what a surprise..it has started!

[momager1]

long story, short.
husband and I took early retirement and sold our home in Canada. 7 weeks ago we moved to a condo that we had purchased previously (for our retirement) In Dominican Republic. 3 min walk to gorgeous bavaro beach, lots of quirky little eateries, Small condo complex but upscale with two large pools and 2 bbq gazebos with included gas bbqs and dining tables for the owners to use. SURPRISE. 3 couples that we have not had alot of socializing with have all sent messages this week. 1 looking to stay a week in august, 1 a week in October, and the other couple want to bring their two kids over CHRISTMAS!! I need to figure out a good response to them all. I did want to message back FUCK OFF but my husband thought it was a bit harsh haha. Couple one have always been good hosts as have we on the rare occasion that we have been in each others house ( and good dinner guests, including asking what they can bring and when i say nothing, they showed up with flowers and two bottles of wine as they didn't know what i was cooking, so a red and a white) Couple Two. had them over for a bbq once. nice enough people that lived in our culdesac, but showed up empty handed and then asked for some of the leftovers as she didn't have time to make anything for their packed lunches the next day (it was a lunch bbq over at 5 pm) Couple three. JUST NO. In the message they sent they said that they know it is just two bedrooms two baths, but the kids could sleep in the livingroom and share THEIR bathroom. And they were so looking forward to my cooking for the week as they are not in a position to eat out much !! ( I am a NOW RETIRED restaurant owning chef. NO NOPE NOPITY NOPE.
So. How do I word my messages back to them that does not include FUCK OFF ?

PS @ScottBakula IF only you were scott bakula.. I have had a crush for over 30 years since quantaum leap. If you ARE scott bakula I will come and make you a lasagna grill cheese (best sammie ever) look at my reply to you on the sandwich thread lol.

Oh that's fantastic news, I am sure he will love the surprise.
Let us know how it goes .

There's a sandwich thread? 🤪

Oooh can we get a link to sandwich thread please? 🙏 best sambo is definitely a Tayto cheese and onion on white bread with lots of Kerrygold butter 😋 😉

@momager1 sorry for your loss 💐 Enjoy your time with your very welcome visitor !

Just adding a self portrait, and a pic of my holographic pal Al as advance payment for my Grilled sammie please send it to somewhere in the desert care of Ziggy 😂

I was and still am a big fan of Quantum Leap ( most of my mn names are linked to the show ) like you I fancied Sam something rotten, and even though Al was a womaniser I had a soft spot for him too .
Oh Boy . . . . .

@ScottBakula here is your sammie!!! Not as drool worthy as Our Sam.. but...

Oooh thank you @momager1
That looks very tasty indeed.

It was more about op making sandwiches for her dh ( and it getting very derailed )https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4821912-to-enjoy-making-my-husbands-sandwiches?reply=126696682

So I have just started a new thread come over and tell us https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4822851-what-is-your-favourite-sandwich .

I'm horrified - the level of brass neck on some people! i am cringing all the way over here from the UK! I'm embarrassed for them!

you're right - how desperate does someone have to be for a free holiday at the expense of someone else.

It never ceases to amaze me just how low some folk go just to get a free holiday. I personally just have far too much pride and dignity to debase myself to people who aren’t very close friends, so that I can stay at their place for free. I would rather factor in some accommodation costs and not be beholden to anyone. We were lucky to find an affordable property in a very desirable area but we spent years renovating it. I appreciate that hotels around us are very expensive, especially during peak season but some of the biggest CFs are actually well off and could afford to pay for a holiday rental. Yet they are determined to get a freebie and often expect food etc on top, as well as free chauffeuring etc. Whatsmore, they completely fail to respect that while they might be on holiday, we are working.

So.. I have had a NOT SO CF here for a few days already. He has bought dinner and also did a shop. Now he is a CF as he cannot cook his way out of a wet paper bag. So that falls to me. however he is having a blast with my husband and I think he may buy my neighbours place.. not sure as it is more money than he wants to spend but also realizes that we are right here and can let him know any issues with his airbnb'ers they came home today and I have my turkey burgers ready for bbq.. he brought beer and wine and also told me tomorrow is on him do not take anything out of freezer.. which means a delivery dinner.. I am good with it lol

It's good to know he is helping out with food and drinks. Still a bit CF'ish but much better than the other two
If he buys your neighbours place will it just be for air b&b ? If its a gated no kids community he limited range to who he can rent it to.
You will have to go careful about you getting roped into "keeping a eye on it " changes to been you do all the letting aget stuff , cleaning and repairs .

The weather in the UK has been very warm ( high 20s ) for the past week or so , I bet there are loads of people that live on the coast suffering from Free Holiday CF Syndrome atm .

realizes that we are right here and can let him know any issues with his airbnb'ers

Careful with this one. You could end up dealing with a ton of CFs in his property. "Oh we need this/that/5-cheese lasagne/your car for the day/a tour guide/an extra room in your house for our grandma' etc etc

How are changeovers going to be managed? And by who?
Maybe I just have a suspicious mind...

fellow Canadian here! Good on you for telling them like it is. CF at their worst.

on the other hand, your lasagna looks fantastic! I would love a recipe for homemade sauce as well😊. I will also try and make it as is with store bought.

Can you tell me about DR? I want to go on a proper vacation so badly. Where you are sounds fantastic. No! I will not ask to stay but someone with an in as to where to stay would be awesome!

Family one -
How nice to hear from you. We are very happy here and would love to see you should you be holidaying in our region. We might be able to host you for one night, depending on the date, but will definitely be up for going out for drinks nearby or perhaps having you over for tea if you have some hours free.
Family two -
Great to hear that you have some time off work and you would so enjoy Bavaro Beach should you be able to get accommodation. We are not up to hosting, sorry, but would definitely love to go out one evening with you at a place near where you are staying.

Family three -
Great to hear that you are planning a trip with your family at Christmas. When making plans please don't factor in staying with us as we are not up for hosting. Make plans for yourselves and we will try to catch up for lunch or tea near where you are staying.

Why the fuck do some posters respond to the initial OP without reading the updates?????

@BMW6 you mean that the OP hasn't been poised waiting for 6 weeks for @user1492757084 's well meaning but utterly pointless answer??!

The second !

Gah wrong thread 😣

lol! yes this was resolved weeks ago! We have had one houseguest (but he was very welcomed and a good friend of my husbands for years) He was here 7 days. I cooked dinner 2x and he took us out 3x, the other nights we had nibbles as it was so hot we were not bothered with dinner really) Today we are heading out in about an hour to pick up our old next door neighbors from canada at the resort they are staying at. Funny enough they did not even tell us they were coming on vacation until a few days ago and didn't even thing to ask us to stay.. I can pretty much guarantee that they will offer to pay for lunch out, we are taking a cooler with us full of beverages and taking them to macao beach and then as the husband of the couple is a gambler (regularly flies to vegas) we are taking them to the hard rock hotel that has the best casino in the area

Sounds like a lovely day planned and nice catch up

thanks @Weenurse we had a great day. We did not go to the casino as they admitted one of them has a gambling issue so they both have stopped casinos together. We did the beach, then back to the house where they swam in the pool to get rid of the salt water, hung out with the mutts a bit and then went for a nice meal of fish down by the beach! We had so much fun that we are taking them out to the other side of the island tomorrow!! It will be cramped in my tiny car backseat as we are taking the mutts with us for the day and packing a picnic lunch. Funny we never hung out as neighbors! just friendly in passing. Now realizing that we missed out on making great friends. Better late than never!