What's everyone up to? I'm being taken out for a meal with my parents (which is cool, one of the advantages of being at home during the Christmas-New Year void) to a nice Thai place but somewhat bizarrely they've decided to invite the decorator who painted the living room last month and his girlfriend. I've never met the guy, apparently he's very nice and one of my dogs loves him... it's a bit of a strange premise though, I think.

Is taking your decorator out for a meal 'normal'?
Do people really 'do' this kind of thing?
Are my parents completely batshit insane?