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Unexpected visitors

(110 Posts)
rosesarered Sun 15-Nov-15 16:14:01

Was just in the middle of preparing a chicken casserole, chopping herbs and bopping around to radio 2 in the kitchen, when the doorbell rang.DH was reading, so got up to see who it was, friends who we haven't seen for a while, who just happened to be passing.How nice! Rushed the casserole into the oven and we had a cup of tea together and a chat.They didn't stay long as they were going to see grandchildren, but I do like unexpected visitors.
I have a good friend who hates it though, she likes it all well planned.What do others think?

vampirequeen Sun 15-Nov-15 16:18:57

I hate unexpected visitors. I like to know people are coming and be prepared.

Teetime Sun 15-Nov-15 16:21:12

Sounds lovely I like people to pop by but it doesn't happen as we have moved away from friends and family. I always used to offer whatever we were having throw a few more veggies in for dinner, make sandwiches and always plenty of drink and chat its nice to be hospitable and if you are friends come again and again. Strangely thought I wouldn't do it to anyone else- I only did it once years ago and some very good friends were very stand offish so I have never done it since.

Charleygirl Sun 15-Nov-15 16:25:09

I loathe people popping in who are just "passing by". 20 minutes notice is fine as I do not want to be caught out looking more like a scarecrow than usual.

stillhere Sun 15-Nov-15 16:25:38

Me too, Teetime - I happened to be in the vicinity of a couple of, I had thought, very good old friends, but without any battery left in my phone, so just called in on them. Neither of them looked all that happy, I was invited in for ten minutes with each, given a brief hug but not offered a cup of tea or anything! So very different from how I was whenever they popped in to me when I lived closer, so it came as a shock.

Anya Sun 15-Nov-15 16:26:23

It's a marmite situation isn't it? Love it or hate it.

I love it (unexpected visitors not marmite)

rosesarered Sun 15-Nov-15 16:27:46

Oh dear, teetime and stillhere not a good result, shows who our friends are eh?

mollie Sun 15-Nov-15 16:28:22

It sounds lovely to have some unexpected visitors but given a choice I'd prefer some warning. I wouldn't drop by unexpectedly either. In my family its just me, everyone else enjoys a surprise.

angmhay Sun 15-Nov-15 16:28:49

Where I live in the States nobody would ever pop in unexpectedly. This is one of the things I miss most from living in the UK:-(

Charleygirl Sun 15-Nov-15 16:32:46

My neighbour rings me if he wants to know anything and that suits me fine.

Indinana Sun 15-Nov-15 16:39:34

I don't think I minded unexpected visitors when I was much younger and more likely to be rushing around keeping on top of things. Since retiring, however, I'm much more likely to be in my scruffs, with my hair in a mess, and/or the house will be untidy, with washing up in the sink blush. Half an hour's warning would at least give me a chance to do my hair, get some slap on and hide do the washing up grin

tanith Sun 15-Nov-15 16:51:17

I don't mind at all as long as they are not staying for hours .. a quick unexpected visit share a chat a cuppa and bikkey is fine by me.

loopylou Sun 15-Nov-15 16:52:32

It wouldn't bother me at all, but I live off the beaten track so 'passing by' is highly unlikely!

Bellanonna Sun 15-Nov-15 16:54:09

Would definitely want a warning

oldgoat Sun 15-Nov-15 16:57:36

Always used to have a mad purge on the house before the in-laws came. OH meanwhile used tidy the garage. Grrr!

Ana Sun 15-Nov-15 16:59:56

No, don't like it at all (and wouldn't do it to anyone else!).

ninathenana Sun 15-Nov-15 17:08:36

Ooh no, Give me half an hour or so as Charleygirl says. I tend to slob about in "house" clothes if I'm not going out. I would be horrified to be caught out.

Welshwife Sun 15-Nov-15 17:19:36

I love people just popping in - mostly it is for a coffee but at times I can also offer them lunch etc depending on the hour - and we have some friends who we can pop in on - what we are all wearing etc is neither here nor there.

Lona Sun 15-Nov-15 17:19:59

I used to hate it for all the reasons above, but now I don't mind although it doesn't happen often.
We all seem to slob about at home, so that doesn't matter, and I can always make a cuppa. If I haven't got biscuits or cake, I just apologise and that's an end to it!
If I should call on someone for any reason, I don't go in unless they insist! Don't like to impose really.

Maggiemaybe Sun 15-Nov-15 17:21:40

Hate it. And I'd need more than half an hour's notice too! Perhaps I'm just inhospitable, but we have had occasions where people have turned up when I'm in my scruffs with no slap on having a sorting-out-the-cupboards day and "stuff" is everywhere. Or when we're just about to start cooking and they've eaten, so we're hungry by the time they've (finally) gone. It's different if it's one of the family, or a really good friend who loves you whatever you look like and you can just work round - they're welcome any time smile

apricot Sun 15-Nov-15 18:48:32

I'd need several day's notice to polish the entire house, plan meals, shop and cook enough to feed an army, tidy the garden, change my clothes etc
I have a friend who was supposed to be spending Christmas Day with her son's family but they arrived early on Christmas morning after being flooded and stayed for ten days. She wailed, "I hadn't cleaned the silver!"

mummyagain Sun 15-Nov-15 19:09:22

I hate it. I understand that it's the way things used to be but there's no need need when everyone has mobiles. A quick text or call is just common courtesy.

The thing that grinds my gears about it the most is when your getting ready to go out/dishing up dinner and the door goes - we were just passing or whatever they say and then you find out later that they're moaning as you didn't make them feel very welcome - if your going to insist on popping round unannounced surely it's to be expected that it's not always going to be convenient?

Love marmite though

Coolgran65 Sun 15-Nov-15 20:06:08

Well, this is about unexpected visitors, but with notice IYKWIM.

Ds, ddil and dgs arriving for Christmas and to stay for 5 days. We have a modest 3 bed semi. We don't have pets.
Ds says yesterday that he can't get his 2 labradors into kennels for the holiday, all booked up, so they will be coming also.

It's going to be interesting.

Love marmite smile

rosesarered Sun 15-Nov-15 20:14:39

Well, the good thing about Labradors is that they eat anything( absoloutely anything.)

granjura Sun 15-Nov-15 20:19:03

I just love unexpected visitors- they of course always turn up when the place is a tip and the fridge empty- but we always find a way to make it work, somehow- and it often turns out to be the best meals and fun.