Invasion of the English

Just talked to M, not my favourite thing, but not the worst that could happen. M tells me that two of the English rellies are planning a visit next February. These are the cousin of the cousin I stay in touch with (so, yes, also my cousin, their fathers were my uncles) and her husband. I last met them, let's see, a mere 27 years ago when I visited England.

They won't exactly be here to visit us; they're meeting a cruise ship in Fremantle to go on a trip to New Zealand. Australia is kind of an afterthought, it seems :-) So yes, we'll be able to meet them briefly, which to be honest is probably all I can take. If I take it at all. It's occurred to me that M is probably still not going to use my current name or acknowledge any changes at all, despite the stress she helped put me through last year, so it will be up to me to stand my ground and make things clear. Doing this on the spot probably not a good idea, so I'll have to get in contact on my own and try to explain.

Or should I just suck it up? Folk with more in the way of families, dysfunctional or otherwise, what would you suggest? It's only going to be three days.

My first courageous thought was simply to flee the state next summer. Oh boy, they're going to love the weather.