Is puntuality important to you?

[EcclesCake]

I was at a lunch today, guests were invited for 12.00 with a view to eating at 12.30.

By 12.15 none of the 11 guests had arrived, they finally started to trickle in with the last arriving at about 12.45.

None of them had got lost, there hadn't been any childcare issues.....they just dragged their feet.

I think it is rude and disrespectful to the host, but there again I'm am a bit of a punctuality freak!

Do you think this kind of tardiness is acceptable and are you an early or late arriver?

[MarkRae]

I hate to be late, but accept it as an occupational hazard of living in London.

[Gavmacp]

Always arrive early!

[HowardKennitby]

I loathe people who are not punctual.
In that situation I would target arriving at between 12:05 - 12:10.

[maggiebee]

Would agree EC, like you I hate being kept waiting. It's like someone saying that their time is more important than yours. Totally disrespectful. I'd rather be early.

[sunny-dave]

I'd rather be 15 minutes early than a minute late ... although I do have a friend who cannot stand me arriving early and I have learned to lurk around the corner until the agreed time ...

[THEMOTLEY1]

For something like that I'd arrive about 5 mins early, lateness annoys me.

[wardlaw]

I, too, am a punctuality freak. If I am asked to be somewhere at 7,30 then that is EXACTLY when I will arrive. To be late is disrespectful.
PS I cannot abide the term 'fashionably late'.

[douglas9401]

I'd be starting without them, 12;30 sharp.

[Old_Geezer]

I'm not anal about it. "12 for 12:30", to me sounds like, "you can get here by 12:00 if you like, but try to be there by 12:28 as we're sitting down to eat by then."

[erin-x]

I'm usually dead on time. I get that from my Dad. I had to be at my mates for two o'clock last week to leave for our holiday. I got there at 1.59!! :-)

[mccfluff]

I hate being late, im always early and panic if im late. People who are late for me get shot

[firewatch]

My great grandfather had a saying i live by, Your time is not important, the person who you are meeting time is so be early but never late. He was German and lived by that rule all his life. I am allways early to appointments and my husband frustrates me as he is all ways bloody late!

[Psybbo]

OH says I'll be early for my own funeral.

[Duncer]

EcclesCake,

Apologies, I meant to answer this 15 minutes ago but I was scatching my butt.

Seriously though, I hate lateness and will usually arrive 15 minutes early rather than risk being tardy. You should have started at 12:30 and to hell with them.

[EcclesCake]

When you've got 14 for lunch it takes so long to sort drinks, do introductions, corral them to where they are eating that your 12.30 sitting down soon becomes 13.00 ish....

[Duncer]

Hence the 12:00 for 12:30, to allow time for all of that.

[Duncer]

I am a time Nazi!

[EcclesCake]

Mark, I quite accept city travel can be a nightmare and sometimes you can never add enough contingency to cover all eventualities.

I once worked with a guy who walked the same quiet, provincial route to work everyday, he always managed to be late and came up with the most amazing excuses!

[gness]

Very important. I can arrive too early for the train before the one I`m booked on.
Two friends and their daughter were once coming for lunch at twelve. He arrived saying she and the daughter fancied a lie in and would come by taxi when they were up and ready.
They eventually arrived and I didn`t serve any lunch. Didn`t say a thing. Just sat and served no lunch. Long time since I have seen them.
If it is unavoidable I have no problem.

[furrypusscat]

I find it the height of ignorance. People say 'well traffic was bad, 'then set off earlier then' is my reply. We all know there can be unforeseen accidents causing delays but most use it as an excuse.