What is the strangest rule you had to follow at someone else's house?

lixy

My MiL insisted that visitors left the house by the same door they entered by otherwise 'some calamity' would happen. Big house with several doors so this wasn't always convenient, but she always got her way. (Her house, her rules!)

This was my grandma's rule as well.

Back in the early 1950's I stayed with a school friend and at their house, only French was permitted to be used at all meals. Her parents spoke that language fluently, and they encourage me (a visitor), to join in. No wonder my friend was the best in the the GCE year in French.

I so wanted to do this with my children many years later. Even went to French Conversation classes - but then the secondary school they went to did Spanish and Germanb for their GCSE's.

lixy

My MiL insisted that visitors left the house by the same door they entered by otherwise 'some calamity' would happen. Big house with several doors so this wasn't always convenient, but she always got her way. (Her house, her rules!)

My aunt used to do this and would even struggle up to stop me using the wrong door.

My Nana insisted on her birthday cards being delivered by the postman, if you gave her one or it came a day late you were horribly guilt tripped

Thank you welbeck. She lives at the other end of the country so we don't see her often. She's OK. She is just thoughtless. It's her way or the highway.
Just do add, of course I ate what was put in front of me as a child. I had many teas at friends' houses where I ate things that made me heave without comment. As an adult, I think it's arrogant to assume that everyone likes what you like and offer no alternative.

Kate1949, I suppose you could have a menu card listing the choices available. No reason menus should only be used in restaurants and hospitals.

Visiting a friends house, when we sat down for the meal she said"It's savoury before sweet in this house"I thought 'Yes well just like everyone else', then her father proceeded to put four teaspoons of sugar in his accompanying tea!!! He finished the meal with an argument and threw a large carving knife which luckily stuck in the table.
The house also had two staircases which I was not told about going to the mezzanine flour which I thought was the toilet I walked into someone in bed,I had got the wrong staircase.
At another friend's house, I was told children eat in the kitchen. We were teenagers at the time and put around a table with the game her father had shot hanging above us. I don't think I ate anything because of the stench.

StarDreamer A slice of toast would have done! Most people have bread

Kate1949

StarDreamer A slice of toast would have done! Most people have bread

Oh, I was suggesting for you to have a menu for guests viisting you, showing the options available.

As a child I was unaware that on my relatives' farm in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire pudding was served on its own with gravy before the main roast beef course. I sat and waited for the rest of the food to arrive. As farmers they filled the workers' bellies before dishing up the meat. I understand that the custom is still adhered to by some in the county. The batter was cooked underneath the drips from meat on a rack and tasted wonderful!

No need StarDreamer. We rarely have people here but when we do we make sure we know their tastes and offer several options, rather than 'eat this or eat nothing'.

When I worked in the care sector, I often stayed at the person's house for several hours or days. One client had nailed the (wooden framed) windows shut!

Sloegin

We thought it very weird, and a bit rude, when visiting rather twee friends in Surrey about 40 years ago, to be asked to remove shoes! Haven't experienced that since or ever occurred to me to remove shoes unless muddy.Didn't realise it was a 'thing' until I discovered Gransnet and Mumsnet. I grew up on a farm so was used to removing wellies at the back door but not any other shoes. Have lived in N.ireland, Kent and Devon and never came across this with any friends or neighbours. I must move in mucky circles!

I have only experienced it once, and it seems very prissy to me. As you say, weird and a bit rude to ask or expect it.

Gransnet and Mumsnet teach me a lot of things that happen in some circles, but not mine,

I remember as a young teenager I made friends with an asian girl whose family had recently been expelled by Idi Amin from Uganda. I was asked to her house for a meal one day and can remember being very confused when all the males of the family sat at the table and were served by the women. We then ate what I thought was the leftovers. I loved the food though as at the time my only experience of asian food was Vesta currys!!
I was unaware of the cultural and religious differences at the time and thought it was dreadful for women to do this. I remained friends with her for a few years until the family moved to another part of the country.

Blondiescot, in 1960s Yorkshire my student landlady served me some cold meat that looked like tongue - which I didn’t like anyway - but paler. But having been brung up to eat wot I was given, I ate it.
‘Do you like that, love?’ she asked.
‘Yes,’ I said politely. ‘What is it?’
‘Udder.’ ?

Udderly disgusting! My Mum was Yorkshire and we always had Yorkshire pudding before the main meal. Porridge with salt on and the worst thing in my book, tripe and onions. Eeeuw.

nanna8

Udderly disgusting! My Mum was Yorkshire and we always had Yorkshire pudding before the main meal. Porridge with salt on and the worst thing in my book, tripe and onions. Eeeuw.

Likewise with me and my Yorkshire mum -Yorkshire Pudding first with gravy and then the rest of the roast dinner.
If there were any Yorkshires left, we would have them with sugar and butter and they were called popovers then.

My Yorkshire family were the same with Yorkshire puddings, served as a first course with gravy, more with the main course and if there were any left with golden syrup for pudding! I think it was left over from war time, to fill people up cheaply, if you could get the ingredients.

A friend of mine was house hunting and I went with her to give my opinion. We were asked to remove our shoes- my friend could not because she had polio as a child and needed her shoes for support. I refused because the laminate floors and wooden staircase were filthy. I said I had a long-standing problem with my feet and I also needed my shoes for support.

I'd be so happy with Yorkshire and gravy as a whole meal lol

halfpint1

My Nana insisted on her birthday cards being delivered by the postman, if you gave her one or it came a day late you were horribly guilt tripped

Yep, another of my MiL's requirements - and it had to be by 1st class post.

I still do this for bd cards though!

My landlady served up the Yorkshire pud first with gravy, too - hers used to have sultanas in it! I found it very odd at first, but did like it.

I came home once to find her eating something I didn’t recognise and throwing bits into the fire. I asked what they were.
‘Chitterlings.’
It was some years before I found out what those actually were!

VioletSky

I'd be so happy with Yorkshire and gravy as a whole meal lol

M&S do the next best thing - a meal for one consisting of a big Yorkshire pud with beef, gravy and a few veg inside.

I once picked a couple up for me and dh, at the end of a very long car journey when there was nothing at home for a quick dinner.
They were yum!

Witzend I have seen those! Will try

Newly married, we were invited round for a meal by one of my MIL’s widowed friends.
She took an absolute age in the kitchen, then appeared with two Fray Bentos steak and kidney pies:
“I’ve been saving them especially” she said…(don’t mind them actually)
When engaged, my MIL invited me round for Sunday lunch. She had a cook over from miles away who used to be the family cook. After serving up, she disappeared into the kitchen.
“Isn’t Ethel joining us?” I said in my naivety. No cooks at home.
“Ethel!” my MIL said “Ethel’s more comfortable in the kitchen”.