Renovations and Repayments II: New Year, New Start, New Diary.

AlexLK

Visited the in laws and went out for dinner. Quite a large gathering of Mrs. K., son, mother and father-in-law, brother-in-law, his wife, their two children, sister-in-law (unexpectedly), her partner, three children and I. Mrs. K. and her sister haven't seen each other in a while and avoid speaking as they have very different lives / views etc. First thing her sister felt the need to comment on was how my wife was dressed for the occasion. Other gems from the sister-in-law included telling her (fairly new) partner (loudly enough someone two tables away looked over) I'm a "tax evading slumlord", falling out with her father because he told her to be quiet and ordering the most expensive bottle of wine on the list and three "mocktails" for her children when I offered to pay for a round of drinks.

The evening ended better when everyone but sister-in-law's brood went back to my in-laws where I found out father-in-law wants a snooker rematch. :rotfl:

Debsnewbudget

What appalling behaviour, you have to worry what her children are going to end up like.

newgirly

At least your fil tried to shut her up Alex that's good! staying composed around rudeness like that often irritates the perpetrator more, especially when they are clearly something suffering from petty jealousy and trying to get a reaction

PositiveBalance

Your SiL sounds like a delight! Well done on keeping your cool.

Not only did your behaviour totally show her up, you will earned extra brownie points with the In Laws.

beanielou

Lovely SIL~~not.

Debsnewbudget

Maya the osprey is back -earlier than usual

gallygirl

Debsnewbudget wrote: »

Maya the osprey is back -earlier than usual

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

AlexLK

I was so pleased to see Maya back earlier. Wasn't expecting any returners yet.

Things are difficult between Mrs. K. and her sister. Apparently always has been the case even when they were growing up. Her children were well mannered enough but one is a cause for concern according to my mother-in-law.

Father-in-law was :mad:. Sister-in-law cannot take responsibility for her own actions and someone else is always to blame for the choices she has made. Her parents have spent a lot of time, effort and money trying to give her three children opportunities their other grandchildren have and Mrs. K. / brother-in-law will see no inheritance because her sister is the only one to not have her own house.

Had a wonderful but heartbreaking conversation over the 'phone with my own parents tonight. They told me about all the places they'd like to visit before asking if I minded them spending more time away and properly retiring from business. Really not easy to hear my parents telling me they realise their own mortality and believe they have only a few years to actively visit places together (true but still quite difficult to come to terms with). I'm really pleased they are going to do something not related to business as they've spent their whole adult lives working 7 day weeks and mother hasn't really retired at all.

daisy_1571

Strange situation there with sil. Often parents do everything possible to show they are treating children absolutely equally down to the last pound over xmas and birthday presents rather than actively telling them they will be treating one much more favourablythan the others. Obviously we don't know the why behind her having managed to have a family without having her own place but their behaviour seems odd to me - prob understandable with full background (not asking you for that info Alex, just musing).

That does sound like a very positive convo with your parents. How nice to hear they are looking to shift their focus and enjoy life. Nice also that you will presumably have more free will over the business to feel it's properly yours rather than theirs, but still with them there for advice if you need it.

'Retirement' and how everyone views it is interesting as a concept - I remember having a conversation with someone at work when there were lots of us due to be leaving under redundancy and retirement packages. I knew I was going in just a few months, they were much older than me and were perplexed at me 'retiring' at 50, they were saying they'd never really thought about retiring. I responded I hadn't thought about anything else since the day I started work at 18. :rotfl: Ah well, as my grandma used to say, it wouldn't do if we were all the same.

Lovely post to read this morning Alex, have a good day :T

Daisy xx

gallygirl

Both ospreys are back Alex, much earlier than usual :j:j:j:j:j