Unexpected visitors in the good old days
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325594)
Rockingham, Australia
October 27, 2022 7:32pm CST
My last discussion was about our nephew turning up at his Mum’s place unexpectedly. She turns 80 on Sunday and he’d flown out from London just for a week. The whole family will fly out again for Christmas.
Some of the comments led me to remember that, when I was a child, very few people in our circle had phones and we would visit, or friends would call in hoping you’d be home. In those days, we usually were. People didn’t go out so much then.
Sometimes, we’d hear a car pull up or the dogs might start barking and we’d have a few minutes’ warning before having to go to the door. Poor Mum would always scurry around trying to find a pair of shoes and she’d be mortified if later, she discovered she’d forgotten to take off her apron. 
Times have moved on, haven’t they?
The photo is of my mother on her pony. She enjoyed riding but only really got the chance when we needed an extra rider to bring in the cattle. From the left is my nephew, Mum, me, my Dad’s horse and my brother.
Times have moved on, haven’t they?
The photo is of my mother on her pony. She enjoyed riding but only really got the chance when we needed an extra rider to bring in the cattle. From the left is my nephew, Mum, me, my Dad’s horse and my brother.33 people like this
32 responses
@moffittjc (118421)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Oct 22
Even when I was little it was not uncommon for unexpected visitors to arrive at the house, even with us having phones in our homes. And sometimes, even when people did call to let us know they'd be stopping by, we still wouldn't always know for sure exactly when they'd arrive, so we'd be scrambling to tidy up the house before our visitors arrived. It's so nice that we have advanced the technology enough to know (most of the time) when visitors will arrive at our homes.
10 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45458)
• India
28 Oct 22
@moffittjc
There was certain charm in those things and events.
Now all of that is gone!!
5 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95042)
• Marion, Ohio
28 Oct 22
Love the photo. My mom was scared of horses.
4 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95042)
• Marion, Ohio
28 Oct 22
@JudyEv My mom grew up with them. But she got bucked off as a kid, no fault of the horse, and never rode again. The family did have a car so it wasnt an necessity.
2 people like this
@pumpkinjam (8537)
• United Kingdom
28 Oct 22
When I was a child, I don't think we had many unexpected visitors. But we didn't have many expected ones either! I would usually be the one to go out and visit my childhood friends. I remember aunties visiting - my dad's sisters lived locally so they'd pop round regularly. We didn't have a landline until I was 10 or 11 so visitors couldn't let us know they were coming unless it was pre-arranged.
Now, I still don't get many visitors, expected or otherwise.
I'm sure your nephew turning up was a lovely surprise.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Oct 22
Out on the farms, there was always a bit of excitement if someone turned up for a visit.
@arunima25 (85265)
• Bangalore, India
28 Oct 22
I miss those little charms and joys. In India, we welcomed any unexpected guest or expected guest with a great hospitality. It was never considered rude to bump into someone's home. There was always enough warmth to be shared. And even food was shared with no complaints. It used to bring joy. And even our neighbours were like extended families. I remember eating so many meals at my friend's house in the neighborhood because I was there at meal time. And it was same for her. Even my meighbours knew my favourite dishes and would bring it to my home when they cooked it. It was so nice. People had bigger hearts than houses. Now, it is rude if you just bump into someone's home. And even after informing them, you have the courtesy to leave them in time. There is so much talk about personal space and invading that.
2 people like this
@Beestring (13306)
• Hong Kong
28 Oct 22
That's a very nice photo. Yes, in the old days, our family did not have phone. Friends and relatives just dropped in.
2 people like this
@Inplay123 (119)
• Nairobi, Kenya
28 Oct 22
I call them the old gems. Early in the morning mum would come to our room just to speculate if we have made our beds. Talk of hanging clothes, awh! They should be always overturned such that the inside is the one facing the sun else, you will get a lifetime lecture.
2 people like this
@kurniaadimas (76)
•
28 Oct 22
love the photos, i think its have some story to tell
2 people like this
@ptrikha_2 (45458)
• India
28 Oct 22
We too were witness to similar things.
Once we went to meet relatives some 25 kms away, traveling by bus (it was 1980s, no phone with us!) and we found their house locked !!
We used to had unannounced visits even till early 2000s.
In a way it was fun also.
We used to serve our guests with whatever was available.
Now we are into :
"Does our house look good? Are things set? What to have for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner for the guests and so on."
I even remember a colleague of my father, who used to come in the Mornings sometimes.
When my Mom used to ask for Breakfast out of courtesy, he accepted it !!
Now rarely anyone does that!!
Yet let me tell you one thing.
People were more genuine, more connected by heart, even with differences then.
Now we have Facebook, Mobiles, Instagram, WhatsApp,, Viber etc but people are more cut off.
More jealous, selfish and suspicious.
Perhaps we need some good things from our older times !!
Well well, I perhaps went overboard!!
Now rarely anyone does that!!
Yet let me tell you one thing.
People were more genuine, more connected by heart, even with differences then.
Now we have Facebook, Mobiles, Instagram, WhatsApp,, Viber etc but people are more cut off.
More jealous, selfish and suspicious.
Perhaps we need some good things from our older times !!
Well well, I perhaps went overboard!!2 people like this
@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
31 Oct 22
I agree with all that you've said. I worry now about having something to offer people if they call in. I have a couple of standby cakes/biscuits that I always have on hand.
@LindaOHio (155961)
• United States
29 Oct 22
What a great photo. We always hated when relatives would stop by unexpected. My mother would always want to bake something in advance and be ready for company. The house was always spotless; so that wasn't a concern.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325594)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 Nov 22
@LindaOHio Yes, that's very true.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (155961)
• United States
31 Oct 22
@JudyEv I'm sure women always kept the house ready for company.
1 person likes this
