What have you been doing today?

[obbie]

Thanks Mama Fergie, it tastes so yummy.

Best ever.

[Nikkit]

Hally I feel for you - must be the Easter time visitors. 
We had SIL and her 13 year old daughter come for a week from over east a couple of Easters ago. We gave them 2 return tickets (we got them free - luckily!) and they  had to pay for the taxes etc...that was whinge #1.
I took them everywhere, paid for everything, fed them, watered them, put up with the "I've got no money" whinging.(that was whinges #2-222)  SIL asked me if I had any bourbon (the most expensive brand) one night when I asked her if she'd like a drink, when I said no, she said well you'll have to get some tomorrow as that's all I drink. (errr...nope I don't think so! and I did not buy any. whinge #223 ) The day before Easter she said to me that she didn't have any Easter eggs at all for the kids - hers or mine. (we'd been in plenty of shops and she'd borrowed my car to go to the shops on her own and she still didn't have any  ) Luckily I had plenty so no-one missed out. She did not clean up after her or her daughter not even when the child was sick - I did it! She did not offer once to buy a coffee for me, or any other food when we had to get groceries. She didn't even offer to pay for dinner the night we went to the pub.
I could go on and on about that week, (and the copious amount of whinging)  but needless to say when it was time for them to get on the plane we did the old "drop and go" did not even stop the car, just got bags out of the boot, put them on the sidewalk at the airport, said "seeya" and drove away.
Her last words were - not one " thankyou" but ..." this is the first holiday I've been on where I have gone home with money" .

Both hubby and I were speechless for a while and couldn't say what we wanted to say with our daughters in the back seat anyway!

Never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever again will we have her to stay again. Ever.

In saying all that we have stayed with her (over east) and made doubly sure that we did all we could to help, bought food more than we ate and left a lot with her, took drinks, cleaned up over and above what we messed up. Paid for a tank of fuel when she had to stop and get some when we went 5 minutes down the road. Did all the washing, cleaned the house (and it was a pigsty) and ever so subtly said "when we visit we don't freeload, we always help out".

Still not going to have her stay to see if our message sunk in or not...

[CreamPuff63]

H I would say (whilst lounging on the couch) that you have absolutely no idea what to make for dinner tonight so you are just going to have baked beans on toast...unless...they would like to make something? they can buy and prepare the food.

Nikkit, words fail me. Can't  say anything positive about whingers and freeloaders, except maybe that they make you appreciate more the ones that don't 

[mcmich]

I thought I had some poorly mannered house guests in the past but Hally and Nikkit after reading about your experiences my house guests were a stroll in the park.

[Nikkit]

Sorry it was such a novel! Didn't realise I had such a grumble there!!

CP - I agree. Or Hally -  go out, leave a note to say you had an unexpected appointment, come back after you've had dinner.

We have learned a lot since then I can tell you! And I am not backwards now, if I want something done then I ask for it to be done!

At the dinner table I expect people to have manners. I expect everyone to wait until everyone is served before we start eating, I hate it when one person serves themselves, sits and starts to eat without a care in the world for anyone else. And I blinking well say "close your mouth when you are eating dear - I prepared dinner and it looked real good before you put in your mouth and had to show me again and again what it looks like now" . If I find towels on the floor I gently remind them to be hung up. (2nd time is not so gently asked!) I ask them to help with dinner - even if it is peeling spuds or tossing a salad together or clear the table and do the dishes/stack/unpack dishwasher. The day they leave I ask them to strip the beds and put sheets etc in the laundry for me to wash later.

Do I still have guests come and stay? Yes! (surprisingly!! I sound bloody horrible!! ) And they toe the line.

But hugs to you again Hally, I know how you feel and it is not good. I would say something to them though - otherwise they'll just walk over top of you again and again. (if there is a next time...)

And let the boys play as they please upstairs. If anything is said, then reply "really, had no idea the lads were up that early" Don't apologise!!

[*suzanne*]

I feel for you Hally
we had 14 people at our house over Christmas and new years and it was absolutely wonderful everybody chipped in to help and never once did I ask for something to be done it included 7 under 11 and 4 under 20 we can't wait for them to come back I feel very lucky indeed

[Halex]

Some people, it just leaves you speechless........ Who ges on holdays & expects everyting, obviously some people.

If my dear Uncle who is 91 was not alive, I would be a lot more upfront. I dont want them going back to the UK bad mouthing me, my dh or cp. they live near but rarely visit him in his home

Just back from what I thought was going to be a minor filling turned out to be 90 mins in the chair, I need a wisdom tooth out, root canal & a crown. Am back in bed for 30 mins before school pick up.

Roast turkey dinner isnt looking good for tonight, have to put the turkey in the oven but maybe we can eat it tomorrow before they return to our house.

[rainbow]

We are on the Great Ocean rd and had a great day Saturday went on a helicopter ride over the 12 apostles, was fantastic I will post a photo or two, but I have started a blog of our travels if anyone interested. travelandcrafty.blogspot.com.au.  Thelma has been out of her blue bag a couple of times but I find cooking and travelling not easy, tend to just plan one day ahead and often depends what the local IGA store has, tonight is stir fry chicken and rice

[mcmich]

Beautiful rainbow. I'm off to check out your blog. I'm interested in the crafty. 

[goldfish]

Rainbow - really enjoyed your blog!!  The photos are amazing! Thank you!

[cookie1]

Rainbow thanks for that. I'm off to check out the blog too.

[Cornish Cream]

Lovely photos Rainbow

[nazar]

 l too are off to check your blog .  rainbow

[Kimmyh]

Nikkit I am speechless (and that doesn't happen often).  How do people live with themselves?

Great photo rainbow. Just love the great ocean road. You can never tire off its views.

[judydawn]

Loved reading your stories Hally & Nikkit and wonder what I would do in the same situation. When my friend from Qld comes to stay, she is marvellous - not an ounce of trouble and just does everything here that she would do in her own home.  She is totally relaxed and so are we.  There's something to be said for moving into a smaller place with a bedroom for each member of your family but nothing for visitors when you have people like that stay.