I suppose it's all a matter of compromise. You want to see them sometimes, but still have time to be a family.

To cut down on long trips to see them, could your say that your son is becoming a very bad travellor on long car journeys. Always being sick, continual crying etc etc., so you are avoiding these as much as possible.

We stay with Mil and Fil a lot and sometimes I too wish we had more time to be alone together. However, when we do the in-laws thing, we go our own way during the day. The in-laws get to see us for a long, leisurly breakfast with the children and for a long, leisurly supper without them. So we are all happy - kind of!

We tend to talk through our plans when we first arrive, so they get to see their grandchildren for some day trips, while also babysitting in the evening so my husband and I can go out together.

When you stay with your in-laws, do they expect to see you all day, every day, or do they accept that you will do things alone? I would find the former very stressful.

Hi - glad to know that we are not the only ones - our primary difficulty is that we live in the north east of Scotland, MIL & FIL are in NI and B/SIL live in the south east of England! They are good if we plan to go on holiday from any of the London airports but M/FIL are not really on the road to anywhere. They are very good about babysitting in the evenings when we go over but do expect all 3 of us to be there through the day so that they can organise activities! However, having had a weekend of all 3 of us being v ill maybe if they were a teensy bit closer it would be helpful!! I guess we just can't have it all ways. However, I think it is time to be firm over the summer and as you say - not let nayone down. Thanks for the advice.

Sml, We already know you have a talent for making your children get back into their car seats, using just a look.

Now, regarding Bugsy's win, is this another example your power to make things happen?

Congratulations Bugsy, looks like you've got a great solution to your problem!

Congratulations Bugsy, mumsnet to the rescue once more ... ha ha Tigermoth, if that were possible I'd also wish myself a Maserati in the Safeway Italia competition!

Isn't that just amazing? I can't remember the last time I won anything. I am just so pleased and what a brilliant solution to our problem. Harrysmum, start entering the next competition!!

Bugsy - I'm lost here, what did you win?

Yes, come on Bugsy, do you mean to say that your justifiable anguish at having to go on holiday with these people, and your expressed wish to win a mumsnet holiday, got you what you wanted? I am really impressed. OK then, Carrie, Justine, I think I should definitely win the next mumsnet holiday because my job is driving me round the bend and this summer will be the last time we will be able to go abroad, or anywhere nice in the UK, for several years.

Marina - you got it in one! I'm still in a state of disbelief - once Keycamps have confirmed my win I'll know it is for real. Just goes to show, sometimes really good things do happen.

Fantastic, Bugsy, well done you. Sorted! They don't sound like the camping type to me.

Hey, well done Bugsy, you're the first person I know who has won a competition at all!! What did you have to do?

That's a good question Lil. I'm not entirely sure I remember now but I think it may have been one of those top tip competitions. Maybe the Mumsnet team will enlighten us all when they have a moment?
Marina, you are spot on with your observation about our friends not being into camping. Definitely not an option for them at all - hooray!

Lil, I've finally remembered. I completed the Mumsnet relationship survey. To be honest I'm not sure I realised that I had the potential to win a holiday by doing it - so it really is an added bonus.

Haven't had time to catch up on this thread for a while - but wow what a coincidence. We couldn't have organised it better if we'd tried it would seem, but I swear it wasn't a fix!!! (even if we were that crooked, we're certainly not that clever/clued up!) Thrilled though that someone who really wanted the holiday got it - and that it solved a problem. Reading the Keycamp review on Talk recently I was quite envious it wasn't me (we're not allowed to win anything). Hope you have a really good time Bugsy - don't forget to send in a review) and the rest of you there's still time to win the Devon week and we've a load more comps and hols to give away over the summer so don't give up!!