Dealing with "casual callers"

I love it if a friend just 'drops in'. It's a rare occurrence though. But recently a friend rang the door bell. We chatted at the door for a while, but I sensed she wanted to come in. I was, as it happened, in the middle of a clearing session. Furniture moved away from walls etc. But we sat down and enjoyed a chat all the same. Another friend who I had invited for coffee turned up a day early by mistake. It didn't bother me in the slightest. We had coffee and chatted for a couple of hours. My friends mean so much to me.

My late mum was very good at telling people when it was time to go. She would simply tell them (and us!) that we had had long enough! Not rude, just honest and it was her house after all.

Since Covid we havn’t really got back into the guest routine, if its past 11pm and they are lingering then I bring the talk to early rising and a busy day tomorrow, our bed time.

Be careful with casual callers ! Had a phone call on mobile , decided wasn't going to answer the door ... hey presto same person phoned on house phone ! I answered ... say no more ... serves me right !

I don't open the door for "casual callers" they'll never know. I find it rude, as if my time and projects have no value?

Being a bit of a lover of my own time and projects, I usually ignore the phone or bell if I can't be bothered. Seems to have got worse as I've gotten older. When questioned I say I was in the bathroom or garden which you can't access from the front of my house.

Haven’t had any for years none of my friends or acquaintances live near me so there’s no one to pop in
I miss it. When I used to live in Service quarters we all popped into each others then when I lived on a council estate it was much the same but not since living here and getting older so for the last x number of years there’s been no one nearby to pop in I don’t think I d like it now

I’m happy either way, prefer a phone call beforehand, but sometimes there isn’t time etc. I’d never in a million years tell a guest it’s time to go, mind you I’ve never been in that position, simply can’t imagine it. Doesn’t seem to be a problem with our visitors, perhaps we’re lucky. Comes down to good manners doesn’t it…when to come and when to leave?

I love casual callers.

I have certain friends/ acquaintances who I arrange to meet outside in restaurants because of this very reason. They just don’t leave and I hate being rude. What is it with these ones, don’t they like their own homes ?

In our culture it is generally considered rude to just tell guests it's time to go. Giving them a cue is the preferred method, or having to go out to an appointment or whatever. Both sides understand how that transaction works. If someone needs you to be more direct then that's what it is, but it's not the first go to.