to want DH's family to say who it is when they call here??????

[fannyannie]

most of his (VERY large) family I've only met a few times, once at our wedding 7 1/2yrs ago, and some of them again when we went on holiday there last August. However, almost all of them speak English with quite a strong (very similar sounding) Zimbabwean accent and I often haven't got a clue who I'm talking to when they ring.

They ask if he's here - I say no (invariably as they always call afternoon Zim time when DH is at work) and they just say can you tell him I called and ask him to ring me.....then hang up!!! Its just happened now - I know it was one of his 2 brothers - but I don't know which one it was and they didn't give me a chance to check before they hung up - now DH will have to hazard a guess when he gets in and hope he rings the correct one - as one will be waiting up late (going to bed past about 10pm is rare) and the other tucked up in bed.

fannyannie, my dh's family do this too - and it a very big family! The problem is, they get insulted if I don't know who they are - but I ask anyway!

I have relatives who do this. Once an aunt invited us over to dinner and I didn't know who it was so had to do 1471 then go through phone book to find out.

My MIL does this, it doesn't annoy me that I don't know who it is (we have caller ID so I know who it is before I pick up, and god forbid I wouldn't know that woman's voice) but before I even say hello she launches in with whatever she has rang for - so rude, manners cost nothing!!

batters - I did that once and really upset my FIL - so I'm a bit loathe to do it again.....

I always know it's one of his family from the accent...but apart from that I never have a clue.

Of course it doesn't help that his family is of mammoth proportions, 5 siblings (although the older sister now lives in the UK and I recognis e her voice now), his dad has 4 (or is it 5?? I can't remember) brothers and sisters, his mum (who passed away before I met him) has 6 sisters, the oldest of those has 7 daughters (who DH is very close to), his dad has been married 3 times (2 children from each marriage) and he keeps in contact with some of his olders siblings mums' family and quite a few of his younger siblings mum's family.

I can't even do 1471 - as they're all calling from Zimbabwe so number no available!

Just say, is that X, and when they say no, it's Y, just say sorry, bad line, or something.

My DH's stepsister always does this. I absolutely cannot stand her and she has a habit of repondin to my "Hello" with "Chocolatedot, are you alright, you sound streesed" or some other irritating opening statement. I always put on my snootiest voice and say "to whom am I speaking?".