.... to not want lunch guests pitching up at 3. Or at least not for actual lunch.

[AlteFrau]

Original arrangement was for late lunch. The guests have a toddler who naps late morning, so I'd imagined they wouldn't turn up before 1. More likely 1.30ish. Maybe 2 at the latest.

We planned something that was easy to heat up, rather than a fiddly meal where timings would need to be exact.

I0 minutes ago we got a text saying, the toddler has only just gone for their nap, so they will turn up about 3.

My discussion with partner was that we'd eat the lunch we prepared now, freeze the stuff that the guests would have eaten, and text back saying, 'Oh you're coming for tea then. There'll be some cake.'

What would you do?

I once worked somewhere where my lunch was 12-1 and I hated it, far too early! It meant I was starving again by dinner, which we eat at around 8pm.

Yes, for a lunch during a work day but it’s well within the ambit of ‘late lunch’ on a Sunday.

I'll admit that I'm really rigid about meals. I'd never complain if someone was so kind as to cook a meal for me but when it's just me I'm rigid.

Late lunch for me is 1-2pm. anything after that and before 5pm is afternoon tea.

Your only failure was not setting an actual time.

I go out by 3:30pm on a Saturday & Sunday to do evening stables so they would barely see me if they rocked up at 3!