'd want someone to travel (I'm assuming quite far) just for a few hours so you could 'relax a bit'? That seems massively unreasonable to me. I'd really appreciate someone doing that for me too, but I wouldn't dream of asking them or telling them to do it.

It does depend on how far away they are though.

op is not answering ?? re how far etc so i am assuming it's not far. Op is being paid but does not want to do what she is being paid to do. I agree op- you need to hand in your notice.

Seems weird op won't say how far away it is ..........

NuffSaidSam you assume it's far. I do assume it's not for (as the OP would say it if it was far, she seems quite desperate to hear that she is right to refuse to go). But the OP doesn't answer any questions.

1. Is it far?
2. Are you paid for this week? (If so, the travel and afternoon probably still don't equal your weekly hours)

I am a nanny, not a prent, but I think you sound quite entitled and precious... I don't think taking the train for one afternoon and come back is considered travel with the family.. I think you just want to be paid to stay with your friends... Nice

And also "The way she ask it's like you're here to serve me and must come when I call" ....

Isn't it the case? She is the boss and she pays you...

Bunnyhips and others are absolutely right. The mother has every right to ask her employee to travel (at her cost) so you can help her out until she brings her children home. I am assuming this week was not pre-agreed holiday for you (because you don't answer any questions).

Your lack of loyalty stinks and I wish I could let your poor family know so they can replace you for someone who gives a shxt when things go wrong, like boiler problems. After nearly a week my nanny would be missing my DS so much she would be pestering me to come and join me and certainly wouldn't bitch about a train trip.