To not want to go out to dinner on a week night?

[Anna8888]

We get endless invitations to dinner parties on a week night. While we manage to fend many of them off, some people are so persistent that we end up having to accept. I don't want to go out at 8.15 pm, eat dinner between 9.30 and 11 pm and not get to bed until half past midnight on a week night when we have to get up for work/school at 7 am. It KILLS me, and the dinners are unbelievably tedious.

AIBU?

You are completely right CD, especially about the last part - it is the most uncivilised people who are the last to get the hint...

I could ship you a case of Blue Nun or Black Tower
Or for the authentic English experience, some Thunderbird. They may find it très exotique

Pamina - definitely not. Don't believe English ad execs

I find it bizarre that you are not allowed to talk about anything personal over dinner. What do you talk about then? The weather?? On a constant loop? It must be worse than sitting next to old ladies on country buses for hours on end.

@ thunderbird

the not talking about anything personal over dinner sounds the best bit to me. Or am I odd.

I hate listening to people boring for England about their illnesses/neuroses and how many tablets they take per day.

I'd like a plastic ashtray with a Union Jack on it too, please.

Yes
what do you talk about?
I am very curious

laweaselymys - at the last two big dinners at my in laws (Rosh Hashana and Kippur) the conversation degenerated into the Thalys timetable (Thalys is the train that runs between Paris and Brussels) and something equally dire that now (unsurprisingly) escapes me. I DIE of boredom...

It depends what you count as personal I suppose! No health talk sounds quite lovely too, but you couldn't even say I like the clothes by X designer because that would be a personal opinion surely...

perhaps I'm taking this too far and imagining a greater hell than really exists.

Oh my god!! Train timetables!!

Oh no you can't talk about clothes, way too personal.

Like I say, public transport is a safe subject...

Nope. Still hell.

I think you should go the fake death route.

Friends are easy to socialise alone with, without forcing the other one along, esp during the week.

Relatives are harder, it is so bluntly obvious not to join in.

Would you be happy to dine with these people but not on a week night?
Cos if you are strict about this you may find it gets worse and they demand top weekend spot.

Actually I'd just send your dp by himself, stuff it. Over and done with.

I have actually copped out of this evening. My DP is going on his own. He does actually feel stupid for accepting this particularly awful dinner.

I have yet another idea

Dress outrageously
none of those marni sacks

Go and buy some ras la touffe skirts
Leopardskin basques
etc

They will soon stop inviting you when their husbands spend all night catching a glimpse of your minge

Outrageous dressing is the norm - it's all fake tits and fur coats and skin tight lycra and face lifts for the 60 + age group... You cannot shock anyone, I promise you.

i wish i got invited out every night of the week. i would go - thats for sure

stop being a boring old fart

you are just showing off too

damn

Back to the drawing board...

I'd just get pissed and make up any kinda shit to see if they believed me. Spout some facts and figures at them and carry on the facade. Be animated about it and really believe in what you were saying. That would entertain me no end. Could be about the lesser spotted munk beetle that goes into a crysalis and changes into a tiny tiny bird that flys backwards, it really does do this you know! They'd be sat there gawping, mouths open unable to question you either in complete amazement, or sheer boredom