Dealing with unexpected guests
With Christmas only a two days away, many families will have to deal with unexpected guests who arrive for Christmas lunch.
The perfect host will accommodate the surprise arrival, who might not know they weren’t invited.
With a table already set, silently disappear into the diningroom and squeeze in another place without them noticing.
If the food has been prepared already, split the portions.
When it is a serve yourself affair, then the extra guest is easy to accommodate.
The host can simply adjust the portions accordingly, however, if there are only enough for each guest, then the alternative is to split the portion of the person who arrived with the unexpected guest.
Some families are so used to unexpected guests that they always prepare extra food.
People might say there is always more than enough food as families prepare very well for the festive season, but good etiquette is to inform the host beforehand of the uninvited guests that are being tagged along.
After the meal has been served, speak to the offender, but deal with it in a polite and dignified manner.
You are entitled to make the delightful family member understand that their actions were completely unacceptable.
