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.

This is so odd. My fiends are welcome in my home any time. Why would you make her sit outside.

Jesus. With friends like you ...

I'd message her back saying, "I thought we said 6? See you then". I don't appreciate other people putting me on the spot no matter how uncomfortable their own choices make them.

But does she live two and a half hours drive away to have set off so early?
Does she not have sat nav ( or headlights)?

No there aren't. There's only 2 at the moment, far and away the minority.

Is she staying over? I can’t drive in the dark any more and it’s very difficult.

Can you let her in and pop her in front of TV whilst you do your thing?

Cancel.

DARE YOU.

Omg let her in! She is not disturbing you, she hasn’t come to the door even. She must have been nervous driving there. Make her a hot drink and ask her to give you some time to do what you need to do. You clearly have time to post here so you can’t be that focused on your interview prep. What is the matter with people…

Well, the OP said she didn't want to drive in the dark, so we might as well go with that for the moment.

Text back - “Working right now. Will be ready at 6. Hope you find the place. “ and then get back to your interview prep.

Arriving early is rude for this very reason. But she gave you an out. Better to use that out and not let bad feeling develop. So don’t acknowledge you saw the car and don’t let her being there early pressure you.

Sounds like your friend might be a bit anxious in some situations but she’s perfectly safe say in the car so there’s no need to let it disturb your need for prep.

Just let her in. What's the matter with you?

Jesus wept, what kind of friend are you? Let the woman in FGS. It's bloody freezing out.

No theres not!

Your friend is extremely rude to turn up an hour and half early. If she can't drive in the dark, she shouldn't be driving.

I would feel exactly like you but I would invite her in as your also being really rude leaving her sitting outside.

I think leaving her outside trumps her stupidly early arrival in levels of weirdness tbh. She's a friend, let her in!

Jeez, yes inconvenient but who leaves their friend outside? She wanted to find your place before dark which is fair

I would let her in

Of course she was OTT leaving so early. I'm a bit of a nervous driver with new places but no away would have been this early.

However, of course I'd let her in now. Either start the evening early and do your job prep later, or leave her in another room while you prep. It's surely only about an hour and you can move that slot to another time.

I’d let her in, but then do the work i wanted todo.

So the interview planning has been abandoned to go on Mumsnet rather than to see your friend!

That's a dark comment, but it made me proper LOL 😨 😆 🤣

This would irritate me for sure.
Its rude to turn up before tha agreed time.
Let her sit out there.

Just let her in and tell her to entertain herself while you finish your interview prep . You can’t just leave somebody sitting outside it’s madness .

How's she going to get back

Who turns up 90 minutes early? Thag is really rude. I would leave her outside so she doesn’t do it again.