It’s always good to have an idea of one’s visitor’s expectations. Take my mum. ‘I’d like to buy some tobacco. I’ve heard it’s cheaper in the Netherlands than in the UK,’ she said. ‘Is that correct?’
‘I haven’t a clue, but I’ll ask Hot Danish.’

By the end of each day’s walk and museum-packed itinerary during Natasha’s mum Pamela’s visit, Pamela would collapse in front of the TV exhausted. So for her friend, Lauren’s first visit, Natasha had thoughtfully put together a pack with a hand-drawn map of her immediate area, a museum and a travel card, a DK Eyewitness and a Wallpaper guide to Amsterdam so Lauren could consider what she wanted to see and do. Yet, despite several prompts, the pack remained unopened for the duration of Lauren’s 10-day holiday. Non-smoking Lauren was interested in visiting a coffee shop, though and, perhaps consequently, left each evening’s venue within an hour of arrival so she could return to her bed.

It seems that as likely as our own travel plans can go awry, our friends’ visiting plans are often very different to our assumptions.

My mum met HD’s mum over a group lunch during her recent visit. Just as I’d previously prepared HD for his meeting with mum, I attempted to prepare HD’s mum as best I could. However, people usually assume an exaggeration when I describe any family members. ‘I am a little mad and strange, too,’ HD’s mother responded. ‘Just ask HD… And so is he!’

We naturally make assumptions about people we have yet to meet, but I do not agree that, ‘Assumptions are the termites of relationships,’ as the American actor Henry Winkler once said. Rather, that our assumptions are soon proved to be false, which leads to a better understanding of our relationships.

HD and I failed to find tobacco for my mum. And next time I introduce her to someone, I might just send a link to the meeting mum blog.