to think that this was a bit bizarre but funny thing to do?

[ChocDee]

First time poster on here - but a long time lurker. So, hello!

I just wanted your opinion on this one - would this make you laugh a little in an incredulous way and think 'Alan Partridge"?!

We invited a new couple over for dinner last night. They have recently arrived into expat land so this was the first time that we actually spent any time together. They brought along their 3 teenaged children, so dinner for 4 turned into dinner for 7. No worries, I was forewarned in time to be able to make another food run to stock up on food etc. The more the merrier, and they seem to be nice kids,so no problem!

They duly arrived an HOUR early... ok, so they got to see the hoover in the sitting room and me creating havoc in the kitchen. No problem...?

We spent a very nice evening - lots of chat and laughter and the kids were great. No problem!

But... at the end of the evening the dad took my husband aside and asked whether he minded if their two oldest sons put on a bit of a performance. err... of course - no problem!

They then proceeded in hauling in their violin and a guitar and they did indeed perform to us. Lots and lots of called out song requests from the parents, they played and they sang to their hearts content for a looong time.

They were good-ish (I do not think they would have got through to the second round on Britain got Talent to be honest!).

Throughout I could feel the eagle eyes of the father on me checking wether I thought they were super great so I made great efforts to nod and tap along to the 'awesome music' and do the appropriate claps a woops of joy and admiration afterwards.

But seriously?! Who would do that?? In their own home - understandable. If the kids had 'accidentally' brought a long a tiny little harmonica in their back pocket - understandable. But to load up the car with their instruments????

We laughed once they left, would you?

I am all for encouraging budding musicians etc, but was this not a tiny bit strange??

Oh, and before you ask - we had not run out of things to talk about before the performance either.

Thank you for reading!

MY children do shows evrytime they visit someone. They dance or sing.
It's nice

Have the perhaps got you confused with another collaegue whose wife is a music mogul?

I'd be very very busy when they try to arrange a reciprocal invite!

I feel your pain! We went for dinner once at DH's work mates house. After dinner his wife got the guitar out and we 'enjoyed' a performance of a load of Christian worship songs that she had written. Complete with eye-closing. It was really embarassing. I think DH's work mate was mortified, you could almost see the thought bubble over his head 'these are the first visitors we've had in years and you've gone and done your music again'.

Maybe you could take up belly dancing ready for the return visit?

No no CaptainNancy, they will be reciting their own poetry, or better still give a dance show

MY DH is Irish, and in his family this forcing encouraging of children to perform is the norm. I actually find it very irritating. The rictus grin makes my face ache.

They had clearly decided to make you like them come hell or high water.

I think it's really sweet

Forget farting tunes, thats just sooooo last year.

You need to master lighting your farts -you, your DP, and your children.

Just imagine at how impressed this family will be when you dim the lights and give a stunning audio visual performance

Lol At Norbert.

How about singing slightly off key and pretending that you think you are the next family group? Or, make band out of household instruments.
Saucepans - drums
Curtain tracking - stringed instruments
Spoons - precussion
Whistleing through your nose - Tune.

Or you could just claim to be nudists and as you feel so comfortable in their company you want to get naked together...

Soooo, many great ideas! The nudist idea really made me giggle quite hard!!

I am now eagerly waiting for our return invitation (?) so that we can start rehearsing in ernest.

I really wonder what they will ask their youngest daughter to entertain us with once we are on their home ground? I really hope that she does not think that she will be able to out perform us; I would hate to be responsible for crushing her dreams and teen spirit.