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EWmums

EWfood

ewmoda

Does anybody enjoy having visitors?

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kimball 6521395

449

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 19:42

I have my DD here at present with her friend for 2 wks, they go home on the 11th then we have friends arriving the following day for 2wks so the whole of April is a busy month, but love it, it gets lonely sometimes so a nice change.

339

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 19:33

I think it depends on whether they are self-sufficient or need constant hand holding. I find the difficulty arises if your guest/s are on holiday but you are not, ie you still have the school run, early starts, groceries, housework, all your other commitments. We soon have a family of five coming to stay for 8 days, and while it will be fab to see them and we will have lots of fun, it's going to be a squeeze in our apartment, and also expensive (hiring an 8-seater car for us all, buying a second hand travel cot, car seats, z-bed mattress, extra towels and double the weekly groceries). I will be better able to answer this question in a fortnight's time (or I may be lying down in a dark, quiet room).

21

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 19:32

Love having them arrive - love having them stay - love seeing them leave hahaha Peeps is so so so right!! I love having guests but it is so nice when they have left and you can return to normality. Having people stay is fine as long as you have room to put them, we double booked last year and had people sleeping in the lounge!! This was not fun!!! :(

488

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 18:56

Love having visitors! And we must be really lucky because our friends and [near and extended'> families are really considerate and don't expect us to entertain them every minute nor do they expect us to pay for everything. We have a set of visitors almost every fortnight and we like it that way - we never mind doing the informal Dubai tour or the Northern Emirates tour or the endless rounds at the malls and creek and Karama and Dragon Mart: we figure its part and parcel of enjoying their company :)

3901

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 16:24

we've had 2 so far and next ones planned for november...i really wish my parents could come but they won't travel.. these threads always sadden me and i'm sure you don't all mean to sound unkind but that is how you come across.. Lovely to read the posts of people like us who DO enjoy seeing their friends and family.

1811

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 16:16

I like having visitors as long as they don't stay too long. I think a week/10 days is an ideal amount of time. With dh's side of the family we are expected to pay for everything and it can work out quite expensive....

594

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 15:13

Now stepping on real thin ice here am I if I say ... is it a cultural..regional thing... coz where I come from... having guests is like serving GOD.. no kidding.. Atithi devo bhava..it literally translates in to that!!! Hospitality has been part of our upbringing...we always used to look out for summer vacations or weekends wen frnds or family members used to come and stay with us... We love having company.. and with multi-cultural marriages happening our elderly generation used to find it a bit strange about why having visitors was not so cozy any longer... Kill.. us ...it is an Indian thing!!! ;O) More the merrier...

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 15:03

it's a rare treat for me, so absolutely! Agreed. I have had three visitors in 7 years here and I cried each time they left. <em>edited by AnonDubai on 04/04/2011</em>

455

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 13:03

Love having them arrive - love having them stay - love seeing them leave hahaha

833

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 12:51

It really depends on the visitors. For me I don't like it when the people that come over expect to be entertained all the time, so they basically wait around the house until we suggest where to go or what to do. Also some of our guests have treated our house like it is a free hotel... It's not! Please help around the house and take over part of things like paying for the shopping or doing the cooking. Otherwise it is great having friends and family over and being able to show them our life here. I think it is important to be clear about your expectations before hand. Tell people you can't be their personal guide if this is the case, and tell them beforehand how you would like to share the costs etc. For me 14 days is the absolute maximum I could have guests stay, but that's just me.

2362

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 12:50

it's a rare treat for me, so absolutely!

1236

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 12:49

Having family and friends staying with us while we were in Doha was what kept us going. Saying goodbye to them at the airport was hellish. Don't have to do that anymore :)

60

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 12:49

I love and dislike it - love it because I miss my family and friends and would never pass up an opportunity to spend time with them. I also love that they can see where we live and meet our friends here. And it is great to be able to give them new experiences such as camping in the desert etc. However it is very tiring having visitors when working full time - I don't want to take too much time off or this means that we do not have days to take when we want a holiday. Also it is very expensive to go to the nice restaurants that they want to go to and to go for brunch or whatever on the weekend. Our visitors are always very considerate and say we don't have to go out every night but it is their holiday so I feel bad saying that we should stay in, eat homecooked food and watch TV before going to bed at 10:30! So we end up being very busy and having a week of late nights. Last year we had 4 different sets of visitors in a 2 month period, that was exhausting. And we end up completely getting out of routine, not able to get to the gym, eating bad foods and then if it is only a couple of weeks before the next visitors then we continue to avoid the gym and eat takeaways during that time too! Our own fault I am sure but it is disruptive. I think that as long as we can try to keep visitors spaced out it is OK - we already have 4 lots booked in this year though!

115

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 12:48

If anyones been looking I've found ZBeds (fold up extra bed) in Ace beside Ikea. 4x diff qualities from springs to slat bases so also good for adults (Had Hubby test them all) Thought they were a really good price and just the right size to store at the back of a built in wardrobe. Also steam mops but thats another thread ;) Could you start that thread please;) I got a brochure for steam mops from ACE recently and was wondering if they're any good.

1579

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 12:45

Visitors are like fresh fish. 1 day to catch them, a maximum of 3 days in the fridge, the day you cook them, 1 day as leftovers then into the bin :)

highland lass30162

515

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 12:33

If anyones been looking I've found ZBeds (fold up extra bed) in Ace beside Ikea. 4x diff qualities from springs to slat bases so also good for adults (Had Hubby test them all) Thought they were a really good price and just the right size to store at the back of a built in wardrobe. Also steam mops but thats another thread ;)

112

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 11:20

oh noo sounds like it's just me! aka Mrs Grumpy:(

DesertRain40980

252

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 11:15

I love having visitors, but not if they stay too long :) The inlaws were staying for a month, and after 2 weeks I was counting the days! But I really enjoy entertaining our visitors if it’s for a week or 10 days.

5400

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 10:39

SueB, that's such a really kind offer, ExpatWomen are real stars :) I'll let you know in a bit, if you don't mind, I'll go on a hunt to get the measure of the expense, as we will be hopefully be getting other visitors whilst we're here, so we might as well stock up in anticipation :) Thank you so much, though :)

2262

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 10:35

simpleasabc, I have 2 or 3 clean duvets and covers...and sheets...all clean and in dryclean plastic if you want to borrow them. You just have to get them cleaned and return when you are done :)

5400

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 10:32

I'm dreading the preparation, we've got a family of 5 coming to stay soon and I just don't know where we'll put them - this is the only time I wish we had a live-in maid :) As I threw out all the holey towels and sheets before we came here, we don't have enough bedding or towels for 8 of us (and the mad dog!), I'm going to have to do an unbudgeted-for shop, as well. Really looking forward to seeing our friends and spending time with them, though :)

73

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 10:17

Yep love it ! although we only get my parents visiting so thats probably why :) I dont run a holiday home and we have made that to the rest of the family and friends so if they want to come and visit they need to do their research and book a hotel which we are more than happy to help with ! Might seem harsh but it works for us

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 10:10

We love having visitors! Because we're from Oz we don't get too many visitors due to the distance. So for those of you who have lots of visitors, be thankful for it. ;) But yes, it is great to get your house and life back in order once guests leave :D

183

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 10:05

We've only had a few sets of visitors and I loved having them here and showing them our lives etc as it's our first year here BUT I am glad to get our house back to ourselves when they go!! Am sure the 'love having them here' might change if we were to have people coming every month though!! ;)

112

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 10:02

I get so tired of them! especially family members they drive me crazy whilst they are here, but when they leave I feel sad for not making the most of it, but also a tinge of relief, how bizzare is that!

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