Am I a laughing stock?

I think your friends are boring and dishonest, if one cannot be quirky with friends, then who with? They should have told you, in your face, bantering or any other lighthearted way. I would double down.on the towers and fuckemall.

I imagine she was exactly alluding to Fawlty Towers.

It's obviously a joke, I wouldn't think much of it if I knew somebody who did that.

My long ago ex used to live in a camper van and referred to is as Surname Manor Farm. People seemed to find it amusing, as there was a degree of self irony there, and same for yours I expect, OP.

Your sister has been a bit mean here. I mean, fair enough for her to give her own opinion. But it's quite bullying to darkly imply everybody thinks the same, without actually naming who thinks this or giving any evidence. It's designed to make you feel paranoid about your friendships - basically a dick move on her part.

I highly doubt your friends and acquaintances have spent hours deriding this behind your back. As the kids say, it isn't that deep.

It started as a joke when we moved into a huge country mansion 😄. Well, part of a mansion as it was an apartment. We no longer live there due to ever rising service charges and twats on the residents' committee (some of whom really thought they were Lord and Lady. I could write a sitcom), but the name has stuck.

I guess it annoyed the sister more that day. She was blunt as fuck. I’m used to that from my family so I’d be more embarrassed about the towers thing than offended. We’re all different though innit.

Gosh, some people have no sense of humour! If I love someone dearly, as I do much of my family and all of my friends, I love their daft jokes too.

It’s just a lighthearted joke. My friend calls her house something jokey too.

To be honest I’d probably stop now if the consensus is people have had enough of it but I’d try not to overthink about it or upset myself over it.

Reminds me of when I was a kid and I'd make a joke, my siblings (I'm the youngest) would laugh the first time, maybe the second too. Then they'd tell me I hadn't just killed the joke, I cremated it. Lol they gave me thick skin though and also self awareness so very grateful for them.

To be honest, I smiled at first when you said that's what you call your home.

But the invitations thing and the Christmas/birthday cards etc made me cringe quite hard.

I don't blame her really, as just reading through your OP was a bit irritating.

But still, I wouldn't see it as a big deal if my sister asked me to put a sock in it after a few years.

Sounds as though you've overdone the joke.

Ah I love this story.

My dear MIL (who I adored) referred to her house by its address – as if she had multiple residences and she was clarifying which one she meant (she only had one house).

So (say her address was 23 Acacia Avenue), she would say, 'we went back to 23 Acacia and I had turned the heating off after all'.
Or 'I'll just pop back to 23 Acacia and give you a ring.'
Or, 'you'll never guess who turned up at 23 Acaica last week'.

It was lol but also kind of sweet, so I am inclined to look favourably on your story for giving me a nice memory.

Well, I think your family and some posters on this thread sound a bit joyless. I don't see how nicknaming your home is any different to people having nicknames, or having their own 'fun' names for objects/events, personally.

Really shitty of them to laugh at you behind your back, though.

It sounds like a fun welcoming home. The name is said jokingly. I wouldn't have a problem with it.

But this is not a laugh out loud joke that gets less funny the more time you hear it. It's a silly, self-deprecating, pointless, mild-smile-at-best joke... and those need to be repeated decade after decade, passed down through the generations.

It’s harmless, but so so cringy

Agree!! I'd actually probably do it even more but that's the kind of person I am....
Or add onto it....like Mrs Bucket....." Supper at Jacksons towers in the dining room. Formal clothing"
I would also be a bit peeved that nobody had said anything before but they all thought it ok to take the piss behind my back.....

It's a bit cringe, but harmless. It was funny in the beginning, worn thin after a while and now no one remembers it started off as a joke.
I doubt you are a laughing stock though, people probably just roll their eyes a bit.

Absolutely this. As if any of us is perfect, but OP's sister needs to take a long hard look at herself for being so spiteful (and DM didn't cover herself in glory either). At any time during the years this has apparently grated on them, either one of them could have quietly told OP that the joke was wearing a bit thin. Telling OP this way and implying her wider social circle doesn't find it funny either (and btw, OP only has her DS's word for this!) was just plain nasty.

I’ve worked with a woman who was incapable of referring to a drink as a drink - it had to be a beverado or a brewski. Also knew a man who instead of saying bye announced at the end of every day that he was ‘ready to rock and roll’.

A bit silly, not to mention grating, but I can’t imagine ‘ripping the piss out of them’ for it.

I think your sister has been unnecessarily mean and I’d be amazed if anyone has given this much thought, let alone it being a talking point.

I think this depends on personality some people have ideas bigger than them. I.e I love my big house I’m going to call it surname towers. If you’re a genuine jokey person I think it’s fine. Rise above it op just don’t invite the ones who don’t get the joke!

I know a man who used to give his address using Roman numerals for the number - and he painted it on his bin too. That got old very quickly. It might not have been quite as bad if it had spelled out an amusing word or something - or if he'd been a woman called Liv who resided at house number 54, calling her house LIV would have been an intellectual joke to those who got it - but it's just something like CCLXXIV.

I reckon it was probably mildly funny the first time.

I'd be really hurt if my mum and sister were slagging me off to each other, and participating in nasty discussion about me with others. Your family should have your back which includes saying: some people dont like that maybe you should stop. not laughing behind your back. I am sorry this has happened and if it were me I would be telling them in a calm way that their behaviour has hurt your feelings and see what happens.

It's a shame nobody mentioned it before. I think it's unkind of them and I'd be upset too. Nobody likes to think people have been laughing at them behind their back for years and I think you should tell them that.

I like it, it sounds just like a bit of fun and brings some sense of community which is nice.

I can kind of understand it going on invites, but Christmas cards - No way.