Visiting close family and friends - do you phone first?

FunkyT

FunkyT

FunkyT

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27 Aug 2003
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I'm quite happy if close family and friends just pop in unannounced but is it considered bad manners if people just "turn up"?
 
Yeah always best to call.

They might be out, want to go out or anything.
 
I always call ahead. What if they are cooking/eating or having a mammoth session in bed or something?
 
I can't stand it when people just turn up, it's a real bug-bear of mine.

I always phone/text ahead, it's good manners.
 
I don't mind people turning up, quite happy to tell them if i am going to be busy and a phone call only helps them out in that case, saves a wasted trip :)
 
I never call if I'm just passing and decide to pop in - if I make the actual journed TO see them, then I call just to make sure they're in but I'll say "are you home? good ok, get the kettle on I'll be round in a bit..." or something like that. I think it has a lot to do with my French/Cypriot background where people just welcome people in whether or not it's convenient, and they will just sit down and have a chat. However it does happen at times where I or others have said "it's so lovely to see you but can I pop round and see you a bit later as I'm <insert whatever you're doing> at the moment..?" That's perfectly acceptable.

It's a typical British thing to feel you have to ask permission for everything or check with everyone, it's not a bad thing but it's a bit alien to me. One of the jokes that makes the rounds is that the British ask each other permission to come when in bed with one another! :D :p

Most of my friends are used to it and it doesnt' bother them and a lot of my friends have ties to the Med anyway so they just pop round whenever. I'm always in the mood to see people :)

As much as I tease the British style I do it more and more myself however it's nice, but also I find it awkward too.
 
My nearest close friends and family are an hour and a half away in the car. Not only to I ring, but I usually do it about two months in advance and put it on the calendar.

There is no such thing as 'dropping in' in my world.
 
D4WNO said:
I can't stand it when people just turn up, it's a real bug-bear of mine.

I always phone/text ahead, it's good manners.
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Agreed. Puts the recipient on the back foot if they have to turn you away because you are going out or sitting down to a meal. We have family friends who even know our routine and still get it wrong. Drives me nuts.
 
If its my parents I don't call, but then I only live 5 minutes away and its always been a case of just turning up and walking in.

Anyone else though, sister or other relatives I'd call first.
 
I generally don't have a close family, so never really need to ring them, as for friends I always phone them first before going round/meeting up.

KaHn
 
I just go round most of the time, if it's a friend who lives a distance I'll ring. I also just let myself into friends/family houses if the door is open. My friends and family all do the same.
 
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