AIBU or is this friend being ultra-picky?

[scarbados]

We moved to a small coastal town from a big city 3 years ago and were happy with the idea that we'd probably have friends visiting, especially during summer. We have a spare room with ensuite bathroom and it's always ready for visitors.

If people are staying, they're welcome to join us in whatever we do, go their own way or a mixture. Sometimes they eat with us, other times they eat out and at others we all eat out together. We never expect them to pay for our meals but it's nice when they do. Neither do we ever expect payment from our guests.

But ... the couple due to arrive tomorrow for 3 nights have just messaged me and asked me to make sure there's white bread and strawberry jam here for their breakfasts, and a carton of orange juice because she doesn't drink tea or coffee. (There's a supermarket at the end of the road which will be open when they get here so they could pick up their own stuff when they arrive.) Then I got a second message from the male of the pairing asking me to 'please make sure there's a clean throw over the sofa and the cat doesn't sit on it before they arrive' as after the last visit he noticed cat hair on his jeans. I use a pet hair brush daily on the sofa as I know the cat loves to sleep on it. He doesn't sit on any of the other chairs in the house, where the guest could easliy sit but he prefers the sofa.

I feel like suggesting he does his own shopping and brings a clothes brush, or books into one of the many hotels in town. He's getting 3 nights free accommodation and fed for at least 4 meals while he's here and seems to be trying to set out a list of requirements I have to meet.

AIBU to be seriously pissed off and tempted to tell them I'll book a hotel room on their behalf and they're paying for it?

[Branleuse]

Ive had black cats before, but the reason I wouldnt get one now is because I think they are harder to see in the dark and at much greater risk of being run over.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

I've also heard that Amanda. In past times they were also considered to be unlucky or witches cats.

I've had lots of cats over the years, but have never intentionally gone out to get them, so colour has never been a consideration, and several have been black, I don't know if it is actually a thing but they've all been great cats - friendly, loving and talkative. Unlike the tortoiseshells that I've known, who have been without exception, complete bitches.

I foster rescue cats and we do have less success rehoming black or black and white cats, gingers, tabbies and greys are far more popular. So I would say that, to anyone looking for a cat and are not bothered about the colour, please take a black or black and white one (or two, three etc) if you can, to even out the odds for them.

[BarbaraofSevillle]

That's probably also true Bran

[Sexnotgender]

I love black cats!

I have 2 cats and a dog, all rescues and all black.

[AliceRR]

What are the CFs up to, today, OP?

[BettyDuMonde]

I love black cats too Sexnotgender - I’ve had 5 over the years. My son has accused me of being racist about cats!

Unfortunately my DH has ruined the matchy-pet game and our Greyhound is brindle. I still love him though (DH and the dog).

...........

Waiting excitedly for CF update...

[plominoagain]

When we moved to Norfolk , we used to get visited all the time by people . They rapidly dwindled when they realised that we weren’t a free B and B and they weren’t getting artisanal jam and a full English every morning . Nowadays , we have about 4 lots of friends who rock up , pitch in and we have a ball . The others we haven’t seen for years .

As an aside , we tend to get chosen by our animals , who just turn up on us . Like this little bugger , Clive . Found him shivering in the snow outside , so as we have greyhounds I said he could live in our big hay barn , very warm and sheltered with a big bed , a duvet and as many toys as a cat could need . This is not my hay barn .....

[plominoagain]

Agh ! No pictures!

[plominoagain]

Oh ffs . I hate iPads ..

[BettyDuMonde]

Clive was worth seeing twice.

[Motoko]

We've had a couple of black cats in the past, from Cat's Protection. They told us they have trouble rehoming them because people are superstitious and think they're unlucky. There's a saying that if a black cat crosses your path, it's either lucky, or unlucky, depending on whether it crosses in front or behind. It's pretty stupid in this day and age.

We now have 5 cats, 4 of them are long haired, so if you need any extra floof OP, just give me a shout! One of them is mostly white too, and her fur is so fine, it's the worst for getting on everything, but she's so cuddly and soft.

[TapasForTwo]

I can't believe the stupidity of some people. Clive is gorgeous plomino.
I would have a house full of cats, regardless of colour, if I could.

[scarbados]

@AliceRR

They're on their way home. I seem to have picked up some kind of virus and feel like death warmed up and she's trying to avoid catching it - I don't blame her as she has enough health problems as it is. She has Crohns and a couple of lesser but still nasty things to contend with.

But they've picked up a parking ticket because visitors here have to have scratch-card permits that run from 10am for 24 hours. They forgot to put a new one in the car last night to cover until they went out. Not my responsibility to ask if they've remembered, is it?

And they did invite us out for a meal yesterday evening which we turned down because I was feeling crap. So glad we didn't go because he's got d&v this morning. So they're possibly not going to have the best of journeys today.

Reggie ahd his sulky head on before they went but he's now charging round in circles. I think he's doing a lap of honour!

[cstaff]

Well that's a massive improvement on their last visit. At least they had the decency to invite you out to dinner. Maybe they have copped on that you are not playing the "proper hostess" and have realised their CFery from previous visits. They probably don't want to blow their chance of another free hotel in future but we know you won't fall for this again OP.

Also the parking ticket is their problem.

On a separate note will other posters please stop talking about cats. When I see n update on here I want to know what is happening with regard to the CFs .

[SauvignonBlanche]

Sorry to hear you’re not well OP but can’t say the same about your CF guest.

[Easterbunnyhashoppedoff]

Assuming you have survived the visit by a dcat's whisker op?!

[AliceRR]

Sorry to hear you’re not well but perhaps a good thing the visit was kept short. It does seem like they (or your friend) realised he had crossed a line!

So not your fault about the parking ticket. Kind of think he deserves it tbh which is bad to say

Hope you feel better soon and can relax now you’ve got your house back

[Drum2018]

Hope you feel better soon - consolation is that you won't be hosting them again 😃

[Belenus]

On a separate note will other posters please stop talking about cats. When I see n update on here I want to know what is happening with regard to the CFs

Just highlight the OPs posts so you can go to them immediately. No need to police what other posters are up to then.

[SchrodingersBrexit]

@Belenus Can you do that on the app?

[TapasForTwo]

Oh no. I hope you feel better soon scarbados

[Daftapath]

@SchrodingersBrexit yes, you can

[Happynow001]

So sorry you are not feeling well and I do hope you get better soon. Hopefully cuddles with your cat/DP will help your recovery. In the meantime:

But they've picked up a parking ticket

And they did invite us out for a meal yesterday evening which we turned down because I was feeling crap. So glad we didn't go because he's got d&v this morning.

Karma is not a cat called Reggie but is certainly a bitch! 😁

[mummyhaschangedhername]

Hope you feel better soon OP.

[nicenewdusters]

With reference to a previous poster's comment, I think we know whose anus is winking now . The gods of d & v have truly wreaked vengeance on the CF.