To ask for your weird family behaviours that you didn't realise weren't normal until you were older?

[Coffeebiscuitsrepeat]

1. We called a toe poking through a sock hole a "potato".

1. Whoever made the most mess at the dinner table "won the prize"... And the prize was to clean up the mess!

[julybaby32]

1. the same for us. so maybe not that weird. I've come across it in a mid C20th children's book too, but can't remember which one.

[Coffeebiscuitsrepeat]

@julybaby32 Or maybe we're related? 😂

[IncorrigibleTitmouse]

We always called it a spud, so similar to a potato!

[gracepoolesrum]

Had a set dinner for each day of the week. Monday was sausages, potato cake and baked beans. Tuesday was chicken Kiev, boiled potatoes and green beans. And so on. The meals were unchanged my entire childhood.

We also never had anyone around to our house unless it was Christmas day. Never hosted anyone not even for a cup of tea.

[ContessaferJones]

Saying beg your parsnip rather than beg your pardon. That one was courtesy of my Welsh grandparents (an intentional error, I should say)

[Longdistance]

We used to have a bowl as sweet corn as dessert. My parents aren’t from the UK, but it was a real treat with salt 🤤 funnily enough, I love cheese and biscuits as a dessert if I’m having it.

[deeplybaffled]

My dad puts sugar on radishes. I was in my twenties before I realised this wasn’t standard

[Bargebill19]

1. car parks were always called par carks
   
2. the weather report was always called “the ducks are on” and very loudly. Sometimes this was shortened to just “DUCKS”
   
3. vinegar was always pronounced vine-I-gar
   
4. brown envelopes in the post were known as “no help me someone’s”. I’ve no idea why.

[AnnaSW1]

All family members right down to toddlers having a pretty much compulsory cup of coffee before bed every night.

Weirdly it never stopped any of us getting off to sleep as the cup of coffee had a strong sleep association.

I'm immune to caffeine now. But still like coffee.

[JazzaGal]

We say potatoes too.

OH's family had set dinners, lots from the freezer, like fish fingers chips and beans. He'd never eaten baked potatoes. He'd seen the around obvs.

I stayed dressed until bedtime. OH put PJ's on immediately after a very early dinner. They had no bedtime routine, we were all in bed at set times. It's made for interesting times with DC.

[DotDotDotty]

@deeplybaffled

My dad puts sugar on radishes. I was in my twenties before I realised this wasn’t standard

My BIL introduced me to radishes dipped in salt.

[SparkyBlue]

@gracepoolesrum we were the same with set dinners . And set meal times. And my parents are still exactly the same. I remember staying with a friend and being shocked when her mum asked us what would we like for dinner. It blew my mind that you could eat different random things midweek.

[SparkyBlue]

@gracepoolesrum we were the same with set dinners . And set meal times. And my parents are still exactly the same. I remember staying with a friend and being shocked when her mum asked us what would we like for dinner. It blew my mind that you could eat different random things midweek.

[katew355]

We called them potatoes too!
Our weird thing was using one of my dad's socks as a stocking at Christmas. It didn't really hold anything other than a tangerine and a 10p coin. My mum also used to put powdered ginger in melon which I've never seen anyone else do x

[lilmishap]

@AnnaSW1 wow

[chaoticisatroll55]

@katew355 my mum used to sprinkle powdered ginger in melon too. I had forgotten that.

[TypingError]

Holes in socks were always 'taties' in my native Yorkshire. So we're set dinners but they did change with the season.

[Laiste]

I was not really allowed toys downstairs.
There was no wearing PJs down stairs.
Not allowed to walk around barefoot (must wear slippers or shoes)
Sitting on the bed was discouraged.
No drinks with meals.
TV only at specific times.
No eating in the street.

[Mustbetimeforachange]

I'd forgotten the ginger on melon, my mum had it like that too. My dad & I just had sugar on it (which I would never do now, melon is so sweet!)

[0blio]

My mum also used to put powdered ginger in melon which I've never seen anyone else do x

This was quite popular in the 70s, well it was in our family

We had sugar on tomatoes and it's actually delicious.

I'm sure I've posted on here about this before but when we had days out when I was a child, my parents would pack a picnic with a primus stove, a kettle full of water and plastic cups to make tea.

When we were finished the hot water left in the kettle was used to wash up the cups in a washing up bowl in the boot of the car. The cups were then dried with a tea towel before being packed away.

My parents were bonkers

[SamSeabornforPresident]

We used to have cinnamon on grapefruit (I think).

[Thecurtainsofdestiny]

My in laws put powdered ginger on melon too.

And we had set dinners on each day of the week growing up.

For some reason we could have only milk or water with food, but orange squash in between.

No reading at the table.

[Redears3]

Another one who’s parents used to put ginger on melon

[Love51]

Drinks always come up with these. I really don't understand why some people "don't allow" a drink with a meal. @Laiste do you know why?
In my upbringing putting out water for everyone was part of laying the table. We only offered alternatives if visitors were present or it was a special occasion.

Arguing with the radio. My dad would always argue with the politician being interviewed on radio 4 (or sometime the interviewer, depending who he though was being a pillock). My dad is aside from this a very polite man, maybe this is how he got through the working day not arguing!

[Chaotic45]

Loving this thread. My childhood was quite chaotic and hearing from those who had a more routine type of upbringing fascinates me. From the outside looking in it sounds safe and predictable and calm.

What did you all actually eat on the set days?