called past for a chat

[ida2]

In the following paragraph, what does the underlined sentence mean?

Sebastian comes past on his way to work. I go to the door, but I can't bring myself to open it. He calls out until I knock to give him a sign that I'm here. But I don't speak. I can't speak. I haven't said a word to him since I finished up at work, all of those months ago. "Hi, Livvy," he says softly, "How are you today? Just called past for a chat. If you want me to leave, you just let me know, okay?"

Source: A Mother's Confession, by Kelly Rimmer

 

[teechar]

It means I came to your place for a chat.

 

[GoesStation]

A quick Google search tells me that the author is Australian. I searched because "to call past" is not natural in American English. From context, I think "Just called past for a chat" means "I dropped in just to talk a little."

 

[Tdol]

I haven't come across it in BrE.

 

[emsr2d2]

Like Tdol, I've never seen it in BrE. I'd use "I just called in/stopped in/dropped in/stopped by/dropped by for a chat."

 

[GoesStation]

I'd use "I just called in/stopped in/dropped in/stopped by/dropped by for a chat."

Any of the last three, or possibly four, would be natural in AmE.