Argh. We're going to Germany for our R&R. A very good friend was going to be transiting Germany at the same time, so we said "Why don't you join us for a few days?" We've all travelled together before, seemed like it would be fun.
Thing is, this friend is really pushing for renting a car while there. Because he's lived there, and will be bringing his girlfriend, he will want to be the driver. He is the worst driver I know. I am scared to ride with him when it's not even the autobahn in winter. And with Mallory...
So how do I tell him no? I tried the cost thing, and he's countering that it's about the same price as train+taxi, which is true.
Now that Lillian has added zombie-wrangling to her skills, she's being promoted to #1 Minion status by Clovis.
{{juliana}}
Fay, good for you! That's really good progress.
Good luck with the tests, sumi.
... what else, what else? Hmmm. Oh, yeah. I'm having surgery this week. On my birthday. Bah, I say. Bah very much.
So how do I tell him no?
Could you just tell him that you're not comfortable driving on the autobahn in the winter?
Raq, I don't know what size car he's planning on getting (in my imagination Europeans do not drive minivans and SUVs) but you can say that you don't think that 4 adults plus one baby (in a baby seat) will fit comfortably... or you can play the overprotective mom card and say you're not comfortable with ANYONE besides you or your DH driving Mal around. Maybe suggest renting two cars, more flexibility for all?
or you can play the overprotective mom card and say you're not comfortable with ANYONE besides you or your DH driving Mal around.
Or, you know - baby + wintry autobahn = world of HELL NO, even when Bibendum the Michelin Man has personally guaranteed his safety.
Oh, yeah. I'm having surgery this week.
This sucks.
On my birthday.
This REALLY sucks.
Maybe suggest renting two cars, more flexibility for all?
A good proposal. I think that will be the good cop's suggestion, after the bad cop says "baby + wintry autobahn = world of HELL NO." Or, more likely, "Why don't you and GF rent a car, and we'll do our thing, and meet up in the evenings?"
Now R and I just have to throw for who gets to be the bad cop.
"Why don't you and GF rent a car, and we'll do our thing, and meet up in the evenings?"
I think this is your best bet -- for extra bonus good-cop points, spin it as a matter of
their
convenience. "I know you're only going to be there for a few days, and you'll have a lot to try to see, so I'd hate for you to be tied up waiting on
our
schedule..."
... and the
baby's
schedule
Thing is, this friend is really pushing for renting a car while there. Because he's lived there, and will be bringing his girlfriend, he will want to be the driver. He is the worst driver I know. I am scared to ride with him when it's not even the autobahn in winter. And with Mallory..
I'd also go with the roominess issue. Point out that it is difficult to ride with two adults and a baby sit in the back of a full size, and you know that european cars tend to be smaller. If all that fails, just bat your eyes and say "I know it's silly, but I just don't feel comfortable with ANYone driving Mallory"
The funny thing is, I originally typed sabre, but not knowing which he used, fell back on foil, which was my brother's choice.
And in his underground lair, Neil Diamond is twirling his moustache and exclaiming "Curses! Foiled again!"
