CF Acquaintance turned up today despite refusing invite

[Grumpusaurus]

We live in a popular tourist destination and after numerous people took advantage of us, we nip it in the bud now. Most seem to follow the same script by contacting us out of the blue and mentioning that it would be so lovely to see us. I now answer in a very friendly manner that it has been years since we last heard from them and it would indeed be lovely to catch up over coffee in a nearby spot when they are in the area. This does tend to put an end to most of those potential CFs, however, one acquaintance pushed back and asked to stay with us at the beginning of September. I told her that this would not be possible, especially as we have a very tight deadline and will be working flat out to finish a commission. DH and I are self-employed craftspeople and sometimes we do work all day and most of the night to finish pieces and the DC stay at their grandparents during that last push. Not heard back from the acquaintance since July even though she clearly read my WhatsApp message.

The doorbell went this evening, I ignored it as DH and I were in the middle of working on our commission but someone kept pushing the bell. Our property is an L-shape so you can see from our workshop who is at the front door. CF acquaintance was standing there with a suitcase! DH is more of a people pleaser and while really cheesed off was about to answer the door till I told him no bloody way! He redeemed himself by immediately agreeing. The bell went a few more times and then got a flurry of WhatsApp messages, which I ignored. She eventually left after half an hour. I am almost bemused by the cheek of it but there is no way I am going to let anyone railroad me into being their free accommodation and greatly inconveniencing us, especially while we literally get up to work all hours and fall into bed. DH is fretting about her coming back but I told that we will just continue to ignore the doorbell. We have a back gate to a dirt track we can stealth like leave the property if she is holding a siege at the front door 😎 There are plenty of hotels and B&Bs in the area, albeit quite dear. Who does that! A rhetorical question but am just shocked by the cheek of just turning up after saying emphatically No!

Just popping on this thread to wave as a fellow (if your MIL does adopt) Galgos del Sol galgo owner. Can't recommend them and the dogs enough. As you were

Dorothy L. Sayers had a similar idea, in "The Abominable History Of The Man With The Copper Fingers".

Ms Deerhound played, as despite not knowing the term then, or what it was all about, I mantrained him (ex horse yard girl, so dogs seemed much quicker & easier!) & only recognised what I'd done years later, on meeting a new pal who mantrains for the Met.

What is "maintaining" please? (I googled, but it kept changing it to "man trailing"). Can it be done with a "soft-as-sh*te" teeny spaniel with not much in the way of teefs? See below

We had the same with our great dane - heartbreaking!

Too heavy to lift, even with three of us (he was very big, even for a dane), and once his hind legs had gone that was it.

Our policy now is never to have a dog that we can't pick up, wonderful though the giants are.

I've always been very wary of ex-racing dogs for this reason. I have known a number of them, and they are a delight, but a lot of the owners feel they can't let them off lead for a good run just for this reason (not all of them - many are fine).

I suppose that hound instinct to chase, coupled with years of thrilling chasing after the hare is just too ingrained in some of them.

Heck, I'd forgotten about that...

I have just spent the best part of two hours reading this. I have never seen the Leo Sayer video before @WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll THANKYOU!

I do very much like the igniting oil grate. Option on concurrent rotisserie.

Aaaw so sorry for the heartbreaking decisions over your large Great Dane. We had one huge greyhound but could get him going by placing a towel under his back end and supporting him for a while, as he was still happy to potter about

@YesitsBess - You're very weclome!!

“Like a cockroach under a breadbin” absolutely finished me.

not at all that’s my opinion . She asked got a truthful answer .

Fairly heavy duty glue I feel

Funny enough the mention of heavy glue led me to having a weird dream of constructing some sort of large, super sticky strip that unwanted visitors would get stuck on, like those old fashioned glue traps...

Flies are attracted to that by the smell. What would you use to attract a cf to a glue trap?

Dunno suppose in the case of the specific CF, the scent of a big wad of cash, the heady perfume of a freebie...? 😄

I have a weird mental image of a person stuck on a fly trap now...

The scent of a hotel room, freshly ironed bedding and a gin and tonic should do it...

Do you have a part of the property that's perfect for selfies? That's irresistible to a cf.

@Grumpusaurus and feedback on your CF friend? Did she go home eventually?

I'm thinking of something like a wisteria or laburnum tunnel, they'll be so busy lining up the selfie that they won't even notice their feet getting stuck. Perhaps quicksand would be better, if it's deep enough there won't be any need to dispose of the body.

That's gorgeous-is it somewhere you've visited, or just off google?

That one is in Japan and from Google, but I’ve seen quite a few in normal gardens, not as long obviously but it looks effective even if it’s only 2-4 metres long. Given Grumpasaurus’ location she could probably do a fab version with grapevines.

ManyTears has some GORGEOUS lurcher pups in just FYI for the long dog lovers ❤️

Pups