"Punctuality is the politeness of Kings" ?

I’m untidy and hopeless at finance and not very disciplined in general, but I Am punctual, for everything. I think it’s so rude to be late and these days with mobiles there’s no excuse for not letting someone know if you are unavoidably running late.

I agree Lucca it is rude!

It is extremely rude to be late - it indicates that you think your time is more valuable than theirs.
I am the opposite. I told the receptionist at the hospital the other day that I was obscenely early. She laughed and told me there was no such thing! She even made me a coffee.

I feel for you Phoenix, as one of our Church keyholders and living just 10 minutes from it I often deal with workmen etc.
I have lost count of the hours spent sitting on a hard pew near the door to let people in.
It is the ones who never seem to have the correct part and will be back in a few minutes that bug me.
2 hours later a text to say another day.

Yes, punctuality is one of my virtues! Think it was drummed into us in our youth? We had to wait in for a roofer - he turned up next day without an apology!!

Fizz, fizz!!!!

Very annoying Phoenix complete disrespect. As has been said, the implication is that their time is more valuable than yours.

What makes it worse is that it's a friend who is coming to collect something that I'm giving to her.

Phoenix I think I would leave it outside my front door with a note saying, "It is 11.30 - I have to do something important, can't wait for you any longer. Please don't ring the bell and interrupt me."

I get stressed if I think I am going to be late for anything, even when I know that it is not that essential to be on time. Punctuality is a virtue, imo.

I always make sure I'm on time, which means being 5 or 10 minutes early and people turning up late is a pet hate of mine; especially if they're coming for a meal.

I’m mortified if I’m late for anything and expect others to behave the same way, unfortunately it doesn’t always happen. I don’t know the answer phoenix with workmen, who are being paid, I will say something, especially reminding them I have a phone. With friends, I think you have to vocalise your disappointment, particularly as you’ve put yourself out, without an apology, I wouldn’t help again.

That is very rude of her, especially when she's gaining something. I am always early or on time. My son on the other hand is never on time. It drives me crazy!

That is a long time to be kept waiting Phoenix I must admit I am often late by five or ten minutes but any longer and I would be calling to explain and apologise.
Hope your friend has arrived now and is suitably apologetic.

She's just messaged. Her step father (who isn't in good health) has been taken quite poorly, so she's had to go there to help her mother.

I feel guilty now for complaining.

I expect you do, but to be fair a text to you just before she left the house would have sorted this!

It’s one of the few things I can pride myself on in fact I m the one there with a quarter of an hour to spare waiting for everyone else and I m the one at the airport or train station with hours to spare
Well she did have a valid reason this time so we ll let her off but that’s the last chance ?

Without an explanation is even worse. I can't be doing with anyone who's late. I take after mum in that respect, it was one of her deadly sins toward those who were late and woe betide.

Unless there’s a very good reason for being late, it is just plain rude. I have one very good friend who is renowned for it. I always give her a 3/4 hour earlier time. It seems to work so she arrives ‘on time’. On the other hand if I arrive at her designated time she is never ready so I aim to arrive 3/4 hour later ?.
However hard I try not to, I seem to arrive on the dot and have been known to walk round the block a couple of times so as not to appear too eager ?

The reason for her tardiness is very sad, but at least you now know that there was a valid reason and she wasn't just being inconsiderate. No need for you to feel guilty - how were you to know!

Both my husband and I are obsessively punctual and agree that by far the most exasperating thing is when matters are beyond your control, eg waiting for someone. However I must say that it has got worse over the years and now I have developed my father’s habit of pressing for a time when someone says “I’ll pop over tomorrow afternoon”. Really the choice is do I want you to find me cleaning out the kitchen cupboards because I didn’t know when to expect you, or do I sit primly on the sofa pretending to flick through a magazine with one eye on the window. I suppose this is also linked with a compulsion to keep busy which I didn’t realise I had!!

Actually, she is quite often late. I said to Mr P that she was coming at 10.30, and he said "That means nearer 11"" , but she doesn't usually keep me waiting for an hour, and generally she does message to say if she's running late.

I think she probably got a bit flustered when her mother phoned to say step father wasn't well.

Five minutes early is on time
On time is late
Late is unacceptable

Can't remember where I saw this but I like it.

It can go to extremes....as I said I’m very punctual but if we are flying somewhere my bloke will want to be at the airport half a day before the flight.....

'Five minutes early'....that's me