visit(wh)or(e)s

... they just keep coming and coming !

http://www.loserturdmafia.com/
from JoeUser Forums

It is true that our 'sea change' has brought me many challenges. I have coped with these with varying degrees of success, but there is one area in which I fail miserably, and that is in tolerating the vermin known as the visit(wh)or(e).

Moving to a coastal location is wonderful in that your home becomes a holiday destination for those that you love and miss. Yet, moving to a coastal location is revolting in that your home becomes a holiday destination for everyone else you know or have ever met, and even the odd person you haven't.

People who never even knew our address when we lived in Sydney, (much less made a habit if calling over) have suddenly begun to appear from the woodwork at holiday times to form a queue on our front doorstep.

My personal favourite is the knock on the door at dinner time that turns out to be some 'acquaintances' that are driving 'up to Queensland' from Sydney and have conveniently decided to stop for the night. After a 7 hour drive, they usually have the energy to eat the meal I rush to prepare before they retire to the bed I've hurriedly changed to 'get an early start in the morning'.

The following morning we invariably awake to find our 'guests' have left at the crack of dawn, their only legacy an unmade bed, no milk and assorted breakfast dishes. If we're lucky, they also use our towels and we get to wash them with the linen we have to take off the bed they used, too. People are so thoughtful.

Personally, I'd rather pay for a motel room than impose myself on a casual acquaintance for an unannounced overnight visit. Yet it seems I am in the minority there.

My hubby and I are on the point of telling everyone we know "no visits unless we know a few weeks in advance". We had hoped for an 'open door' policy for close family and friends, but these uninvited guests who actually seem to think they're doing us a favour in 'stopping' by have put an end to that.

I love nothing more than providing hospitality to those that I really do care for, but I am becoming so resentful of the invasions of 'fair-weather friends' that I have learned to dread the warmer months. My hubby is threatening to send the next unexpected dinnertime doorstep arrival to a nearby caravan park, and as much as I have avoided this so far, I fear that even I may have reached my limit.

Perhaps it's time to install a 'no vacancy' sign at the 'Dew Drop Inn'. ;)
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Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
My personal favourite is the knock on the door at dinner time ... and we get to wash them with the linen we have to take off the bed they used, too. People are so thoughtful.


Holy Crap! I'd keep a pack of wild DINGOs on hand to set on these guests!

Perhaps it's time to install a 'no vacancy' sign at the 'Dew Drop Inn'.


Or change the name to the Dew Not Drop Inn!

DINGO! (Every time I type the word DINGO now, I actually say it out loud!)
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yes....that would get a little irritating.....We have our two big dogs in our yard to ward off unwanted guests..it's quite an effective method!!
Maybe put up a big uninviting fence....the big BEWARE OF MAN EATING DOG sign.........you don't even neccesarily need the dog if you have and intimidating enough sign!
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mig, since you've acquired some sort of compulsary posting syndrome I can see why you feel you have no time for guests. Seriously, have you been posting like 8 times a day? Eat a sandwich for God's sake! Or get some sleep.

Love suspeckTed
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
....the big BEWARE OF MAN EATING DOG sign


OR... BEWARE OF MAN EATING DINGO
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Shit. And I was going to pop by when I make my visit to Australia this spring.
Nic
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
I don't understand why people don't use common courtesy. People have cell phones now. There's no excuse not to give a fair warning.

It's also inconsiderate. considering it means you suddenly turn "host" and have to wait on these people. I feel for you, Miguna.

Have you thought about saying they could stay at the nearest hotel or something?
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I feel for ya Mig.... I've suddenly got lot's of "new" friends turning up at my door since I began running my backpacker hostel. What's worse is these people (I don't know very well) expect free accommodation.

Personally, I could care less if they never came again..... I make 'em pay!
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

youre welcome to use my solution should you choose.  throw away only those things that rot or disintegrate quickly.  accept all donations with a smile.  in a relatively short time, you too will be able to honestly say, 'jeez i'd invite you over but there's just no room what with (list items and quantities here; ie non-working 27" tvs, 2...non-working 21" tvs, 2...keyboard instruments, 2...guitar instruments, 2...21" radius monitors that you can only use with a special video card and weigh about 1000lbs so it's not goin anywhere unless prospective guests care to place it in storage for me, 1...etc., etc)

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
We too live in a popular tourist area that people like to holiday at. Recently, old friends of ours visited for several days, thinking nothing of using our accommodation, food, toiletries, etc. without producing a penny in return.

I think it was Ben Franklin who said "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days." That thought came to mind at the end of their trip.

JW
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
BEWARE OF MAN EATING DINGO sign


... with a big picture of a guy chomping on a large chunk of raw, furry flesh, as blood drips down his chin and bits of meat spray from his mouth.


I'd go for the big gray lie in this case, mig: "Sorry, but we've already got some other friends staying in our spare room tonight!"
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Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Don't clean up after them anymore; the next guests won't want to enter a filthy room.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top


I LOVE YOU ALL !!!

chip, crusaders, suspeckted, nic, dusk, wreckless, kingbee, jay, citahellion and stevededalus, you may consider yourselves my honoured guests should you chance to grace this fair part of the world. i would take huge pleasure in meeting each and every one of you. and yes, i mean it !.

just email me first ! hehe


vanessa/mig XX

ps: suspeckted, i got some sleep. and it was only three. hehe. but since you said 'love, suspeckted' and that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, i took your advice . love, mig XX
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mignuna,

So...when we come to visit will you take down the DANGER signs.... the barbed wire ....the prawn tails in the curtain rods of the spare room....and maybe take the crocodiles out of the moat for a day!!!!!
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
So...when we come to visit will you take down the DANGER signs.... the barbed wire ....the prawn tails in the curtain rods of the spare room....and maybe take the crocodiles out of the moat for a day!!!!!


i will, crusaders. i will !!!!

oh and WE LOVE YOU TOO!!


aw shucks. thanks


vanessa/mig XX
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Good afternoon.......Mignuna....How is your day panning out??

i will, crusaders. i will !!!!

Sounds like you haven't have any visitors for a while and may actually miss the kaos that comes with!?

Did I here you say at some point that you live in Melbourne or was it Sydney??
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Mig, the love is returned. Thank you for the compliment.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sounds like you haven't have any visitors for a while and may actually miss the kaos that comes with!?


until yesterday, yes, crusaders !. now i have a friends' very energetic 8yo son for the weekend. Oh, the mess !. Oh, the choas !. Oh, i love it !

Mig, the love is returned. Thank you for the compliment.


you are most welcome, dusk

Did I here you say at some point that you live in Melbourne or was it Sydney??


crusaders, i live on the north coast of new south wales, the nearest town is "coffs harbour". it's about 6 hours north of sydney (where i lived my whole life until recently). our suburb is called emerald beach .

vanessa/mig XX
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
Turning them down is NOT rude, them showing up like that IS.


you know sabrina, i actually think you worded that rather well !. shall i make a sign ?

I had the same problem when i lived in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida....and found that technique worked very well. If their feelings were hurt, too bad, but i felt no guilt about it, as the demand was unreasonable in the first place.


i do agree. it is an unreasonable demand, but i seem to feel guilty anyway. time to nip THAT in the bud, huh ? hehe

heh, our area was called "the emerald coast."


it sounds lovely. *sigh*. except for the visitor vermin, that is !

vanessa/mig XX