godefroy:  Good for you!! that is the exact way to handle the situations.  Just tell it like it is.  I had to do that with my mom. She was a widow and married a divorce no religion man.  I congratulated them, and then I told my mom I was very wrong to say that.  She was wrong by marrying out of the church by minister besides, the divorce man and such.  To make it worse, my brother and his gal married with them outside the catholic church.  What a mess of sins of excommunication etc.  My siblings, 8 others, did not like my attitude.  Oh, Well, it is what it is!! I never backed down.  My Aunt, Unitarian was very bad influence on the whole family in the 60'$$ for others.  I never answered her, for I knew she was getting me alone and I did not see her as respecting me at all.  I will never forget.  She was very open to our  family and gave barbecues and all, but I knew what she was up to.  I can say she really did a number on our family.  The others may not of noticed it, but I did.

I can say that there is not anyone/sibling in my family  who is traditional.  They don't know what that is.  4 had divorces, others don't go to new order just home with nothing.  One sister prays the rosary, another told me she would not force her children to go catholic.  A real mess.

You stick to your guns!

Is “partner” now understood to be another person of the same sex? Because I thought it still meant just whatever person someone is with.

Kind of like how “girlfriend” can still mean just a good female friend and have nothing at all to do with being a lesbian. 

First let me just say I would dislike anyone just dropping by unannounced. Unfortunately, you've allowed that to happen all of this time. 

I would say this is a very american way of thinking and living, but if you are from another country people stopping by unannounced is normal