Are you always late or prefer to be early?

I am always at least 30 mins early usually a hour early as I can't abide being late . My late husband said that's why the children where born both early. Today I will leave my home at 7.15 to get to a class for 10. But will be at the place by 9 the latest . Gives me time to use the loo and have a mug of tea. Plus I like to help set the room up. My family where always early . I rely on buses and local trains but always catch earlier ones so I am never late.

“Punctuality is the vice if the bored” Oscar Wilde

My Dad used to leave everything to the last minute and when time to go anywhere would be fiddling under the bonnet of the car. it would stress me out so much when he was taking me to thw airport so I always told him I needed to be there an hour before I really did. Saved me no end of worry.

I hate being late and my husband is a faffer, always has to find something else to do and last one out. I usually tell him an earlier expected time for things. He managed to miss the turn off for Stansted for our flight and we couldn't turn back for miles, very, ery stressful.

I was often late when younger and now think it wasn’t good enough.
These days, I’m usually early, sometimes on an earlier train than intended, or sitting in the car until the allotted time.
It’s better for my high blood pressure!
My husband was always by the skin of his teeth on timing Amy DS ‘swings by’, his expression at any old time. A chip off the old …

I was born dead on 4am and have always preferred to be early! I'd rather be 1/2 early for something than 1 minute late!

My hubby is the opposite, I don't know the time of his birth but he's always late for everything - by miles!

I always make enough time and allow for traffic but I have a friend who is habitually late. Recently, after keeping me waiting over an hour the night before she kept me waiting for 40 minutes outside in the hot sun. When challenged she makes excuses and never apologises.
It is selfish, bad manners and really disrespectful and despite her good points I am beginning to feel that I should back off and cool it because it doesn't start the day off in a good way.
Sad but maybe necessary.

I would never arrive early at someone's home. I will sometimes sit in the car around the corner. To be fair I am usually early when I am catching a train, at the theatre and for appointments as there are consequences for being late.

I am known as The Late Mrs Cilia. But if I get a lift, then I'm early.

People who habitually turn up late for things irritate the hell out of me. Anyone can be held up on the odd occasions but I have family and friends who make a habit of being late all the time. I find it rude and inconsiderate to others. My Dad was ex-army and a stickler for being on time and that has rubbed off on me. I daresay I annoy the late comers with my time keeping as much as they annoy me.

I used to be always early,but now my ill health has slowed me down, I am always rushing at the last minute. It drives DH mad!
For that reason, my watch is set ten minutes fast. That annoys him too.

I agree if going to someone’s home I try never to arrive early, as I know that can be annoying as much as being late so will sit around the corner in the car if needed😂 My grandchildren think it is funny Granny is always early!!

Just been looking over this thread and realised that the title is
Are you always late or prefer to be early?

I think both can be true at once!
I think most people would prefer to be a few minutes early - even the ones who are always late!

Never late. Absolutely no tolerance for those who just can’t be on time to save their lives. None. It’s so unequivocally rude.

I’m always on time. Exactly on time. I can’t bear hanging around waiting for people. I walk into the venue at the appointed time. Same when I was working- I wouldn’t turn up till my shift was to start.

I am always early. It is a standing joke in our family that whenever I took the AC to the station they were always two trains too early.

Can't abide being late and I'm normally arriving at things near too early, but at least I'm not stressed like the late arrivers! Sorry but there's very rarely an excuse for being late every time.

Alway early, so as not to be late.
Feel it's so unkind and disrespectful to the other party if they're left somewhere wondering where you are. If it's medical appt ,always aim to be early. I'm not a saint but ,especially NHS, it's vital that we do our best to help an overstretched system.

My mum and I used to regularly fall out over her wanting to arrive everywhere an hour early.

I have a friend who is always too early I can guarantee she will be at least 20 minutes early. Really irritating too, when you are busy doing things and could do with that 20 minutes on your own. Be on time not late but not more than 5 minutes early to someones home.

I had a very good friend who was always late. Even if I gave her a half an hour early time she’d be late.
My husband was in the RAF, and we're both 10 mins early people, so find it frustrating when people can’t be prepared and are always late, such as my grandson.

GrannyIvy

I hate to be late it really worries me. I have to be at the theatre 30 mins before a performance otherwise I get very anxious. Everyone close to me seems to be last minute and it makes me anxious. I always arrive to collect the grandchildren from school really early as terrified they will come out and I’m not there🙈

I feel the same GrannyIvy. Have always been anxious about being late so my 'swing by the seat of his pants' DH drives me up the wall, he is never stressed and insists we will get somewhere on time even though I know he always underestimates how long it will take to get ready and then get where we are going. But as we get older he can see how upset I get by this so he lets me take the lead on when we leave etc.
We might have to hang around for a while but at least we will be in the right place at the right time.
My daughter once asked 'mum what do you suppose will happen if you ever are late?'
To which I replied 'well it won't be the end of the world but I will be too shaken and upset to enjoy whatever we are late for.'
She didn't pursue it further.

I hate to be late it really worries me. I have to be at the theatre 30 mins before a performance otherwise I get very anxious. Everyone close to me seems to be last minute and it makes me anxious. I always arrive to collect the grandchildren from school really early as terrified they will come out and I’m not there🙈

Try to be just on time & usually manage it - if I get there 20 minutes early that's a fail in my eyes. DH aims for 5-10 minutes late & that makes me really anxious.

Depends on the occasion. Prompt if it is a 'timed' event. On the other hand 15 minutes late for the dinner parties of my chronically casual friend - husband is a 'never' late fiend and we have in the past turned up while friend is unshowered/outfitted, and the kitchen is chaos. Not kind.