Always is when I go away for the weekend with my family...
You can guarantee when I come back he's "been ill". EVERY TIME. So I phoned him - first sentence "I've been ill". Like its my fault because I went away!
STILL not taking all his medication that the GP gave him so I offer ZERO sympathy. Basically, wants me to tell him how he can feel better - "Take the meds the GP has given you Dad, if that fails then go an see you're GP but I'm not a doctor."
His words - "I desperately need you to visit the weekend." "I've got no food in the house" (Brother lives literally 5 mins drive from him - I live 35-40 mins. Brother is probably laying low). Anyway, he knows my car is in the garage so I'm struggling for transport and he knows my wife works weekends so may need our other car. So I tell him I can't promise. Anyone would have thought I'd told him I'd murdered the family next door.
Apparently, I'm "letting him down" and "need to arrange something", and "wife needs to understand". Of course the standby offer of home delivery groceries is not good enough - he doesn't want to spend the £30 minimum - they have to be hand delivered by me!
I've tried setting boundaries, I've said no can do, I've tried ignoring, I've tried just not doing. Give him his due he's relentless in his quest to get me to do what he wants!
Enjoy and you're welcome to use it OFTEN! Works for friends, co-workers, just about anyone, including "family".
Paul - didn't at one time you say your family has a cat or 2? If so, Sunday has just been announced to be 'Cat Laundry Day'!!!
My sister just got a cat... I said now she will have the perfect excuse never to help again but Hubby says we'll use it first! Thankyou.
If you decide to go, any supplies he asks for, keep it to a minimum. If you can't get any of his items at your own local store, don't stop at his. You have to go to your local place, but not his - no need to expose yourself to multiple places. Bro is local, he can pick up the slack or anything you can't get at your store. Sorry dad, shortages, they didn't have what you wanted...
Since you and the wife have child care and her mother to consider as well AND because your dad doesn't care for the kiddos, bring your daughter along. She can keep you company, cheer you up during the drive to and fro, and be your excuse to not enter the flat AND skeedaddle ASAP!
If possible, I would arrange the date YOU want to go, not the Sunday trip HE expects. Don't give any excuses for the change. It is what it is dad. Either I come on this day or not at all. Then HE has to choose.
I have cats, and have for many years. I know that in general you don't wash cats... They are self-cleaning! Of course there can be exceptions, but not likely in the co-worker's case! I've had a couple of episodes which required some "rinsing" but never bathing (worst was Eddie "helping" me paint....)
Then make a diary note to repeat a MONTH later.
(Leave his shopping, chores, repairs, bills for him).
Apart from certain reasons like visiting elderly family.... arrghhhh
I suppose I better visit him on sunday.
"...you make UP reasons..."
I always liked and get a chuckle still for one a co-worker used long ago:
I have to wash the cat.
So, when dad asks you to come on x day and time, well, you already got something planned that day like work, or some emergency. Or just tell him you have symptoms and have to quarantine yourself until a test can confirm.
He has "plans". Already got time lined up for visit on sunday, what food I need to bring him etc.
Give me strength. Of course, hes not once thought that the same will apply to wife seeing her own mother and between us we've got 2 kids to look after so we'll have to plan a bit.
But no, as usual, he has to take priority....
Some things are quite interesting psychologically. Every one of my age gives their weight in kilos but their height in feet and inches. You know when the police are really serious about finding someone, because they give the height in both, instead of just metric. I don’t have any problem with standard cups, but I wish that stones had never been invented - I never learned the 14x tables. I reckon that Globalisation is all designed to make things more complicated for older people!
Cake mixes etc in the uk are all millilitres for liquid or grams....
All thats taught in uk is metric. BUT we still use miles not km mostly. Gallons mostly for petrol rather than litres. Stone and lbs for weight (we dont get why usa doesnt use stone i .e someone 200 lbs) Same with height - 6ft.
But the older generation dont get metric at all mostly.
More chance of being eaten by an alligator. I'd go tomorrow with no qualms if I could....
Spain is 2 hours or so flight away, Paris is just an hour.
DLP is not the same though. Imagine a Disney where no-one can be bother to queue properly and no smoking signs are ignored....
Several people have moaned on TV that its not fair that the UK is 2m and the US is 6ft. When I heard this I couldn't stop laughing.....
(Anyone remember the Quarter pounder Mcd bit in Pulp Fiction!)
Quarantine incoming to the uk I think will end before too long. Theres already a high court challenge from a few airlines. Also the system is faulty. They make you fill in a form when you come back - idea is they can do spot checks. People have been putting "father xmas, north pole".
But also the situation in florida is worrying....
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html
Stay tuned for news updates and updates to the above website. The number of deaths continues in FL - the website I use doesn't break out the areas well, but most infections and deaths are likely going to be in more densely populated areas, but can occur elsewhere! Several states are seeing increases in both infections and deaths, some have had to temporarily close businesses (bars in particular) after employees tested positive. Oh, and just wait for those big rallies to start up again! Infectomania!
You all are not really in the more susceptible ranges, but you'll have to monitor US travel bans, FL travel restrictions and Disney updates. Then, as Margaret says, you'll need to know what the UK restrictions are at that time. Additional 2 weeks vaca costs on top of FL vaca?
For the rest of the state, restaurants can have up to 75% capacity. Bars, pubs, etc. can have up to 50% capacity. State parks and beaches are fully open. Large venues and sport arenas can also have 50% capacity. Theme parks are also allowed to open, however, the capacity % is still being determined. Vacation rentals and personal services are also open.
I think by August, there will be even less restrictions, and more open. I don't know when the travel ban from Europe to US will be lifted, however.
Jun 11, 2020
Cough, cough. He'll get Covid.
Beatty - yeh ready for that one. Wouldnt put it past him.
Well then, if he chooses to do fake that, your vaca is all set! He would have to be quarantined for TWO weeks, whether at home or in the hospital. Since you wouldn't be allowed to visit, no point in wasting reservations.... Assuming FL gets their virus under control soon....
Then fly away.
Actually, he'll have one more trick up his sleeve... Guesses?
Its a bit weird, if MIL selects us as her "bubble" family and comes over to stay then we're used up and my Dad can't then have us as his "bubble". Oh dear.
Holiday to Florida again. As I've said, its booked end August. If flights don't go, we're not allowed in to the USA, or whatever it gets cancelled I get a refund and its out of my hands. BUT I'm keen to go if we can.
Dad got really nasty on the phone last night telling me I'm stupid and irresponsible because Covid is "getting worse". Yeh see hes not even got that right!
He even tried "yes but if you go you'll make me worry and thats not fair for you to that!". Well unimpressed with that one. I'll control your life by pulling out the guilt trip card.
In the end, I told him to drop it. Its not his decision its mine and my wifes and I'm a grown adult and able to decide for ourselves and his nasty intervention is not needed.
Past experience shows me he won't drop it. He'll mention it every single time now "so has the airline cancelled?" "have you changed your mind?"
I dont think he realises thought that the guilt trip no longer works on me. I'm not changing my wife or expecting my family to do the same because "hes worried". Its just not on. I've told him many times he may need to speak to someone about how he excessively worries about things and hes never bothered. Its his problem not mine now.