To leave friend sitting in her car outside my house as she's arrived 90 minutes early

[youretooearly]

I invited my friend over to my house for a takeaway tonight. She asked what time and I said about 6pm. She responded to say she was planning to leave her house shortly (this was about 3.30pm) as she has never been to my house before and wanted to find her way before it got dark. She said not to worry she would just "hang around" somewhere and wouldn't impose. I assumed she meant she would go to a nearby coffee shop or something. I wasn't at home at that stage and told her so. I got home about 45 minutes ago and planned to use the time before she arrived to do more preparation for a job interview I have on Monday.

I walked into my living room about half an hour ago and noticed her car sitting outside my house! So she was here at least 1 hour 20 minutes early. I was shocked. I haven't acknowledged that I've seen her or invited her in yet. She's sent me a message 15 minutes ago "let me know when you're ready". I feel a bit angry that she's turned up so early! I said 6pm for a reason and now feel under pressure to let her in.

That’s nuts. How long have you known her? Is she normally a bit lacking in awareness or social norms?

She's your friend. Of course you let her in.

I'd let her in but if you really need the time to prepare explain that, make her a coffee and give her the remote control while you do the planned work.

Bloody hell, WTAF?, this is how you treat your friends? She should naje it easy for you & just go home, never to mother with you again.

This obviously. You don’t leave mates hanging about outside, but equally you don’t disturb mates when they have stuff to do.

I'd just let her in, get her a drink and crack on with your jobs until 6

I'd just say "Sorry I'm busy but you're more than welcome to hang out while I get some work finished"

Make her a cuppa and head off to finish your work.

Ignore her message and let her in at 6 as planned

what a fucking weirdo

How far away does she live to have left at 3:30?

Just let her in, explain you need to work and leave her to watch tv with a drink until you are ready.

Can't believe you would leave a friend sitting in the car!

If she's your friend you should be able to have a normal conversation with her. Of course you invite her in, she was worried about finding your place in the dark and majorly over-calculated her arrival time. Set her up with a cup of tea and the telly and tell her you need half an hour to sort out your interview prep. Why would you leave her sitting in the car?

Its a friend ??? Let her in FGS tell her that you have to do something important for work and tell her where the kettle and tea bags are ... Then you do what you have to do !

Tbh it could be worse, she could have been 1 hour and 20 minutes late, and you would have been starving waiting to order a takeaway 😆 💯 😭

Invite her in, make a brew or open a bottle of wine, let her sit in the lounge, and take some time to finish your work for an hour. 😉
@youretooearly

Sorry-who’s the fucking weirdo in this situation? I mean it’s obviously the OP, but I thought I needed to check……

Haha this reminds me of when I was a teenager and me and my friend turned up to another friends house before a night out. We’d arranged a time and knew she had a family dinner beforehand but were early (finished work nearby early or something I think). So we started predrinking our wine in the car till the agreed time 😆 eventually she spotted us and told us to come in early, we were trying not to interrupt dinner with granny!

I’d let her in to watch tv - explain you have work to do, I’m sure she’ll understand.

I'd let her in, but tell her you can't chat until 6pm because of the work you need to do.

Turning up early is a bit annoying, but you're being pretty mean.

Poor friend. She’s arrived early as she wanted to get there before it got dark in an unfamiliar environment. Let her in ffs. I can’t believe you are on Mumsnet instead of inviting your friend in. How bloody odd.

Let her in! She messed up by coming early but she’s probably a nervous driver if she wanted to leave before it got dark. I’d ask her to do a mock interview with you, ask her to be the interviewer, give her some questions to ask you and you answer to practice on her. You can’t leave her sitting in her car, it’s January!

How awkward. If you leave her it’ll be awkward at 6pm. If you let her in, she’ll probably do it again.

I think I would let her in though. Couldn’t crack on knowing she’s outside for an hour, I’d feel too uncomfortable.

For gods sake if she’s your friend let her in! Surely you could make her a cuppa let her settle herself and explain you have some work to do?!

Is she staying over? Is she going to be okay driving back in the dark?

The whole thing is weird. Getting somewhere that early and then telling you rather than go somewhere else until 6. And you noticing and friend and not going out and saying "What are you doing out there? Come in. But I'm not quite ready and just need to do x." and get them a drink.

This is so fucking weird!!!
She's a friend! Invite her in!

Wow there are so many people saying leave her outside!
Its January. She has driven to see you.
let her in!

This

No biggie

This.