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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DP just invited four people to dinner tonight and assumed I'd cook

465 replies

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 16:39

AIBU? DP has a flaky but well-meaning (ADHD) friend who on Tuesday invited DP over to supper at Flaky Friend's house tonight. So today I thought that as I'd be here alone this evening I'd just have leftovers and instead of doing the big shop I normally do on a Thursday, I'd shop tomorrow.

FF invited DP over because FF's rather nice posh French girlfriend was due to be away and they planned to watch some rubbish bloke film they both enjoy. Half an hour ago FF contacts DP and says that FF's girlfriend hasn't gone away as planned so their TV date is off — but tell you what, FF and lovely girlfriend will both come to dinner here instead because FF doesn't want to disappoint DP who was expecting an evening with FF. (FF has a different way of seeing things than most people) DP agrees to this in in my hearing, with me yelling SAY NO at him from the hall. He ends the call and then asks what I've got for dinner tonight...

Now FF's partner is a fantastic cook. She cooked for us a couple of weeks ago and it was special. I'm not a bad cook but I want some notice (and some decent fresh ingredients) before cooking for her. So I say no, no way, cancel, cancel, cancel, terrible mistake — and a few choice suggestions for what DP can go and do to himself. He's shouted back about me being a fun sponge and inflexible and how I'm never happy having people round on an impromptu basis and he'll invite whoever he wants to visit in his own home...

We've only had shouting matches like this three or four times in our 14-year relationship, so this is major and I feel very shaken. I take a cup of tea out to the garden to get away from him for ten minutes. Meanwhile OP is in full huff mode and announces when I come back in that he's organised two other people, one of whom can't eat anything with tomatoes in it and one who's a vegan, to join him, FF and FF's partner for this impromptu dinner. I'm invited, too, if I want to be involved.

I've said I'm not cooking, so DP (who probably cooks three times a month, usually sausages or a burger) has found an online recipe for which we have the ingredients and is now preparing butter bean stew with chilli and peanut butter on rice. Stodge of the highest, brownest, vegan order. I feel really embarrassed in case FF's lovely girlfriend thinks this is something I've planned. I'm always the one who cooks for guests since the day early in our relationship when DP served guests slices of toast with ketchup and cheese on top and insisted it was pizza.

DP says I'm being VU. Am I or do other understand where I'm coming from? Off now to freshen up the cloakroom and bathroom. DP says no need, no one will care — but I do and I imagine FF's lovely French girlfriend will...

OP posts:
ScarletCamellia · 29/08/2024 19:15

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:07

@ScarletCamellia I'm sorry to have to tell you that we've just had a message from the lovely French girlfriend to say that she won't be coming with FF this evening as she'd like a quiet night in and a chance to have a long chat with her sister and mother. Cancel that carriage. Quel dommage.

Ah. Cross-posted. Perhaps she is hinting that you saddle your horse? The mother and sister sound far away...

There is no time to train a carrier pigeon and probably no fleet-footed child to bribe.

BlueMongoose · 29/08/2024 19:22

he'll invite whoever he wants to visit in his own home...

...and he can cook for them, of course.
If it's awful what's the problem? It will stop him doing it again, and stop them coming again if they value your food more than your company. If they don't care, and prefer your company to great food, you still lose nothing!

Opentooffers · 29/08/2024 19:23

It's not worth arguing " of course darling, you can have as many friends round to dinner as you like at the drop of a hat, just as long as its understood that you will be the cook and host". Only fair, and its totally understandable that his automatic expectation that you'd do it all, had your back up. He will learn from this hopefully 😉

Thursdaygirl · 29/08/2024 19:24

Opentooffers · 29/08/2024 19:23

It's not worth arguing " of course darling, you can have as many friends round to dinner as you like at the drop of a hat, just as long as its understood that you will be the cook and host". Only fair, and its totally understandable that his automatic expectation that you'd do it all, had your back up. He will learn from this hopefully 😉

Hmmmm, I’m not so sure!

whynotwhatknot · 29/08/2024 19:26

i woul rater sit in a car park somewere than entertain this

very rude of your dp

shams05 · 29/08/2024 19:31

Blueberryjamming · 29/08/2024 18:33

The last time dh tried this with me I completely refused and he didn't speak to me for 9 days.
The time previously his cousin's called to say they were coming down in 20 minutes, I'd just done the school run and was getting ready to leave for work and he was not happy that I didn't hang around to cook them breakfast.

@shams05 was it really 9 days or is that a jokey exaggeration? If it was 9 days, surely you’re aware that’s not normal and actually abusive! Are you still with him?

No joking, it was that long.
Yes we are still together, have been for a long time and I don't let this one fault, albeit quite major, effect me.
For him a second refusal to bow to his wishes made me completely unreasonable, for me it was just one expectation too many seeing as I would have been doing everything and the teens would have been expected to also help.
I'm not sure what he told them, they didn't come, he met them elsewhere so in his eyes I was at fault.
God I'm going to have to name change after this

wonderingwhatlifemeans · 29/08/2024 19:33

OP to bring you back down to practicality I would recommend the purchase of some Footner foot socks!!!! I actually used a pair today and am looking forward to the skin peeling off!!!!!

ThatTealViewer · 29/08/2024 19:35

Countingcactus · 29/08/2024 18:01

I’m definitely not an extrovert. 😂 Yeah, I agree it would probably be mildly annoying if so last minute. I think I was just confused by the thread as from “he assumed that I’d cook” I was expecting something much more controlling. Maybe he put lots of pressure on her to cook before agreeing to do it himself though - I don’t know. 🤷🏻‍♀️ (If he did, then that’s awful and ridiculous). Assuming no awful controlling behaviour, I would definitely try to let it go and enjoy my evening. Life is short and friends and laughter are precious.

If you’d only find it mildly annoying and would enjoy the evening, you’re probably more extroverted than you realise. It’s fine that you’d feel that way, but lots of us wouldn’t. That’s also fine. People are different. It certainly doesn’t mean she dislikes them all.

He’s insisted on having people over when she doesn’t want to and shouted at her for objecting and not acquiescing and cooking and cleaning as she normally does. This is all in the OP. You don’t see a problem with it? Truly?

TuVuoiFaLamericano · 29/08/2024 19:35

I get irrationally angry reading these 😒

Last minute inviting over 4 friends to dinner without consulting you, even if he cooks, is not on. It's YOUR home too and dp should be checking with you first and giving you the notice that you have asked for before inviting guests over.
Selfish twat.

Thursdaygirl · 29/08/2024 19:37

TuVuoiFaLamericano · 29/08/2024 19:35

I get irrationally angry reading these 😒

Last minute inviting over 4 friends to dinner without consulting you, even if he cooks, is not on. It's YOUR home too and dp should be checking with you first and giving you the notice that you have asked for before inviting guests over.
Selfish twat.

Totally agree

Hopscotch89 · 29/08/2024 19:38

@Anthologist I just want to say thank you for the giggle tonight - your posts have really made me laugh! I hope the evening goes well (please update us later!).

ttcat37 · 29/08/2024 19:40

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 19:15

Yorkshire moors. Calling Heathcliff...

They're here.

Good luck OP. I hope DH proudly presents the food as all his own doing, and that it tastes appalling.

diddl · 29/08/2024 19:42

Good luck OP. I hope DH proudly presents the food as all his own doing, and that it tastes appalling.

Why would you hope that the food is appalling?

What have the guests done wrong?

dapsnotplimsolls · 29/08/2024 19:49

I'm going to be disappointed if it tastes amazing!

socialdilemmawhattodo · 29/08/2024 19:50

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 17:28

LOL, I aupaired in France. They did not cook much. I cooked for them. When we went to the neighbours, it was all barbecue, salad, cheese and wine. When they came to our house, I made them their own cuisine with the hors deuvre, main and hand beaten creme caramel. LOL.

When she cooked for us we had stuffed sea bass with fondant potatoes, samphire and veg with sauce with lemon and butter. Also a clafoutis. It was lovely.

That sounds lovely. Do please at another time ask for the recipies.

PinkyFlamingo · 29/08/2024 19:58

Anthologist · 29/08/2024 16:50

We live semi-rurally. Chance would be a fine thing. Ditto a takeaway or pizza or Deliveroo. And anyway, we spent £400 at the weekend hosting some of DP's family. They drank 14 bottles of our wine and we picked up a bill of nearly £200 for Sunday lunch. I'm still reeling from that. DP, wonderful generous, convivial host he is, just loves it all. He's not the one cleaning the loos and putting out clean hand towels.

Well don't then!

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/08/2024 20:02

You're being unreasonable as he's not asking you to cook he's cooking himself. If it's not a good meal then that's none of your business and you can always heat up your leftovers. The success of the hosting is all on him. It's only 'your' job if you take it on. Don't be silly.

IncessantNameChanger · 29/08/2024 20:02

I hope you keep dropping that dh cooked. Sounds...... amazing

I hope it goes well. These things often turn into a good night

socialdilemmawhattodo · 29/08/2024 20:03

dapsnotplimsolls · 29/08/2024 19:11

She's probably on here and doesn't fancy what's on offer!

GrinGrinGrin

AromanticSpices · 29/08/2024 20:17

SpaceyLacey · 29/08/2024 18:47

In that situation. I would suggest

  1. Order meals delivered or takeaway, OR
  2. Run to shop & buy some pizza and bagged salad
Ask FF to bring wine & desert

Announce - it’s pizza & salad, only told about dinner an hour ago.

An hour's round trip for vegan, tomato-less pizza?

Think I'd prefer the overbrown beanuts!

GoldPlayer · 29/08/2024 20:20

How about just get deliveroo? Everyone's happy and nobody cooks

AromanticSpices · 29/08/2024 20:23

GoldPlayer · 29/08/2024 20:20

How about just get deliveroo? Everyone's happy and nobody cooks

Rural places, even those not far from big towns, don't always have it. Or takeaways that deliver.

LBFseBrom · 29/08/2024 20:33

Idontjetwashthefucker · 29/08/2024 16:41

You are so NOT being unreasonable, just make a point of saying he picked and cooked the recipe if it's shite

I agree.

Quite honestlly the best thing would have been for them to have a takeaway delivery, each choosing what they fancy. That would have worked. I daresay it's too late now at gone 20.30.

I hope it wasn't too bad and that you joined in.

Twinkletwinklelil · 29/08/2024 20:36

Omg this sounds like my worst nightmare!!!
you are not being unreasonable
like others have said, go out!!! Leave him to it..
he thinks you’re a fun sponge so remove yourself from the situation and see how much he enjoys that :|
he needs to grow up

DodoTired · 29/08/2024 20:40

I’d go out too. Let him bask in the glory of his stew

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