Sounds like my MIL. especially the indirect sulky "woe is me" approach.

My MIL this year rang DH with a similar type of sook - she won't usually come near us at christmas, she spends it with one daughter in particular every year. The problem is that daughter is going away for christmas this year 'without' MIL. DH told MIL she is always welcome to visit us - but she was 'hinting' at not being able to afford to travel here; thus wanting us to offer to pay for her, or to travel (3000km) to visit her. Sorry, but no can do, even if we were inclined too. So she will most likely be spending christmas alone, unless she can suck one of DH's other siblings into turning their plans upside down to accomodate her. She has had more then enough time to organise something, she has known for 6mths SIL was going away: but I think she just 'expected' them to pay for and include her in their christmas trip as well.