When parent's visit....
Oct 29th 2007, 8:51 pm
#16
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2005
Location: Milton, Ontario
Posts: 1,215
Re: When parent's visit....
I know the water-efficient toilets exist, but we don't have one, and they don't work the way he described anyway. He has a tendency to make stuff up and spout it gospel truth. He told MIL that they no longer use trains for transporting goods around Ontario/Canada because diesel fuel is cheaper, so they use trucks now instead. Since Milton (where we live) is criss-crossed by numerous train tracks carrying GO trains and goods trains throughout the day, I couldn't figure out where this was coming from. When we pointed this out to him, his response was "well, I haven't seen any, so I must be right". Can't really argue with that attitude. :curse:
Oct 29th 2007, 9:06 pm
#17
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 6,935
Re: When parent's visit....
If the Wiki section permitted jokes, I would use this thread as the basis for an article on what not to do when you visit your kids and kids-in-law. 
Cov-canuck, you have my every sympathy.
Cov-canuck, you have my every sympathy.
Oct 29th 2007, 10:05 pm
#18
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 15,883
Re: When parent's visit....
I know the water-efficient toilets exist, but we don't have one, and they don't work the way he described anyway. He has a tendency to make stuff up and spout it gospel truth. He told MIL that they no longer use trains for transporting goods around Ontario/Canada because diesel fuel is cheaper, so they use trucks now instead. Since Milton (where we live) is criss-crossed by numerous train tracks carrying GO trains and goods trains throughout the day, I couldn't figure out where this was coming from. When we pointed this out to him, his response was "well, I haven't seen any, so I must be right". Can't really argue with that attitude. :curse:
You should have also asked him what he thinks the trains run on if not diesel.
Regarding the toilet paper issue did your MIL ever ask him what he was doing with his toilet paper if he wasn't flushing it?
Cheers
Steve
Oct 29th 2007, 10:41 pm
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,234
Re: When parent's visit....
My own dear ma ma came to visit about 5 weeks ago. Talk about Hell on Earth (with her as the avatar of Satan).
She complained about the heat and then about the cold. She didn't want to go out of the house unless it was to visit another bloody Dollar store.
She managed to miss the Train from Windsor to Guelph (on a return trip from Michigan) and I had to meet my cousin in London, on a Friday evening, having driven down that suicide strip known as the 401 to pick her up. She then demanded a refund from VIA rail...and you know what - she got it!!!!!!!!
She left her cardigan in Michigan and my cousin posted it to me. Of course it arrived after she had left so I had to post it to the UK. So almost $30 later, she gets her cardie (which probably only cost 20 pounds).
The list goes on but I live with the solace that 3500 miles of land and ocean now separate us.
She complained about the heat and then about the cold. She didn't want to go out of the house unless it was to visit another bloody Dollar store.
She managed to miss the Train from Windsor to Guelph (on a return trip from Michigan) and I had to meet my cousin in London, on a Friday evening, having driven down that suicide strip known as the 401 to pick her up. She then demanded a refund from VIA rail...and you know what - she got it!!!!!!!!
She left her cardigan in Michigan and my cousin posted it to me. Of course it arrived after she had left so I had to post it to the UK. So almost $30 later, she gets her cardie (which probably only cost 20 pounds).
The list goes on but I live with the solace that 3500 miles of land and ocean now separate us.
Oct 29th 2007, 11:00 pm
#20
Now on Vancouver Island
Joined: Feb 2005
Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 6,935
Oct 29th 2007, 11:43 pm
#21
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 344
Re: When parent's visit....
What sad situations some are in with their parents- perhaps part of the reason to leave the UK.
Can't ever be not grateful for our parents' visits but sadly none of them are available now to help. We had fences, patios, decks and drives built, gardening done, interior and exterior houses painted, curtains and blinds made, children's clothes sewn and a freezer full of cooked food left for us whenever they all returned to the UK. We had fulltime housekeepers, gardeners, handymen and live-in nannies for the 12 weeks or so that we had them visiting us. I was grateful for any help back then- couldn't afford the workers- and it was a very sad year when the visits ceased.
Can't ever be not grateful for our parents' visits but sadly none of them are available now to help. We had fences, patios, decks and drives built, gardening done, interior and exterior houses painted, curtains and blinds made, children's clothes sewn and a freezer full of cooked food left for us whenever they all returned to the UK. We had fulltime housekeepers, gardeners, handymen and live-in nannies for the 12 weeks or so that we had them visiting us. I was grateful for any help back then- couldn't afford the workers- and it was a very sad year when the visits ceased.
Oct 29th 2007, 11:52 pm
#22
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,201
Re: When parent's visit....
Very stressful when my non-skiing parents visited in February. What is there to do in Vancouver in Feb other than ski? I worked VERY hard finding out. We wondered if it was deliberate so they could have a bad time and then hate Vancouver for taking their daughter away from them. But all my hard work paid off and they had a fab time, but not so fab that they want to move over we hope.
Then the in-laws in March. Bit better as they ski and we got them surfing as well. Still very hard work all round. I have southern accent, FIL has Lancashire and I'm sure he makes it stronger so I don't understand him.
Next year in-laws still not decided if visiting. My parents are doing a 17 tour across Canada - Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary, Rockies, Oakanagan, Vancouver, with 3 days added on.
So they will think they've had a 3 week holiday with us in Vancouver, whereas we've only had to put up with them for 5 days - PHEW.
Then the in-laws in March. Bit better as they ski and we got them surfing as well. Still very hard work all round. I have southern accent, FIL has Lancashire and I'm sure he makes it stronger so I don't understand him.
Next year in-laws still not decided if visiting. My parents are doing a 17 tour across Canada - Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Calgary, Rockies, Oakanagan, Vancouver, with 3 days added on.
So they will think they've had a 3 week holiday with us in Vancouver, whereas we've only had to put up with them for 5 days - PHEW.
Oct 29th 2007, 11:53 pm
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 1,201
Re: When parent's visit....
We've found a few potential grandparents substitutes for the Little Live to Skies (when they come along). Ironically some of their children and hence grandchildren moved to the UK.
Oct 30th 2007, 1:04 pm
#25
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,715
Re: When parent's visit....
I would go about that in the exact opposite way. I'd just make sure I had a good stash of cleaning stuff, perhaps even a 'to do' list and let her go for it. I'd even smudge up all my windows just ensure they get cleaned too.
Oct 30th 2007, 1:09 pm
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2007
Location: Back in Yorkshire
Posts: 1,108
Re: When parent's visit....
That is a point of concern for me - not quiet there yet -BUT
Both Mum and MIL will come for at least 4 weeks (never together) and expect to be waited on hand and foot.....Oh joy.
Really looking forward to that - hubby will be at work.
I think that this is the downside of moving!
Both Mum and MIL will come for at least 4 weeks (never together) and expect to be waited on hand and foot.....Oh joy.
Really looking forward to that - hubby will be at work.
I think that this is the downside of moving!
Oct 30th 2007, 4:41 pm
#27
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: Okotoks and settled.
Posts: 1,739
Re: When parent's visit....
Unfortunatly my mother would never think about cleaning when she visited
Sharon
Oct 31st 2007, 4:54 am
#28
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Back in Blighty!
Posts: 1,424
Re: When parent's visit....
Did you say a bad, or post in the wrong thread?
Oct 31st 2007, 9:04 am
#29
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2007
Location: Okotoks and settled.
Posts: 1,739
