How long is too long?
#1
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,518
How long is too long?
I have my neice aged 23 and my sister staying with me at the moment, they arrived Monday and are leaving tomorrow Saturday. For me it's enough, I love them both dearly but get worn down constantly trying to find ways to help them fill their day. (I won't even get started on the expense) I am not on holiday/retired, I am working full time but I find the disruption to my routine more difficult to handle than I did a few years back. Thankfully the weather has been glorious so beach and swimming are good options but I miss my privacy.
Does it bother you?
Does it bother you?
#2
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,590
Re: How long is too long?
I have my neice aged 23 and my sister staying with me at the moment, they arrived Monday and are leaving tomorrow Saturday. For me it's enough, I love them both dearly but get worn down constantly trying to find ways to help them fill their day. (I won't even get started on the expense) I am not on holiday/retired, I am working full time but I find the disruption to my routine more difficult to handle than I did a few years back. Thankfully the weather has been glorious so beach and swimming are good options but I miss my privacy.
Does it bother you?
Does it bother you?
#3
Re: How long is too long?
There's a famous Mark Twain quote "Guests are like fish - they stink after three days"
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2009
Location: Alicante province
Posts: 5,753
Re: How long is too long?
I've had my youngest grandson staying with me, along with his dad, but they went back yesterday. I love them to bits.
This morning, we got our house back. I found madam sitting in the bedroom in her knickers putting her make-up on. I had forgotten that we were alone again and was wearing tight, respectable shorts.
I took them off and went for a swim in the pool.
We're watching the opening ceremony now, and she's just called out to me, '****ing hell, come and watch this.'
I've not used a swear word for 12 days, and it's unnatural.
This morning, we got our house back. I found madam sitting in the bedroom in her knickers putting her make-up on. I had forgotten that we were alone again and was wearing tight, respectable shorts.
I took them off and went for a swim in the pool.
We're watching the opening ceremony now, and she's just called out to me, '****ing hell, come and watch this.'
I've not used a swear word for 12 days, and it's unnatural.
#5
Re: How long is too long?
Two days is about as much as I can stand these days, after that guests start to irritate me and I begin to resent them disrupting our life.
Of course there are the ones you would love to see the back of after the first day....
I'm sure you all know them, they think they are in a five star hotel and want waiting on hand and foot, what's really annoying about that sort is they won't lift a finger to help while there, expect to be chauffeured about every day and when they leave it's without even a thank you... never mind a bunch of flowers for your trouble and expense!
Of course there are the ones you would love to see the back of after the first day....
I'm sure you all know them, they think they are in a five star hotel and want waiting on hand and foot, what's really annoying about that sort is they won't lift a finger to help while there, expect to be chauffeured about every day and when they leave it's without even a thank you... never mind a bunch of flowers for your trouble and expense!
#6
Re: How long is too long?
Never new we had so many friends and relatives until we bought our house in spain.
#7
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Location: Alicante province
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Re: How long is too long?
We now limit visitors to two adults at any one time and make excuses all the time to keep many away.
And we don't pick them up from the airport and my car is permanently broken down so I can't drive them around.
#8
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: How long is too long?
We had loads of people during the first few years but gradually cut it out to just close family. Even good friends can turn into users and abusers. And the times I have heard said "may as well come for a fortnight not worth coming for a week" Yeah, it would be when it's free
Had one couple stay and didn't get in touch for another nine months, I said how are you and he said fine, we could do with a holiday! Another rang in January and said could they come in July as they wanted to book flight whilst cheap. Thing is I hate staying with people, unless we can have our own wing of the house If we went to the UK for weddings etc. we used to book a hotel.
I could write a book about their antics.
Had one couple stay and didn't get in touch for another nine months, I said how are you and he said fine, we could do with a holiday! Another rang in January and said could they come in July as they wanted to book flight whilst cheap. Thing is I hate staying with people, unless we can have our own wing of the house If we went to the UK for weddings etc. we used to book a hotel.
I could write a book about their antics.
#9
Re: How long is too long?
Yes, the other side to the coin is that I don't like taking advantage of other people's hospitality for long. It can be a bit difficult to explore things for yourself if the host is recommending places - don't get me wrong they are often spot on as they know the area, but I like to visit lesser visited places on holiday.
It's also hard to volunteer to help with cooking or cleaning etc. When we have guests I prefer to organise all the cleaning up myself, otherwise things will "disappear" (well not really, but they are put in cupboards or drawers that are impossible to guess at).
It's also hard to volunteer to help with cooking or cleaning etc. When we have guests I prefer to organise all the cleaning up myself, otherwise things will "disappear" (well not really, but they are put in cupboards or drawers that are impossible to guess at).
#10
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,590
Re: How long is too long?
I've got very good friends (whom I also wind up) coming in August, I have booked us into Hotels in various parts of Spain we want to visit, so only leaves a few days at home. I love staying in good Hotels so it also makes me more excited to see them.
#11
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,518
Re: How long is too long?
Yes, the other side to the coin is that I don't like taking advantage of other people's hospitality for long. It can be a bit difficult to explore things for yourself if the host is recommending places - don't get me wrong they are often spot on as they know the area, but I like to visit lesser visited places on holiday.
It's also hard to volunteer to help with cooking or cleaning etc. When we have guests I prefer to organise all the cleaning up myself, otherwise things will "disappear" (well not really, but they are put in cupboards or drawers that are impossible to guess at).
It's also hard to volunteer to help with cooking or cleaning etc. When we have guests I prefer to organise all the cleaning up myself, otherwise things will "disappear" (well not really, but they are put in cupboards or drawers that are impossible to guess at).
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,368
Re: How long is too long?
I'd certainly prefer to stay in a hotel as well, but if I had such miserable bloody relatives as those writing here, I wouldn't give them the pleasure. They must surely have some horrible relations, guess it's a case of "you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your relations".
#13
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: How long is too long?
We had loads of people during the first few years but gradually cut it out to just close family. Even good friends can turn into users and abusers. And the times I have heard said "may as well come for a fortnight not worth coming for a week" Yeah, it would be when it's free
Had one couple stay and didn't get in touch for another nine months, I said how are you and he said fine, we could do with a holiday! Another rang in January and said could they come in July as they wanted to book flight whilst cheap. Thing is I hate staying with people, unless we can have our own wing of the house If we went to the UK for weddings etc. we used to book a hotel.
I could write a book about their antics.
Had one couple stay and didn't get in touch for another nine months, I said how are you and he said fine, we could do with a holiday! Another rang in January and said could they come in July as they wanted to book flight whilst cheap. Thing is I hate staying with people, unless we can have our own wing of the house If we went to the UK for weddings etc. we used to book a hotel.
I could write a book about their antics.
I thought you had written more than one book Ms Collins
#14
Banned
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Living in a good place
Posts: 8,824
Re: How long is too long?
Huh! For once I thought we were having a reasonable discussion about experiences....perhaps it's impossible on this forum!