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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I a laughing stock?

814 replies

CovidHeadache · 31/10/2025 09:03

I jokingly call my house “surname towers” so for example if my surname was Jackson, my house would be called Jackson Towers. I’ve called it this for years, it’s very very lighthearted as I’m sure everyone knows. We host a lot of social events and I use the name in invites for example “birthday party, Jackson towers”, “Strictly finale party, Jackson towers” etc
In Christmas/birthday cards “love from A, L and all at Jackson towers”

All my friends and family know I call the house this and some call it this name too either in replies or just in general.

Anyway, last night I’d popped to my mums and my sister was there, we were talking about taking the kids to a Halloween event tonight and I said “why don’t you bring them back to the towers afterward and we can have a little party?”

My sister then said “I’m sorry but can we stop with this towers bullshit, it’s so cringy”. I said “It’s a joke! And you’ve never complained before!” My mum then said “not to your face maybe”. They both started laughing and my sister then said “no I’m sorry, someone needs to say something, people have been ripping the piss out of you for years for it, just give it a rest now”.

so to cut a long story short, turns out almost my entire family have been slagging me off for it for years and my sister hinted that my friends have too.

When I got home I rang my friend and asked her if the towers name annoys her and she said “no course not” so I asked if she knew if it annoyed anyone else to which she hesitated and then said “not annoy as such”. She wouldn’t elaborate further.

Now I’m pretty thick skinned and can mostly laugh it off if I’ve been a dick but this time I’m a bit upset, I keep trying to tell myself I’m not bothered but I can’t stop thinking about it. Have I been a laughing stock for years? If so AIBU to think someone might have mentioned it before now?

OP posts:
MaturingCheeseball · 31/10/2025 15:38

Hardly a hanging offence but a teensy bit smug perhaps?

Similar to “We’re mad, us!” Or matching pyjama pictures or “Merry Christmas from The Jackson Family!” all showing what characters they are and everyone else on the outside looking longingly in.

miss79guided · 31/10/2025 15:37

Alliod40 · 31/10/2025 11:24

It's absolutely hilarious and id continue to do it..I always said if I won the euromillions id build Allisonville and build houses for my friends and siblings so we could all live together but it would be called after me..they all love it..honestly I'd say your sister is jealous she didn't think of something like this so has made your family against it..good god why can't people have a laugh ffs

You actually have to BUY a ticket FIRST > to WIN the euromillions
Then KEEP on buyin MORE tickets until you DO win

Caramelandsalt · 31/10/2025 15:33

Flakey99 · 31/10/2025 09:54

Ignore the po faced boring twats. They sound like the school bullies desperate for everyone to conform to their own unimaginative little lives.

It shows you have a sense of humour and having a fun joke at your own expense, not taking the piss out of other people, which is what they are doing.

My house exterior is a bright pink and I couldn’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks of it as I love it. 😉

I saw a bright pink bungalow last week and it made me smile. Good on you

ThatCyanCat · 31/10/2025 15:33

Do all these people complaining about OP boasting or bigging herself up or being Hyacinth Bucket and so on really not understand that, even if they don't find it funny, it's a joke? That she's not really saying her three-storey town house is incredibly grand and posh, and the fact it isn't a mansion is precisely where the joke lies? At worst it's an overdone but inoffensive joke, not worth hurting her like this over. It absolutely isn't a boast. If she really lived in a stately home, she couldn't make the joke!

SauceySally · 31/10/2025 15:32

AngelicKaty · 31/10/2025 13:01

Indeed. Or answer OP's original question which was " AIBU to think someone might have mentioned it before now?" (Which, of course, they should have - years ago when they were first bothered by it - and done so kindly so that OP could take it on board, not in the spiteful way OP's 'D'S did.)

Show quote history

I think the initial one or two times it was a joke for everyone but then OP made it into a thing i.e. invitations, calls, texts, etc. They probably felt like they couldn’t tell her but now it’s just got too much and they just burst out. I also don’t believe op when she says it’s still all jokey, it started that way but if it was all lighthearted she wouldn’t have got upset with her family and started a thread.

Bluecrystal2 · 31/10/2025 15:30

Oh no! It's almost as bad as 'mi casa es su casa'. Have you got pampas grass in the front garden.

Kbroughton · 31/10/2025 15:21

mellicauli · 31/10/2025 13:35

Have a party. In the invite say "It has come to my attention that naming my house Jackson Towers has not been seen as very funny to some of you. So, I am holding one final Retirement Party for Jackson Towers and you are all cordially invited, RSVP".

You should probably have some doilies. And a fairy over the loo roll in the bathroom . Lots of candles. I am sure Mumsnetters will be able to offer some more Hyacinth Bucket aspects to the party.

Then don't have another party for at least a year. Then the joke's on them - ungrateful, hatchet-faced bastards. They can do all the hard work.

this is a phenomenal idea.

user1492809438 · 31/10/2025 15:18

What charmers your Mum and sister are. I am sure you said Jackson Towers in a jokey self sending up way [not Hyacinth Bouquet] and they are too thick and cruel to understand and appreciate your humour.

Whippetwonder · 31/10/2025 15:13

I think you just took it a bit far ,by writing it in cards and bigging yourself up

PirateDays · 31/10/2025 15:13

Sorry OP, it's very cringe.

I'd get it as an in-joke between your own household but to actively write it on invites and in cards to others AND even actually say it non-ironically in conversation is a bit much.

comealongdobbeh · 31/10/2025 15:09

You jumped from ‘ripping the piss’ to suddenly everyone slagging you off.

calm down and laugh it off. Who cares what anyone else thinks?

HildegardP · 31/10/2025 15:07

Sorry to hear that you have so many humourless plonkers around you OP. It's definitionally cringe to be unable to cope with a little light irony.

spoonbillstretford · 31/10/2025 15:05

It's clearly meant to be self-deprecating unless you are usually a Hyacinth Bucket type.

ThatLovingPear · 31/10/2025 14:53

I think it's funny if you do it in an ironic way, and putting it on invites etc.

But the example given 'why don't you come over to the towers' and using it in everyday conversation is literally toe-curling. You'd have been roasted years ago in my family.

Wingingit73 · 31/10/2025 14:53

What a horrible way for your mum n sister to treat you. Moving forward dont invite them to the towers. Its funny enough and anyone who thinks its cringe needs to lighten up.

SilverStripedSunset · 31/10/2025 14:53

I think it’s quite endearing, we all have little quirks that others notice over time and we affectionately eye roll at!

ttcat37 · 31/10/2025 14:50

Calling it ‘your name Towers’ is a joke once, but giving off delusions of grandeur vibes after that

BeepBoopBop · 31/10/2025 14:48

Mayflower282 · 31/10/2025 09:16

I’m assuming it’s a reference to “Fawlty Towers”? I think it’s cute and shows that you are a welcoming person, organising all those events is so kind. They are AH.

OMG - I never realised the connection before - after all these years too 🤣

LandRites · 31/10/2025 14:47

Your family sound mean-spirited and you sound generous OP. Your family would probably get on well with some of the doily-botherers on here.

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest if a dear friend used a harmless phrase like this. As someone said earlier, style it out, use it less if you want to.

You've got some nice friends, don't let the cringeing fun police get to you.

LAMPS1 · 31/10/2025 14:43

It’s a joke. Lost its humour along the way, but somehow it stuck. So what!
It’s the people who judge after all this time, who are cringey.

I’d have to stop using it now yes, but don’t feel bad OP. The judgy ones are the ones who take themselves too seriously.

Goditsmemargaret · 31/10/2025 14:42

I think it's hilarious especially as it's a very normal house. If you were the wealthy one in the family living on a few acres then that might annoy people.

I have a friend that refers to his house as surnameville in exactly the same way. It's tongue in cheek.

They are being nasty.

Pinkladyapplepie · 31/10/2025 14:38

Well I think it's fine but I laugh at my own jokes most! Anyway who gives a crap you do you. If that's the worst they can laughat about you wish I was coming to Towers sounds great 💕

Isayitasitis · 31/10/2025 14:37

Bunnycute23 · 31/10/2025 12:17

If people are offended and they're called Ian, they're probably culpable,

Chat CBT has learned me.

GPT?

The fact you use it shows us all we need to know about you!

Think Sheryl Lee Ralph GIF by ABC Network
MonickerMonica · 31/10/2025 14:36

OP

Next time you're passing Monica Mansions give me a knock and we'll have a nice cuppa 👍

Wafflesandsyrup · 31/10/2025 14:33

I think on invitations it can be funny/ lighthearted, but using it in conversation "why don't you bring them back to the towers afterwards" is cringey and has gone too far!

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