argh, you know that thing whewn people say no presents then by some anyway??

[oranges]

isnt it excruciating? My inlaws came round for a Christmas meal yesterday. THey are already annoyed with me for various reasons to do with Christmassi I made a real effort, with food and drink. My MIL had called earlier, really stressed, saying can we do no presents except for kids this year. I believed her. Bought for kids, and they turned up with huge sackfuls for all of us. My SIL in particular is now fuming as she bought for us and I believed her mum (who she lives with) when she said she wasn't buying any this year.
argh, so now, after having been organised I'll have to go out in the snow to get last minute gifts AND see them again before Christmas which I really didn't want to do.
humph. MY MIL can'[t see why her well intentioned change of mind has actually made life worse, not better for me.

Can't you pretend the pressies are stuck in the post?

Poor you. hate that too! So annoying! Or speak to SIL directly and explain?

I have learnt over the years and buy a couple of big beautiful chocolate hampers pre Christmas and a few scented candles or some such.
If I get caught I just quickly whip a label on.
If I don't I eat/ use them in the new year.
Win win

I lost my head, and managed to pull together some nice pics of the grandchildren for MIL and a box of nice tea for FIL from the kitchen cupboard but couldn't find anything for SIL who is much choosier. It made it worse, as everyone except her had a gift. and now I'll have to see them again before Xmas to deliver gifts, which is what I was trying to avoid.

Good idea of yours Pagwatch. I'd still blame it on not being delivered Oranges