Stranger for Christmas dinner

[AB]

I am literally fuming at this. Please do tell me if I am wrong...

Family Christmas, we all head to my parents, younger bro still lives at home, middle bro in Leeds so he comes back. Nan and Grandad come round. I enjoy Christmas, pretty much the only time of the year our family gets together and I've been really looking forward to it.

Mum tells me today that my brother has invited a friend from uni for Christmas dinner, pretty much not given her a choice to say no.

(He also asked her to make sure he had something to open present wise).

Nobody knows him except for my brother and he doesn't speak English. He's here for the entire festive period.

I'm hacked off beyond belief.

Am I wrong?

[aclivity]

makes a change from Turkey?

[AB]

aclivity said:

makes a change from Turkey?

Yeah, we're having Thai...

[ErnestM]

As the attendee, you have the option of not attending. It would be up to your parents to decide if the invitiation was for one or for one with guest...

Just a clinical look, but believe me, I understand why you are hacked off...

[snotrag]

Foreign student? Who would otherwise perhaps be completely alone for at least a few days as everyone heads home to see the family? Could be your brother doing something very good?

[DrTre]

AB said:

Am I wrong?

Yes.

So much for the season of goodwill and all that.

Although I concede the present thing is pushing it.

[North West Tom]

I'd be quite uncomfortable with that to be honest.

[Cactussed]

Beats me. Supposed to be a charitable time of year though, right?

I'm an expat, so no family over here. When I split up from my l/t g/f, I had nowhere to go for Xmas (all my friends were going home to family). So, one of my best mates invited me to his family for Xmas. Never met them before. I bought a small present for everyone, and vice-versa.

It was lovely. I am going back this year (and taking even more food this time).

And I'm australian, so I noo speaka da Eeeenglish...

Just my 2c.

Edited by Cactussed on Monday 21st December 18:23

[AB]

snotrag said:

Foreign student? Who would otherwise perhaps be completely alone for at least a few days as everyone heads home to see the family? Could be your brother doing something very good?

Pay for his friggin ticket home, now THAT would be doing something very good. Instead he is spoiling my Christmas, my Mum is pretty hacked off and I have this feeling it will be pretty uncomfortable.

[Steamer]

AB said:

Nobody knows him except for my brother and he doesn't speak English.

Well at least you dont have to make small talk with him then!

Could be worse - you could be stuck in another country with non of your own family around for a happy christmas get together.

[AB]

North West Tom said:

I'd be quite uncomfortable with that to be honest.

Uncomfortable being the word. Call me selfish, but I rarely get to spend any quality time with my family myself!!

[Balmoral Green]

Bloody 'ell, the season of goodwill to all men eh? If I were a stranger in a foreign country away from friends and family, I would hope some nice soul would invite me.

Anyway, your options are, throw a strop and put your foot down, say no way. Or make an effort (and I don't mean to be hostile ) It's not like it's his fault.

Edited by Balmoral Green on Monday 21st December 18:27

[tegwin]

This foreign student must mean something very very special to your brother.... are they both Ghey!??!??

Edited by tegwin on Monday 21st December 18:26

[andy-xr]

Is your brother, you know...one of them?

Interesting conversation at the dinner table if it's Out time

[treehack]

Perhaps he just wants to introduce you all to his special friend?

[AB]

Balmoral Green said:

Bloody 'ell, the season of goodwill to all men eh? If I were a stranger in a foreign country away from friends and family, I would hope some nice soul would invite me.

Good to get others perspectives obviously. I, however, am a selfish prick and I am mightily annoyed that the one day a year I can feel comfortable in the house and be amongst family (at the very least people I know and can converse with) has been invaded.

[AndrewW-G]

Complainnig about it IMHO goes against the whole ethos of Christmas

make the guy feel welcome and you'll enjoy it more than you will if you dwell on the negatives

[RichB]

AB said:

North West Tom said:

I'd be quite uncomfortable with that to be honest.

Uncomfortable being the word. Call me selfish, but I rarely get to spend any quality time with my family myself!!

difficult one this and it sounds like it's going to happen so you'd better get on with it, mind you if nothing else it's highlighted to you that you need to make more time to spend with your parents

[TimJMS]

The correct form would have been for your brother to seek your mother's permission first. Failure to have secured that
means that after lunch has been eaten he should be taken outside and bh slapped repeatedly by several family members.

[AB]

TimJMS said:

after lunch has been eaten he should be taken outside and bh slapped repeatedly by several family members.

He's going to be getting slapped repeatedly by at least one, trust me.