I've just upset the father-in-law

[yello]

My in-laws at staying with us at the moment. He's in his 80s. He was telling us last night at dinner (try shutting him up ) that he had to stop playing golf because a stroke has left him with peripheral double vision and carpal tunnel operations mean he can no longer grip a golf club.

He wanted to have a go chainsawing logs (it's one of my ongoing tasks). I've been making polite excuses why not, doing other things etc. I had a word with my wife and said I really didn't want her dad hacking his arm off. She said 'well tell him' (cheers misses methinks, make it MY problem!!) Anyways, things came to a head earlier today as he decided he was just going to start up the chainsaw and have a go. I heard it and went over straight away and just turned it off. I said I rather he didn't. He said 'Why?'. I said 'because you can't see properly or hold a f*cking golf club'... actually, no I didn't. I wanted to. I said 'because I do not want you having an accident' and, thinking on my feet, 'have you got travel insurance?' 'No' came the reply. 'Well, you're not covered if you have an accident'.... he put the chainsaw down and said something about 'bloody health and safety' and wandered off. I breathed a sigh of relief!

My wife's taken them both out but I'm hoping that when they comes back he'll still not be talking to me!

 

[david1701]

hide its petrol can

 

[yello]

While they were out, I ran the chainsaw dry cutting up logs. And we have no more petrol... shame that.

Nah, maybe I'm a meanie but if he wants to hack his limbs off I'd rather he did it as his own house! He's an inoffensive fellow and very knowledgeable and capable. I have no doubt that even 10 years ago he would have been up to it but as he can't even walk without stumbling, I just wasn't going to let him have a go.

 

[PBancroft]

It's difficult, isn't it? I hope that when I reach a grand old age (if) I'll be able to accept there are some things I used to do but can't any longer. You did do the right thing, and I suspect that somewhere he knows it.

 

[Night Train]

Chainsaws are dangerous at the best of times, even professionals have accidents with them, once.

You did the right thing stopping him. Had you not, and he had an accident, you'd be blaming yourself for not saying.

 

[Campfire]

Oh dear! If I offer any advice to my mother of 91, she tells me that she isn't stupid, she's been doing ........... for years! She does her own garden, housework, drives to see her old timers cycling buddies at Lydiate, near Liverpool most weeks, and if I don't do it quickly enough, gets the hedge trimmer and whizzes over the hedges with them, by the time I'm thinking of it. Of course all these are "for something to do". Can the woman just not do "nothing' for a bit sometimes?

I would love to have some time with nothing to do. She'll see me out, to be sure.

 

[Chilternrides]

While they were out, I ran the chainsaw dry cutting up logs. And we have no more petrol... shame that.

You just know that while the rest of you are snoozing, he'll be up at four o'clock in the morning for a gentle stroll down to the 24 hour petrol station don't you...

 

[yello]

It'd be a long stroll! I kind of wish he would, it'd probably take him best part of a day to walk there and back!

He's tried my patience this evening... to the max. You have to listen to him tell his tales. He was in the merchant navy for 15 years from leaving school but that's all you hear about. The fact he had a desk job for the greater part of his working life gets no mention! Do all old people live in the past?

You can change the subject but then he dominates that topic and gradually switches it back to himself and his experiences. That, or he'll launch into a tirade about Tony Blair destroying the manufacturing industry in Britain etc etc. (Yes, I know, but it's pointless getting into a discussion with him as he's never wrong!). You just have to smile and nod, try not to let the eyes glaze over too much!

They've only been here 2 days, I've another 5 to survive! Give me strength!

 

[fossyant]

Oh dear - yes they do live in the past.

 

[Globalti]

My wife detests my mother. Mum hasn't seen her grandson for 6 months now as a consequence. Apparently this happens in lots of families.

 

[Fiona N]

My Mum was often daft as a brush but somehow seemed to get on amazingly well with all her children-in-laws. Not just them but ex-boyfriends too. Mum kept in touch with my uni boyfriend for years after I'd gone to Australia and also used to go on holiday with the parents of one of my sister's exes.

It a shame we didn't bottle what ever it was she had...