How to get visitors to leave?

“Hands up for Horlicks!”

“We’re expecting a phone/zoom call from our son/daughter at … sorry, We’d best get ready. for this exciting event”

My father used to embarrass my mother when he considered an evening had come to an end by standing up and saying “Well this has been most enjoyable, but you must excuse me, I have an early start tomorrow”.

My parents had underfloor heating which wasn't on in the bedroom so when he wanted people to go he used to go and get his pyjamas and put them on the living room floor to warm!

Jaxjacky

We have said ‘got to go to bed now, we’re up early tomorrow for xxx’

At first glance I thought that you had written "we're up early tomorrow for sex".

A group of us (women) take it in turns to host a meeting at each other's houses once a month for a cuppa and a chat. We have one dear friend who is really more or less house bound but we try to bring her although it really takes 2 of us to help her in. The problem is that when it's time to go she obviously doesn't want to leave and despite hints and standing up and even fetching her coat she manages to start a long story or a conversation at that point. It's very difficult to get annoyed because we love her dearly but it's become a bit of a burden to take your turn for bringing her and taking her home. The latest plan is for her to get a taxi home because then she will have to be ready when it comes. We are working on this! I hope this doesn't sound too unfeeling but most of us have our own mobility problems and/or don't have a car boot big enough for her walker.

I was much younger, but a friend used to go upstairs, put his pyjamas on, and come down again, expecting them to take the hint.

Some people are extraordinarily thick skinned, though. In which case you have to say, ‘Sorry, but it’s past our bedtime.’ Or if it’s earlier in the day, ‘Sorry, but I’ve got stuff to do, we’ll have to say goodbye now.’

My OH had a friend and their partner with whom we double dated occasionally before we were married. After we married and set up home, they took to often dropping unannounced and stayed for ages - seemingly impervious to any inconvenience. On occasion they even interrupting full swing housework and just plonked themselves down expecting tea and conversation. It got that I used to dread seeing the car pull up. We tried many forms of hint dropping but eventually we had to come straight out and gently told them we’d appreciate it if they called first, as it wasn’t always convenient. They were actually fine with it in the end.

3dognight

silverlining48

The old staple was ‘woukd you like a cup of Tea before you go”.
We didn’t use it when parents of dds friend popped in fir a morning cuppa. Rather wish we had.
They stayed fir lunch and were still there at dinner. They are nice people but a stay of 7 hours, for a morning cuppa, was just too too much.

A cup of tea before you go would not work on a visitor of mine.

She holds on to it till it’s stone cold, then sips it slowly for an hour.

Some people (well one person) really take root once they get in my living room. I tend to keep this one in the kitchen standing up and near the back door

"I'm going to throw you out as I am going to bed."

"Who is coming with me for Skelter's late night wee wee in the rain?"

"You can bed down if you like then we can all have porridge together when we wake up."

The old staple was ‘woukd you like a cup of Tea before you go”.
We didn’t use it when parents of dds friend popped in fir a morning cuppa. Rather wish we had.
They stayed fir lunch and were still there at dinner. They are nice people but a stay of 7 hours, for a morning cuppa, was just too too much.

During the second world war my mother outstayed her welcome in a neighbour's house one evening.

The matter was resolved when one of the sons of the house, a young man in his late teens like my mother, announced:

"You're sitting on the chair I put my clothes on when I go to bed."

Fuel was in such short supply in Copenhagen then, that families only heated their living-room, undressed there and left their clothes on a chair before racing into their freezing bedrooms.

As a catch phrase the saying survived in my childhood home for years.

I myself, if people do not take the hint and it is getting late, state frankly that it is past my bedtime and that I will be pleased to see them again soon.

During the day, I would say something like, "I've enjoyed this chat, but it is playing havoc with my to-do list for today, so can we continue it later this week, please?"

If people cannot take a hint, I see no harm in being frank.

I haven’t had that trouble for ages but I used to say that I had to go to bed as I had a rotten headache coming on. Trouble was, it was usually true. My mam used to outright ask people to go as she was going to get ready for bed.

Blue sky no no it wasn't your DH.
We don't have dog that needs to be walked but the cats were getting pretty frisky as they usually have a bed time dole out of treats and these were obviously delayed.

Tee hee hee, Mollygo the old versions were the best.

Aveline it wasn’t my DH was it? I keep warning him that he chats too much and could overstay his welcome. I had a bit of respite with the Covid restrictions but he’s now rearing to go!

EllanVannin

My mum would have been out with it "haven't you got a home to go to ?" Quite embarrassing, but never failed

My mum’s favourite too. Now we say, “Time for the dog’s last walk. You’re welcome to come with us.” Works better in winter!

"Sorry, I'll have to chuck you out now - it's my bedtime."
or
"Oh well, it was nice seeing you." while getting up & moving to open the door.

My mum would have been out with it "haven't you got a home to go to ?" Quite embarrassing, but never failed

We have said ‘got to go to bed now, we’re up early tomorrow for xxx’

I remember staying up with my MIL because she'd snooze from 9 until 10 then get her second wind.
DH used to go off to bed before she woke from her snooze but I couldn't just leave her there on her own.
She used to stay for about 3 weeks at a time!

In the end I used to say I was going to bed at about 11.30 but could still hear her moving around upstairs.

to hit the sack not hot it

You say, I'm ever so sorry Dave and Sandra but we need to hot the sack now as we have a busy day tomorrow. They collect their coats and go home!

The answer to that would have been "Oh I wish I was. After about ??? o'clock I find my eyelids start to droop and I can't concentrate on what people are saying." followed by offering a cup of coffee/cocoa/hemlock "before you go".

Our hearts sank when he happily announced that he's a night time person and loves late nights!
I like all your good suggestions. I'll bear them in mind -but we're never asking him back!