I'm just having a rant, feel free to ignore, or join in, as preferred.
We've had lots of guests over Christmas, and the current pair are in the middle of a week-long stay.
I've come to realise over the years that my absolute limit for tolerance of guests is three days. After that (even sometimes before, if I'm tired) I start to feel hemmed-in and overwhelmed, so I withdraw to the bedroom all day on the pretext of work.
I often do have work in these circumstances, or will find work to do, but then it's even more annoying, because the constant noise and activity in the house drives me bananas.
This irritation then extends to the pets and my husband, who I currently wish would all bugger off forever and leave me in peace.
I can't stand to talk or engage with anyone, there's nothing left to say. We've done the small talk, the catch up, the setting-the-world-to-rights evening. I don't want to talk to anyone at all for at least a fortnight.
Everyone is perfectly polite and tidy, but their helpfulness means things aren't put back where they should be in the kitchen, and everything is slightly out of whack.
It's got to the point where even the sound of people sighing or drinking tea makes me furious.
I have realised in the past year that I'm probably ND, and am awaiting assessment, so this could be contributing, but maybe these feelings are perfectly normal?
Either way, I am determined that in future I am going to be more direct and clear about visitors. Three days max, and if they want to stay longer then I will absent myself instead. Luckily my work is vague and irregular enough that I should always be able to make up something plausible.
Three more days to go...