Best guest or the host with the most? | Letters

I realised as a teenager doing exchanges with European fellow teens many years ago that it’s always easier to be guest rather than host (There are two kinds of people in this world: hosts and guests. Nobody can be both, 15 September).

The skills of hosting can be learned, and you can make things more relaxing by buying in a few readymade dishes, or asking friends to bring one. So as someone who is often host, yes the failure to reciprocate will lead to resentment.
Dinah Robertson
Lymm, Cheshire

Judging by the amount of people in my house on a weekly basis, I’m either 100% host or just have the fullest fridge. No resentment at all to all our lovely guests, we love having you. But I will admit that once in a while it is a thrill to let someone else worry about running out of wine or crisps. As long as it’s back at ours the following week.
Kim Thornton
Coulsdon, London

I am definitely a host and enjoy planning, cooking and presenting meals at our place. We have some friends who always enjoy dinner with us but rarely invite us because they enjoy being guests more and claim not to be “good cooks”. When we go out for dinner with them, they pay. Suits all of us well!
Alison Humphreys
Flynn, Australia