Over protective dinl

Make plans but don’t tell her? Or is that dishonest?

Oh dear ! It does sound as though she is anxious and that probably doesn't have anything to do with your abilities. I can understand that you must be disappointed but perhaps she has seen behaviour in her daughter that you may not have witnessed . On this occasion I would let it go and maybe you could both take her together on the train another time . She's worried for both of you I think . A train ride may be just too much for her daughter to cope with and I hate to say it because you sound like such a loving Grandma but she does know her daughter better than you .Enjoy doing something else with her and don't rock the boat .

I imagine with your gd having autism your DiL could be overly cautious, and although you have experience of autism she may still feel worried about your plans. Would stick to the craft activities and the telly or reading. I know is frustrating but you still get to spend time with your gd.
I hope it all goes well.

Sorry sparkle1234 crossed posts!

No advice about family but

have you got a booking fir the Back to Backs. Its still holiday tme and you probably wont get in without one.

The trains are also not very reliable at the moment with a reduced service on lots of the main lines into Birmingham.

The weather forecast is pretty bad too.

Honestly its a trip I’d save for another time any way.

Maybe her mum’s thinking a bit like me 😬

Oh gosh - you should see the list of restrictions we had. We just made the best of it and did what we could. Young children find anything exciting - we used to get the bus to a Harvester for lunch. We did lots of crafts and painting and cooking.

Don't tempt me! 😂

What’s a back to back house ? A street of terraced houses ?

Two streets really. The back of each house adjoins the back of its counterpart in the next street as well as each side.

Do what your DIL wants, it will be easier for you anyway.
You could allow your DGC some art supplies or do baking?
I hardly see looking around a Birmingham back to back as a treat in any case and neither will a child.

We live in a “back to back” house, the bit that confuses me is how you “visit”

Is it like a historical street set up like a museum.

I completely understand why you’re disappointed, you clearly wanted to do something a little bit different for her birthday.

How about making and baking a birthday cake at your home, with lots of different icing and letting her choose and help with the decoration of it or make cookies or both??

Have a lovely day with her x

Cossy there is a street of back to back houses in Birmingham that have been preserved and managed by the National Trust. With respect I doubt you live in a traditional back-to-back. They were insanitory slum housing and very few exist

Fallingstar no apology needed , it sounds like we are all thinking along the same lines 😀

Back to back houses still exist and are lived in. They are all in West Yorkshire. Primarily in Leeds and Bradford. Leeds council continued to construct back to backs until 1937.