to think that this was a very weird party?

[AKMD]

DH, DS and I were invited to a child's birthday party on Saturday in a large village hall. The parents were really pushing the message not to be late so we got there in good time. It was just us, the DJ and a couple of people blowing up balloons. We sat, we waited. Two hours after the start time, the birthday child and their parents had still not arrived and there were only a handful of other guests. We went home rather nonplussed.

I don't know when they eventually turned up but there has been no explanation, no apology etc. and as they eventually did arrive they are all alive and well.

AIBU to think that this was rude and strange behaviour?

Maybe they are a family of organised super burglars and wanted to know you would be out of your house at a specific time.

If not then they're not criminals but very odd and very rude. That kind of behaviour is only acceptable if you're Liza Minnelli.

(muses on happy times spent at Liza Minnelli's birthday paries over the years)

YANBU. Very odd that they didn't apologise or explain. Do they have track record of this sort of thing?

Yanbu

Very odd.

Did you definitely have the right day/time/venue?

How completely fucking bizarre!

Could there have been a family emergency?

I only ask because there could have been a hospitalisation, death etc. but the parents wanted to still have the party for the sake of the birthday child.

If there wasn't anything like that, then YANBU, that is very strange.

Could you ring up and ask if everything is okay?

Very strange indeed - and I don't think I am alone in hoping that you are going to come back to this thread with an explanation from them. [nosy]

Strange indeed, was any food/drink already there and did the DJ play any tunes?

If you're sure you had the correct venue and time then I'd have to ask what happened - but I am nosy!

How strange! I'd have to ring and find out what was going on tbh. Were the other guests equally ?

They are DH's friends. I was going to meet them for the first time at the party - maybe they've heard rumours! :o I will prod him to make enquiries and report back...

I don't think so JaneFonda. There were quite a few other family members there by the time we left and they didn't mention anything.

We were definitely in the right place. There were tables out, balloons, table snacks, drinks. The DJ was a mutual friend. The invitation said the start time very clearly and PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE.

I would have assumed something bad had happened....

The other guests were looking extremely bored (try entertaining small children for 2 hours when they want a party) but no one seemed to know where they were.

I would have assumed something happened also. Very odd otherwise.

How weird

Any update OP? most peculiar.

DH is at work so no update, sorry!

Could it have been a "surprise" prty that went wrong? That's when people usually reiterate DONT BE LATE!

Maybe they thought they'd leave it a while to make sure there were plenty there...and it stretched out too long...I could almost imagine my DH doing that...he is hyper disorganised and could probably manage to be 2 hours late to a party.

I think something bad has happened, we were late dds party, and believe me there was a really good reason, thankfully my lovely friends just started without us!

The child was 1 so I doubt he even knew it was his birthday.

Oh, oh, update!

Apparently they got there early to decorate, then popped out to get some change.

From Calais?

You're more patient than me! Don't think I'd have waited 2 hours for a non party. Unless there was a free bar.....

So did the party actually take place then.

And why did they need change?

Whaaaaaaaaaat?!!!

did nobody else who was there say anything?

how strange