In all honesty, I've always rung or texted someone to confirm it's okay to come round to visit. I hate going round and finding the person isn't in. This frequently happened with my grandparents most, though these days they're usually in.

I also hate the idea of people turning up unannounced. I have in the past (and where I know I'll get away with it), not answered the door. I haven't perfected this but once I get a camera covering the front door, I'll be 99% there.

When I first left home I shared a house with a friend from the Church I was in at the time, and we had a very deliberate policy of being 'exclusively open house' and I have to say it was a great move if you are prepared to do things at the drop of a hat. Many great times were had from people just dropping in on a whim and I look back with a great deal of fondness on that time. It only ever backfired once or twice and that was the odd time someone who annoyed us both turned up. I'm pretty certain that Lumbthelesser and Lumbthezygote can probably name the person as well, as the annoyance certainly wasn't exclusive to me and my housemate .

Above could backfire dramatically.

My parents have been "open house" since ever I can remember as we always had people come round at anytime of the day, mostly around lunchtime, evenings etc.
Now that my mum has cancer, it is incredibly difficult for her to get any quiet in the house, people still show up all the time, even if they have the flu or something.
Open house yes, but learn to give people a minimum of boundaries or it will be chaos.

I'd always call before visiting. People are busy, and I can appreciate that they'd perhaps prefer not having an unannounced guest drop by.

+1, especially in these days of just sending a quick text.

http://www.dorkly.com/comic/40561/how-g ... -play-them

I think it's cultural.

In Spain and Italy, people drop by all the time. But here, I always call or text first. Both ways have their merits, but in the UK it's my guess that more people prefer the prior arrangement than not.

Just heard a friend of mine has died. He was 61. It's no age.

http://www.ras.org.uk/news-and-press/21 ... -1951-2012

ok pcernie heres the pic, RAF personnels boot heels, a NAAFI marked spoon and that "gun?" really looks like one doesnt it?

[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/35/p1010852c.jpg/]

Sorry to hear that HK.

Certainly the right shape for a gun Bratty, but with that rust... what's the thing in the top right of the photo?

1930s bulb

You really should cultivate some contacts regarding the stuff you find. Maybe posting the pics on a historically-minded forum?

I already been doing that for years

Nobody said 'You're rich!' yet?