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AIBU?

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DP just invited four people to dinner tonight and assumed I'd cook

465 replies

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 16:39

AIBU? DP has a flaky but well-meaning (ADHD) friend who on Tuesday invited DP over to supper at Flaky Friend's house tonight. So today I thought that as I'd be here alone this evening I'd just have leftovers and instead of doing the big shop I normally do on a Thursday, I'd shop tomorrow.

FF invited DP over because FF's rather nice posh French girlfriend was due to be away and they planned to watch some rubbish bloke film they both enjoy. Half an hour ago FF contacts DP and says that FF's girlfriend hasn't gone away as planned so their TV date is off — but tell you what, FF and lovely girlfriend will both come to dinner here instead because FF doesn't want to disappoint DP who was expecting an evening with FF. (FF has a different way of seeing things than most people) DP agrees to this in in my hearing, with me yelling SAY NO at him from the hall. He ends the call and then asks what I've got for dinner tonight...

Now FF's partner is a fantastic cook. She cooked for us a couple of weeks ago and it was special. I'm not a bad cook but I want some notice (and some decent fresh ingredients) before cooking for her. So I say no, no way, cancel, cancel, cancel, terrible mistake — and a few choice suggestions for what DP can go and do to himself. He's shouted back about me being a fun sponge and inflexible and how I'm never happy having people round on an impromptu basis and he'll invite whoever he wants to visit in his own home...

We've only had shouting matches like this three or four times in our 14-year relationship, so this is major and I feel very shaken. I take a cup of tea out to the garden to get away from him for ten minutes. Meanwhile OP is in full huff mode and announces when I come back in that he's organised two other people, one of whom can't eat anything with tomatoes in it and one who's a vegan, to join him, FF and FF's partner for this impromptu dinner. I'm invited, too, if I want to be involved.

I've said I'm not cooking, so DP (who probably cooks three times a month, usually sausages or a burger) has found an online recipe for which we have the ingredients and is now preparing butter bean stew with chilli and peanut butter on rice. Stodge of the highest, brownest, vegan order. I feel really embarrassed in case FF's lovely girlfriend thinks this is something I've planned. I'm always the one who cooks for guests since the day early in our relationship when DP served guests slices of toast with ketchup and cheese on top and insisted it was pizza.

DP says I'm being VU. Am I or do other understand where I'm coming from? Off now to freshen up the cloakroom and bathroom. DP says no need, no one will care — but I do and I imagine FF's lovely French girlfriend will...

OP posts:
socialdilemmawhattodo · 29/08/2024 19:50

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 17:28

LOL, I aupaired in France. They did not cook much. I cooked for them. When we went to the neighbours, it was all barbecue, salad, cheese and wine. When they came to our house, I made them their own cuisine with the hors deuvre, main and hand beaten creme caramel. LOL.

When she cooked for us we had stuffed sea bass with fondant potatoes, samphire and veg with sauce with lemon and butter. Also a clafoutis. It was lovely.

That sounds lovely. Do please at another time ask for the recipies.

dapsnotplimsolls · 29/08/2024 19:49

I'm going to be disappointed if it tastes amazing!

diddl · 29/08/2024 19:42

Good luck OP. I hope DH proudly presents the food as all his own doing, and that it tastes appalling.

Why would you hope that the food is appalling?

What have the guests done wrong?

ttcat37 · 29/08/2024 19:40

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:15

Yorkshire moors. Calling Heathcliff...

They're here.

Good luck OP. I hope DH proudly presents the food as all his own doing, and that it tastes appalling.

Hopscotch89 · 29/08/2024 19:38

@Anthologist I just want to say thank you for the giggle tonight - your posts have really made me laugh! I hope the evening goes well (please update us later!).

Thursdaygirl · 29/08/2024 19:37

TuVuoiFaLamericano · 29/08/2024 19:35

I get irrationally angry reading these 😒

Last minute inviting over 4 friends to dinner without consulting you, even if he cooks, is not on. It's YOUR home too and dp should be checking with you first and giving you the notice that you have asked for before inviting guests over.
Selfish twat.

Totally agree

TuVuoiFaLamericano · 29/08/2024 19:35

I get irrationally angry reading these 😒

Last minute inviting over 4 friends to dinner without consulting you, even if he cooks, is not on. It's YOUR home too and dp should be checking with you first and giving you the notice that you have asked for before inviting guests over.
Selfish twat.

ThatTealViewer · 29/08/2024 19:35

Countingcactus · 29/08/2024 18:01

I’m definitely not an extrovert. 😂 Yeah, I agree it would probably be mildly annoying if so last minute. I think I was just confused by the thread as from “he assumed that I’d cook” I was expecting something much more controlling. Maybe he put lots of pressure on her to cook before agreeing to do it himself though - I don’t know. 🤷🏻‍♀️ (If he did, then that’s awful and ridiculous). Assuming no awful controlling behaviour, I would definitely try to let it go and enjoy my evening. Life is short and friends and laughter are precious.

If you’d only find it mildly annoying and would enjoy the evening, you’re probably more extroverted than you realise. It’s fine that you’d feel that way, but lots of us wouldn’t. That’s also fine. People are different. It certainly doesn’t mean she dislikes them all.

He’s insisted on having people over when she doesn’t want to and shouted at her for objecting and not acquiescing and cooking and cleaning as she normally does. This is all in the OP. You don’t see a problem with it? Truly?

wonderingwhatlifemeans · 29/08/2024 19:33

OP to bring you back down to practicality I would recommend the purchase of some Footner foot socks!!!! I actually used a pair today and am looking forward to the skin peeling off!!!!!

shams05 · 29/08/2024 19:31

Blueberryjamming · 29/08/2024 18:33

The last time dh tried this with me I completely refused and he didn't speak to me for 9 days.
The time previously his cousin's called to say they were coming down in 20 minutes, I'd just done the school run and was getting ready to leave for work and he was not happy that I didn't hang around to cook them breakfast.

@shams05 was it really 9 days or is that a jokey exaggeration? If it was 9 days, surely you’re aware that’s not normal and actually abusive! Are you still with him?

No joking, it was that long.
Yes we are still together, have been for a long time and I don't let this one fault, albeit quite major, effect me.
For him a second refusal to bow to his wishes made me completely unreasonable, for me it was just one expectation too many seeing as I would have been doing everything and the teens would have been expected to also help.
I'm not sure what he told them, they didn't come, he met them elsewhere so in his eyes I was at fault.
God I'm going to have to name change after this

whynotwhatknot · 29/08/2024 19:26

i woul rater sit in a car park somewere than entertain this

very rude of your dp

Thursdaygirl · 29/08/2024 19:24

Opentooffers · 29/08/2024 19:23

It's not worth arguing " of course darling, you can have as many friends round to dinner as you like at the drop of a hat, just as long as its understood that you will be the cook and host". Only fair, and its totally understandable that his automatic expectation that you'd do it all, had your back up. He will learn from this hopefully 😉

Hmmmm, I’m not so sure!

Opentooffers · 29/08/2024 19:23

It's not worth arguing " of course darling, you can have as many friends round to dinner as you like at the drop of a hat, just as long as its understood that you will be the cook and host". Only fair, and its totally understandable that his automatic expectation that you'd do it all, had your back up. He will learn from this hopefully 😉

BlueMongoose · 29/08/2024 19:22

he'll invite whoever he wants to visit in his own home...

...and he can cook for them, of course.
If it's awful what's the problem? It will stop him doing it again, and stop them coming again if they value your food more than your company. If they don't care, and prefer your company to great food, you still lose nothing!

ScarletCamellia · 29/08/2024 19:15

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:07

@ScarletCamellia I'm sorry to have to tell you that we've just had a message from the lovely French girlfriend to say that she won't be coming with FF this evening as she'd like a quiet night in and a chance to have a long chat with her sister and mother. Cancel that carriage. Quel dommage.

Ah. Cross-posted. Perhaps she is hinting that you saddle your horse? The mother and sister sound far away...

There is no time to train a carrier pigeon and probably no fleet-footed child to bribe.

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:15

ScarletCamellia · 29/08/2024 19:11

"Come away with me. The night is young. The men have their peanuts. The world waits for us."

Are you closer to Gretna Green, the Channel, the Yorkshire moors, Cornwall, or Bath? Next steps will depend on that.

Yorkshire moors. Calling Heathcliff...

They're here.

OP posts:
Fancycheese · 29/08/2024 19:15

I would lose my bloody mind if my DP did this to me! And then to claim you’re just being a “fun sponge”! I definitely would be out at a restaurant with a book and glass of red.

I have to say that I have a reluctant admiration for your DP’s optimism because this is not something I would ever attempt.

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:14

Mumofteenandtween · 29/08/2024 19:10

Unless it is a sneaky invite for you to go round to hers! She could cook you beautiful food and do all the cleaning up,afterwards! 😍

I hadn't thought of that. I'm anyone's for a good fondant potato. Our hands could touch as she washed the pots and I dry...

You're v naughty tonight, MN...

OP posts:
Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:12

Now of course they're all fashionably late and DP is getting a bit worried because the rice is almost cooked. I'm having a slight touch of schadenfreude.

OP posts:
ScarletCamellia · 29/08/2024 19:11

"Come away with me. The night is young. The men have their peanuts. The world waits for us."

Are you closer to Gretna Green, the Channel, the Yorkshire moors, Cornwall, or Bath? Next steps will depend on that.

dapsnotplimsolls · 29/08/2024 19:11

She's probably on here and doesn't fancy what's on offer!

Mumofteenandtween · 29/08/2024 19:10

Unless it is a sneaky invite for you to go round to hers! She could cook you beautiful food and do all the cleaning up,afterwards! 😍

Pixiewombat · 29/08/2024 19:09

Sounds like she didn't fancy sudden plan changes either.

I also have adhd and all sorts of random things can happen if I'm let out on my own.

However, I'd also not cope with unexpected people in my house.

You sound lovely!

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:09

TheClawDecides · 29/08/2024 18:43

YANBU to be annoyed.

YABU to be oddly sycophantic about the girlfriend.

Comes across as weird to be honest.

Noted.

OP posts:
Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:07

@ScarletCamellia I'm sorry to have to tell you that we've just had a message from the lovely French girlfriend to say that she won't be coming with FF this evening as she'd like a quiet night in and a chance to have a long chat with her sister and mother. Cancel that carriage. Quel dommage.

OP posts: