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Original poster

Guests (family) came to spend 2 days, they are supposed to provide drinks but didnt bring enough...

221 replies

Upcycled · 24/12/2013 22:47

My Christmas is nearly ruined. They guaranteed to us they would bring all the drinks we needed and even asked what we wanted but they didn't bring enough. They arrived this evening to eat an amazing buffet and they will have the most lovely dinner tomorrow with loads of nice nibbles during the day but they couldn't be arsed to bring enough drinks. Probably there is enough wine but 4 bottles of J2O between 7 people clearly is not enough. And Dh drinks only beer, they know it and brought only 12 small bottles of corona which they are drinking too. No soft drinks for Dd at all. And the icing on the cake was when I asked MIL if I could have some coke from the half bottle they left in the kitchen and as I am pouring it BIL jokes that I am drinking HIS coke so I apologise and tell him I asked MIL to which he replies that it is not MIL's coke but his....then I realise that the only coke they brought. And no, they aren't strapped for cash. In the last few days they went to a posh restaurant, went to see a show on the West End and to the cinema. Also MIL cant stop bragging about her pay rise. I am annoyed.

OP posts:
Original poster
Upcycled · 25/12/2013 00:56

The point is: I put lots of effort, time and thought buying and cooking the food and feel let down. They must have done it on purpose because honestly previously years were ok. If I knew they would be mean this year I could have got more drink and perhaps less food.

OP posts:
YoureBeingASillyBilly · 25/12/2013 01:03

Drink water, Drink milk, drink tea, drink coffee, drink whatever they did bring and when it runs out send them for more. But seriously-

You wont die without alcohol on xmas day

Original poster
Upcycled · 25/12/2013 01:03

Yes I came here to rant. I am not going to rant to Dh, it is his family. Of course Dd drinks water but every one will have festive drinks tomorrow it is a shame she has only water. Unless I tell her the J2Os are all hers in front of everybody. I might ask them tomorrow to go get the "other" coke from the car and when they reply there isnt any I will make a shock face. Maybe they will take the hint.

OP posts:
Original poster
Upcycled · 25/12/2013 01:05

Ffs is it so hard to understand? The point is more their lack of thought and manners.

OP posts:
Original poster
Upcycled · 25/12/2013 01:07

Is it rude if I send them for more soft drinks? How do I do it, what do I say?

OP posts:
loveroflife · 25/12/2013 01:08

i am amazed that you are on mn on xmas day complaining about this banal crap.

we're talking about some coke, squash and a bottle of fizz.either be assertive enough to send them to the shop to buy it or pay for it yourself!

i can't believe it. - it's so funny, get a grip woman!

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 25/12/2013 01:16

Not rude at all

You write a list, hand it to the nearest person (or one with the most money/least likely to object) and say "run to the shop and get that lot for us love" and then you turn round and get very quickly engrossed in basting your turkey or whatever without giving them a chance to respond. Say it like you expect to be obeyed Grin

Mellowandfruitful · 25/12/2013 01:19

You say 'Ooh, I think we're going to run a bit low on the drinks. X, do you want to go and get some more or how about Y, or maybe you could go together? XYZ Drinks will be open round the corner, you can just pop down there. ' Xmas Grin

lisad123everybodydancenow · 25/12/2013 01:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SynchroniseYourDogmas · 25/12/2013 01:29

Tap water isn't free.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 25/12/2013 01:30

Depends where you are. Its free here in NI.

Original poster
Upcycled · 25/12/2013 01:35

Yes I should be happy with tap water. Thanks for pointing out. I will serve roast potatoes only and see how they like it.

OP posts:
FurryDogMother · 25/12/2013 01:42

Well, I'd be pissed off too. Christmas is a time when you don't want to have to think about 'is there any of that left?', and I totally get that you're feeling like you've put the effort and finance in, and they haven't. I have no idea how I'd approach the problem, either - unless you have an ancient bottle of something horrible you could bring out because 'I thought we might run out' - which is as much of a hint as I'd be prepared to give on The Day, in order to keep the peace.

I hope you manage to enjoy Christmas anyway - don't let it spoil it for you.

NurseRoscoe · 25/12/2013 01:52

Believe it or not it's not that shocking for a child not to drink water, I know of a few who hate it. At least she isn't going to be thirsty and uncomfortable then.

How old is your daughter? To be completely honest if she is under 10 I think she will be too excited with presents, visitors, games, food, TV etc to care what she is drinking!

I understand you are pissed off. However Christmas can be enjoyed without alcohol. I've been pregnant and not drinking on two Christmases and still had a lovely time. Your guests may not have meant to be rude, maybe just disorganised/went a bit overboard on presents and ran out of money? If that was the issue I would rather drink whatever is in the house than have my family stressed out over a few drinks.

Hope you still have a good day anyway

softlysoftly · 25/12/2013 01:54

It's annoying if that's what was agreed but 2 things:

She has smootbies, 2 a day should be enough!

Your DH could drink water too, needing more than 6 bottles of beer a day must make him pleasent to be with.

Bedtime1 · 25/12/2013 01:55

Up cycled - don't you think your going a little bit over the top. It's Christmas, where's your christmas spirit? your the host can't you just be gracious and next year change plans if this is going to cause so much distress . I don't think things were made clear. You just expected. Maybe you should have told them what you wanted and numbers of drinks before they came. Have you had fallouts in the year because if not then its probably just bad communication and different expectations.

Cherry34 · 25/12/2013 02:11

I would drink at all ASAP! When you run out and serve water with the Christmas meal, the egg will be on their face.

ARealPickle · 25/12/2013 02:23

Is 12 bottles of beer over 2 days for one person really not enough?? Thats got to be a lot hasn't it?

I must admit I'd bought plenty of wine id think id contributed, if id remembered the right beer doubly so! I wouldn't give my children tones of snsmiothy or squash or juice so that wouldn't even cross my mind!!

Original poster
Upcycled · 25/12/2013 07:30

Honestly you people dont get it. Nevermind. No 12 bottles of beer (corona bottles are small) is not enough for my husband and they are drinking it too. They always buy orange juice, of course I was expecting it, otherwise I would have bought it myself even thinking it is unfair. They didn't even brought a full bottle of coke ffs and apparently it is BIL's only. And they picked up 1 case with 4 J2Os but we are 7 people so is it really unreasonable to think they could at least bring 7 bottles JUST IN CASE everyone wants one? Am Really U here?

OP posts:
zippey · 25/12/2013 07:50

Sorry but they are not the ones ruining Christmas. Just try and have a good time, despite the lack of drink. I can just imagine you hosting with a sour face though.

Honestly, there are people without enough food, or homes, or family, had a bereavement this Christmas. Just be thankful for what you have and try and pick up the spirit of Xmas.

BenCohenismyChristmaswish · 25/12/2013 08:00

There are people out there with no electric and cant even have a proper Christmas.........(Not me!!) OP just be lucky for what you have got!!

LucyLasticKnickers · 25/12/2013 08:25

send them out for more, shops will be open, particularly in multi faith that is london.
or send your DH pointedly.

LucyLasticKnickers · 25/12/2013 08:26

and the shops will be open on boxing day.

StillWearingOddSocks · 25/12/2013 08:26

Hi upcycled merry christmas...the most important thing is to have a good chrismas. I think perhaps the stress of organising and cooking is contributing to your annoyance...it's hard to work to host Christmas...don't get distracted by a MN thread...

Take a deep breath, do what someone below suggested, send someone to the shop for more beer this afternoon. You can pick up more smoothies tomorrow.

Have a big smile & think 'these things are sent to try us' Xmas Grin

TheGreatHunt · 25/12/2013 08:34

I can see why you're annoyed but it shouldn't be any more than that. Just annoyed.

And 12 bottles of corona for one man would be loads!!!