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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:
poppymango · 29/08/2024 21:09

You’re not being unreasonable in the slightest - who invites two people round on a whim and just expects their partner to a last minute meal for 4 with zero notice?! I would have firmly stated that we’d be getting deliveroo.

godmum56 · 29/08/2024 21:06

WagnersFourthSymphony · 29/08/2024 20:43

There are some parts of the country, as @Anthologist has already indicated, where you can't just summon a Deliveroo. You are thrown onto your own resources - or, in this case, your DP's.

I hope the tomatoless bean stew was delicious, and not too fartacious.

And maybe you got together with FF's lovely French girlfriend to bond on partner flakiness. 🍷

I live in quite a populous area although not a city, and there is no food delivery around here.I can get supermarket delivery ordere days ahead but no just eat, deliveroo etcetera.

peachesarenom · 29/08/2024 21:05

Take away/delivery, enjoy their company, use the opportunity to quiz French girlfriend what she might enjoy from your reportoir and promise to cook for her soon, enjoy their company! Don't be a fun sponge!

(Personally, I'd be fuming/ shouting because of having to last minute tidy the house!!!)

Hucklemuckle · 29/08/2024 21:03

You lost me at using adhd as some sort of explanation of FFs behaviour.
ADHD doesn't make you rude or think inviting oneself over for dinner is acceptable

Enough with the demonising adhd please

TruJay · 29/08/2024 21:01

The ‘they’re here’ at the end of your last post read so ominously, I love it 😆

AromanticSpices · 29/08/2024 20:54

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:15

Yorkshire moors. Calling Heathcliff...

They're here.

Heathcliff... It's me, Clafoutis, I've gone home...

REignbow · 29/08/2024 20:52

I agree with you @Anthologist. An impromptu meal when you live close to supermarkets/takeawys etc is annoying (especially more annoying if he expected you cook etc). But living rurally and EXPECTING a fine dining three course meal is crazy.

I hope you sit back and enjoy the chaos. Don’t step in but go in with an open mind, as it may be a pleasant evening and may prove that he can step up when he has too (so give him more host).

PinkyFlamingo · 29/08/2024 20:51

It's pretty clear that everyone saying "what's the problem, just get a takeaway" haven't read OPs post about where she lives!

Monkeysatonthewall · 29/08/2024 20:51

WagnersFourthSymphony · 29/08/2024 20:49

French girlfriend saw the writing on the wall so she's not coming. Hoping OP went round there instead, leaving DP and his mates with their tomatoless bean stew.

French girlfriend is not only an amazing cook but she's also very polite and would never cause a scene.

Barney16 · 29/08/2024 20:50

I'm completely with you. I live rural and you can't get a delivery and every restaurant shuts at 9pm or earlier. And it's a good half an hour drive to a supermarket. Spontaneous doesn't work in those circumstances. Luckily for me DP doesn't like the peopley world so no offence the cuff cooking required.

WagnersFourthSymphony · 29/08/2024 20:49

Monkeysatonthewall · 29/08/2024 20:46

Let us know how if the French girlfriend had a good time.

And if the French girlfriend enjoyed the food!

French girlfriend saw the writing on the wall so she's not coming. Hoping OP went round there instead, leaving DP and his mates with their tomatoless bean stew.

Monkeysatonthewall · 29/08/2024 20:46

Let us know how if the French girlfriend had a good time.

And if the French girlfriend enjoyed the food!

WagnersFourthSymphony · 29/08/2024 20:43

There are some parts of the country, as @Anthologist has already indicated, where you can't just summon a Deliveroo. You are thrown onto your own resources - or, in this case, your DP's.

I hope the tomatoless bean stew was delicious, and not too fartacious.

And maybe you got together with FF's lovely French girlfriend to bond on partner flakiness. 🍷

Scottishskifun · 29/08/2024 20:43

I'm wondering why your DP thinks inviting people for dinner then putting peanut butter on rice for dinner with a bean chilli is anything but a recipe for a bizarre and disastrous evening......

Sit back and eat popcorn OP and enjoy the chaos of watching him try and host this bizarre evening!

DodoTired · 29/08/2024 20:40

I’d go out too. Let him bask in the glory of his stew

Secradonugh · 29/08/2024 20:40

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:15

Yorkshire moors. Calling Heathcliff...

They're here.

I'd bet that he french gf is embarrassed that ff invited them both round to yours.

Twinkletwinklelil · 29/08/2024 20:36

Omg this sounds like my worst nightmare!!!
you are not being unreasonable
like others have said, go out!!! Leave him to it..
he thinks you’re a fun sponge so remove yourself from the situation and see how much he enjoys that :|
he needs to grow up

LBFseBrom · 29/08/2024 20:33

Idontjetwashthefucker · 29/08/2024 16:41

You are so NOT being unreasonable, just make a point of saying he picked and cooked the recipe if it's shite

I agree.

Quite honestlly the best thing would have been for them to have a takeaway delivery, each choosing what they fancy. That would have worked. I daresay it's too late now at gone 20.30.

I hope it wasn't too bad and that you joined in.

AromanticSpices · 29/08/2024 20:23

GoldPlayer · 29/08/2024 20:20

How about just get deliveroo? Everyone's happy and nobody cooks

Rural places, even those not far from big towns, don't always have it. Or takeaways that deliver.

GoldPlayer · 29/08/2024 20:20

How about just get deliveroo? Everyone's happy and nobody cooks

AromanticSpices · 29/08/2024 20:17

SpaceyLacey · 29/08/2024 18:47

In that situation. I would suggest

  1. Order meals delivered or takeaway, OR
  2. Run to shop & buy some pizza and bagged salad
Ask FF to bring wine & desert

Announce - it’s pizza & salad, only told about dinner an hour ago.

An hour's round trip for vegan, tomato-less pizza?

Think I'd prefer the overbrown beanuts!

socialdilemmawhattodo · 29/08/2024 20:03

dapsnotplimsolls · 29/08/2024 19:11

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

GrinGrinGrin

IncessantNameChanger · 29/08/2024 20:02

I hope you keep dropping that dh cooked. Sounds...... amazing

I hope it goes well. These things often turn into a good night

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/08/2024 20:02

You're being unreasonable as he's not asking you to cook he's cooking himself. If it's not a good meal then that's none of your business and you can always heat up your leftovers. The success of the hosting is all on him. It's only 'your' job if you take it on. Don't be silly.

PinkyFlamingo · 29/08/2024 19:58

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 16:50

We live semi-rurally. Chance would be a fine thing. Ditto a takeaway or pizza or Deliveroo. And anyway, we spent £400 at the weekend hosting some of DP's family. They drank 14 bottles of our wine and we picked up a bill of nearly £200 for Sunday lunch. I'm still reeling from that. DP, wonderful generous, convivial host he is, just loves it all. He's not the one cleaning the loos and putting out clean hand towels.

Well don't then!