Happy chickens! Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 We were away for Christmas (and I have the bruises to my behind to prove it from snowboarding!), in-laws had a burst pipe on their return from holiday on 21st Dec - poor things were jinxed as had booked with Globespan, then delayed due to snow at airport - so moved in here as only live few streets away. That's fine, would have hated them to have to go to travellodge for xmas, and of course am happy for them to stay here, but........... AHHHHHHH. I love them dearly, they are great in-laws, but we do things so differently, it's hard to live with them! My house smells of snuff , my front room is now a bedroom for MIL as she and FIL don't share, and he has spare room. MIL has trapped nerve in neck so don't expect her to help much, but FIL doesn't seem to want to muck in at all. Haven't even been on pc much, as OH has been off with gout, so tending to invalids taking up all my time. Thanks for listening to my whinge, I know things could be a lot worse and fingers crossed they will move into rented soon as house will take 6 months to sort out! Ps check your ballcocks in your loft - that had a fault, so overflowed, but then overflow froze causing the trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Ballcocks - i will send OH to investigate this - I wouldnt know one if I fell over it. I have to say it sounds like an expletive Poor you _ more than 3 days with elderly dad sends me ga-ga. Hope you get house back to normal soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I hope that things get back to normal soon and that you aren't driven too mad!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I feel your pain...you poor thing. Chin up and keep smiling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Good luck is all I can say, from the sound of it you will need it. Can't you just give your FIL some jobs to do? He might actually feel a bit like he shouldn't do anything as its your house. Is he any good at DIY? Got any spare jobs he could handle whilst your OH is off his feet? Other than that a nice glass of wine might help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I think I'd move out myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 It sounds horrendous. MIL should be able to help even if she has a trapped nerve - it doesn't stop you doing anything at all. Surely she could peel potatoes, or help with some of the housework, or something! It isn't as if she does nothing when she is at home. She should do the things she does for herself when she is at home at the very least, or offer to help. FIL should be given little jobs to do. I think he might feel he doesn't know the routine so doesn't want to intrude, but they can't treat it is a prolonged holiday and treat you as a servant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I think I'd move out myself so would I - move into that Travelodge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dippy bird Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 (edited) Oh poor you! If I spend more than a few hours with my mum,I am on the verge of committing a horrific crime. You must have the patients of an angel. AND I WILL SEND MY HUBBY RIGHT NOW TO CHECK HIS BALLCOCKS!!! Edited January 5, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I think I'd move out myself so would I - move into that Travelodge Haha I was just going to say that myself! I do know how bad it is though when the inlaws come to stay. I have mine stay here at least once a year (they live in La Belle France) for anything from a couple of days, to 2 weeks and it can be, lets say, trying at times. They do help, but in a hindering kind of way I hope they get their house sorted out soon. And then sanity can return. Not a good start to the new year. Lets hope things are only up from this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I feel your pain too. Could you draw up a list of tasks that they could be reasonably asked to do, and would be doing if they were in their own home, like their own laundry for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I feel your pain too. Could you draw up a list of tasks that they could be reasonably asked to do, and would be doing if they were in their own home, like their own laundry for example. ..and cleaning out the gutter, lint tray in the washine machine etc? Hope you are back to normal soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 why dont you go out for a few hours? and come back in - all bright and breezy and say "right, so what have you done for tea??" then step back, and pop out to the shops (or somewhere) again thay way, you are giving a mega hint, but not getting heavy about it cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 jobs sound a good idea, unless my dad is doing summat he sits looking glum drives me mad. Mad aunt is worse - i got her squiffy at Christmas only to find she bad tempered after 3 ginger wines. no - you need action - either that or a cyanide pill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 Thanks guys - knew I could rely on you. Fortunately pc is in separate room so can escape here!! Just been shunted out of room with tv - we all watched news together (very loud, FIL hard of hearing and his headphones don't work with our tv ) After finished, tv switched off 'that's enought of that' he said! Good job I didn't want to watch anything else!! Could always watch on pc I know. Give them jobs, hmmmmm, had 12 for meals most of last week, (sister and family up, seemed like a good idea at the time, - you can send the men in white coats later) so tried that approach, eg MIl set the table, FIL can you get out the serviettes from that cupboard. Sitting down later, no serviettes 'couldn't see them'. Cooking meal, asked FIL to choose 2 or 3 boxes of m and s type nibbles to go in the oven. Looks in freezer, then disappears, saying, 'don't really fancy any'.... Do keep popping out - unfortunately tennis cancelled due to snow, and they are members of my gym. Grrrrrrr Let them cook a meal - well that is the area of greatest difference between us, so have made a rod for my own back there. Apart from odd occasions (eg xmas nibbles!!) I cook from scratch, in laws re-heat; I like small amounts of good quality meat, they like bargain pile m high sell m cheap, quantity over quality. Sooo think will stick with me cooking or the rest of family will be upset! They are doing their own laundry, thankfully. I wouldn't like to live with me, I know I like my iown ways of doing things, but Just keep humouring me, how long can it take to rent a property anyway?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazard Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 if my mil moved in to my house i would be leaving by the back door as she entered the front i'd rather live in the chicken house amongst the poo than share with her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 FIL could stay here MIL would be in the shed. Garghhh, can't think of anything worse that MIL coming for more than one day - I'd have my head in the oven lickety spit - second thoughts, I'll just shove MIL's head in there instead. Sorry Officer I was provoked - or plead insanity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I have to feel for my poor OH. My mum lives with us permanently and has done for fourteen years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 HC you are being such a good sport about this- reading it back they really couldnt make it any more difficult could they? I would use the 'premeptive close' on conversations about sharing out the household work - "Would you prefer to do the laundry or the vacuuming?" "I'm busy on Friday- what would you like to make for dinner?" But then I'm evil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 You are a saint HC I couldn't live with my in laws they drive me nuts after 2 hours. I would be camping at the letting agents until they found them a suitable rental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 You know i am so glad its not just me whose family drive them mad. I felt guilty after Christmas but I'm sure I drive them mad as lets face it we are all em how shall I put it particular about some things. I have giggled at this thread - glad you can still get at PC - my dad peers over my shoulder at me on forum GRRRR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Fingers crossed that they find a rental property soon, I'm sure they would rather be in their own place. I think turning the TV off is downright rude - they clearly feel at home with you, though, as they're behaving as if they owned the place! I think all you can do is breathe deeply and keep popping on here for diversion. I think you're a saint and you must be scoring huge amounts of brownie points against the future! I hope there's a nice thank-you present ahead too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbier Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 if my mil moved in to my house i would be leaving by the back door as she entered the front i'd rather live in the chicken house amongst the poo than share with her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy chickens! Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Just had news that they can move into rented place they've found on 18th Jan. May need quite a lot of omlet therapy to see me through until then. Good job I get on better (usually) than Hazard does!!! Kids off school today, so had a bunch of friends round along with parents, ie my friends, so have quietly had a lot of comfort today! May have to draw up some kind of a rota!! TBH it's not that they make much work, it's just having anyone stay in the house that long, esp when they like things so differently and have such a different attitude. Thanks for all your kind words, but I am so not an more of a really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 That must be a relief for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
