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AIBU

'Poppers-in' - do you mind???

(124 Posts)
boheminan Sun 28-Dec-25 11:46:58

This time of the year is busy, fitting in friends and family I want/need to see over the holiday but there's a sticking point I really don't know how to overcome without offending.

It's deeply ingrained in me that I can't cope with people calling on me unannounced but I have a couple of friends who do this and I confess I don't open the door to them. I've let friends know I don't like poppers-in but some seem to ignore this and as they're at ease with the calling in at any time, just ignore my request, call anyway and when I don't answer the door later send tart little emails about how they are offended/disappointed I ('yet again') wasn't in when they randomly called.

Am I the only one who hates even friends 'popping in' randomly?

JdotJ Sun 28-Dec-25 13:47:21

Oh no, I hate poppers in

Esmay Sun 28-Dec-25 14:30:20

Popping in wasn't the done thing during my childhood .
It was by invitation only.
It was very formal and not enjoyable.

I was shocked when I stayed at my in laws as the house wasn't cleaned and no food was prepared.
I was embarrassed by the mess and would frantically tidy before visitors popped in over the weekend.They popped in every Saturday afternoon and my mother in law seemed unperturbed. She was so different from my mother.

When I had a house of my own .
I cleaned it thoroughly on Fridays and also cooked for the weekend so that anyone popping in would find it clean and be welcome to eat.

Allsorts Sun 28-Dec-25 14:37:15

I do not like poppers in, don't answer the door half the time and have to be visitor dressed and house reasonably tidy. I seem to get a visitor when my meal is on the table and ready to eat.

Mollygo Sun 28-Dec-25 14:47:12

I was just about to say I don’t mind, when I remembered my headteacher arriving one evening very unexpectedly.
So I don’t mind if it’s someone I would expect to see and DC and DGC are welcome anytime.
For anyone else I agree that I’m much happier if they ring and ask.

Allira Sun 28-Dec-25 15:13:12

I like poppers in! As long as it's not early morming.

Get the kettle on and an excuse for a mince pie 😀

Popping in wasn't the done thing during my childhood
There was always someone popping in when I was a child, usually one of my Mum's sisters or brothers.

LadyGracie Sun 28-Dec-25 15:32:03

I have no one to pop in. We’ve lived here for seven years and are still classed as newcomers.

rosie1959 Sun 28-Dec-25 16:09:01

Don't really experience this unless it's my children and they know they can come round anytime. If a friend comes round on the off chance they are always more than welcome.

AmberGran Sun 28-Dec-25 16:16:47

I don't mind anyone popping in. I'm not fussed about the house looking good - it looks as it looks at any one time. If anyone popped in today they would find my hob a complete mess from pans boiling over and then burning. If it offends anyone they are welcome to not call again. I've even had coffee with someone at 7 am when they called around before work to deliver something because it was the only time they could come.

We don't get random people calling, they are all either family or good friends. If it is inconvenient for any reason I either just ask them if we can catch up later or don't answer the door. No one has ever been weird about it - they understand that people have things to do and they hadn't checked we were free to see them.

Norah Sun 28-Dec-25 16:22:50

Yes, I'd mind if people popped in. It's rude, IMO.

petra Sun 28-Dec-25 16:23:53

Allira

I like poppers in! As long as it's not early morming.

Get the kettle on and an excuse for a mince pie 😀

Popping in wasn't the done thing during my childhood
There was always someone popping in when I was a child, usually one of my Mum's sisters or brothers.

Same here. People know we are always welcoming whether you have text or not.

The week before last our area had a power cut. We had 6 popper ins. It was lovely.
I suppose it all comes down to how sociable you are.

LadieGracie.
We had 3 popper inners the day we moved in here 11 years ago.

Patsy70 Sun 28-Dec-25 16:29:13

I like people popping in for a cuppa and a chat. It’s only family, close friends or neighbours, They normally check that I’m in first. I agree with swampy.

Allira Sun 28-Dec-25 16:31:16

Norah

Yes, I'd mind if people popped in. It's rude, IMO.

rude?

Oh!

Oreo Sun 28-Dec-25 16:55:43

Allira

I like poppers in! As long as it's not early morming.

Get the kettle on and an excuse for a mince pie 😀

Popping in wasn't the done thing during my childhood
There was always someone popping in when I was a child, usually one of my Mum's sisters or brothers.

Same here.
Unless am ill or is before 8 a.m 😬
Friends and relatives take you as they find you.

Allira Sun 28-Dec-25 16:57:52

Unless am ill or is before 8 a.m
Please don't pop in before about 10 am!

Homestead62 Sun 28-Dec-25 17:16:46

My husband's family did this for years- hated it! I even went as far as heavy hints of 'if I'd known you were coming'. The real cracker is one of his younger siblings who turns up unannounced and then moans at you later saying ' but you weren't in' well duh. I really don't care anymore, I'm afraid they can all do what they want, they usually do anyway.

Doodledog Sun 28-Dec-25 17:18:09

It's my birthday today, and my son and DIL are here, and will be leaving tonight as they have work tomorrow. We don't see enough of them, so I cherish the time together, and we were opening presents in our dressing gown when the doorbell rang. It was a relative with a birthday present, which was kind of him, but the last thing I wanted was to have to make small talk instead of enjoying the time with son and DIL.

Even a text with ten minutes notice would have given time to do my hair and put some clothes on. I think popping in with no warning is very inconsiderate.

kittylester Sun 28-Dec-25 17:27:59

I don't mind poppers-in. It doesn't happen so often nowadays but I really enjoy seeing people.

Norah Sun 28-Dec-25 17:55:16

I think popping in with no warning is very inconsiderate.

Agreed. Inconsiderate, rude, choose a negative term.

Oreo Sun 28-Dec-25 18:27:26

Allira

^Unless am ill or is before 8 a.m^
Please don't pop in before about 10 am!

Doh!
I was coming round yours tomorrow with a plate of mince pies around 8.15 ☹️

Oreo Sun 28-Dec-25 18:29:54

Happy Birthday Doodledog and many happy returns 🥂🎉🎈🎂😃

CariadAgain Sun 28-Dec-25 18:45:00

Crikey! to the number of people that don't like poppers-in.

errrm...and the reason I pop in to a nearby neighbour - occasionally - is I'm handing over some surplus fruit from my garden to her (which always seems to go down very well) and "keeping an eye" on her at the same time (as she's elderly and not very well). I've given her my phonenumber too - just-in-case- when she said it takes 40 minutes for her daughter to drive to hers...

StoneofDestiny Sun 28-Dec-25 18:50:53

I prefer a text or message before hand - frustrating to be interrupted when you are settled down to do something you planned to do. Nevertheless, I'd welcome them.

Fortunately most of my friends text to ask if I'm around and not too busy. I do the same for them - we do tend to meet up for lunch or breakfast rather than just pop round. We are all pretty active people.

Flippinheck Sun 28-Dec-25 20:22:52

Family are welcome anytime, but they have all been trained to text first so never arrive unannounced. Anyone else, no. I have a needy neighbour who regularly arrives for a moan, usually when I need to get the vacuum out and have spread my phone, iPad, knitting, book and half empty coffee mug comfortably around me.

Allira Sun 28-Dec-25 20:26:07

usually when I need to get the vacuum out and have spread my phone, iPad, knitting, book and half empty coffee mug comfortably around me.

"Take me as you find me" 😁

Debbi58 Sun 28-Dec-25 20:42:59

I'd never experienced people just popping in before I married my second husband. We've been together 17 years now and are both 60. He's an only child to overbearing parents. They live quite locally and used to call in unannounced most weekends. They we're ' just passing ' and would stay for ages, the first time it happened I asked my husband if they had arranged to call in and he said , no , they often don't this . They would expect us to drop whatever we were doing and sit chatting with them for a couple of hours .