Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Things you really should have known sooner...

516 replies

TheDodgyEnd · 10/10/2017 12:50

I’ve just learned that Casablanca is not in South America at all and is, in fact in Morocco! Who knew 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️
Anyone else got any tidbits they learned far too late in life?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
BeyondNoone · 14/10/2017 13:06

The great glen is a tech tonic plate boundary, not just an island. Can't find the image I'm thinking of, but this ones close enough...

Things you really should have known sooner...
EggysMom · 14/10/2017 12:10

Re: Portsmouth ... if the criteria for an island is that you have to cross a bridge/water to access the location, then may I present the Highlands of Scotland? With the chain of rivers and lochs that form the Great Glen, there is a whole chunk of Scotland that would technically class as an island!! But not the Black Isle - that's a peninsula. Just to confuse things.

ChessieFL · 14/10/2017 11:32

Freddie is his nickname, based on the similarity of his surname to (Fred) Flintstone

rowtheboats · 14/10/2017 11:23

@SnugglySnerd 😂😂😂

rowtheboats · 14/10/2017 11:13

Ummm how is Freddie called Andrew and vice versa...totally confused. I'll rephrase...how is Freddie Flintoff, Andrew Flintoff?!

SnugglySnerd · 14/10/2017 11:09

Don't worry *rowtheboats" a friend of mine was worrying what would happen if she needed to wee when in labour. She honestly thought wee and babies came out via the same route! She was in her twenties.

rowtheboats · 14/10/2017 11:05

That the moon only came out at night!

And...possibly even worse...that we have a hole for swallowing food, and a separate one for water- hence the saying 'it went down the wrong hole'

MomToWedThorFriday · 14/10/2017 10:52

You are right of course - ballache does look as if it should be pronounced ballash. If they want it to be pronounced ball ache they should make it clear by separating the two words or at least inserting a hyphen!

Read this too quickly... thought you said ‘inserting a hymen.’ BlushWink

Original poster
TheDodgyEnd · 14/10/2017 09:06

@BoreOfWhabylon well, exactly. I’m glad someone else understands

OP posts:
sashh · 14/10/2017 03:59

Gherkins has reminded me of one I found out this year, a marrow is actually a courgette that hasn't been picked from the plant at courgette stage, if you leave them growing on the plant they become marrows.

The clue is in the name(s)

Marrow in Italian is zucca, zucchine is small zuccas

Marrow in French, courge, courgette is a small courge

BoreOfWhabylon · 14/10/2017 00:19

You are right of course - ballache does look as if it should be pronounced ballash. If they want it to be pronounced ball ache they should make it clear by separating the two words or at least inserting a hyphen!

Lweji · 14/10/2017 00:08

My mind has just been blown by finding out that Keira Knightley was in Star Wars Episode 1. She played the Queen Amidala decoy!

Not sure I was supposed to know this, but still...

Original poster
TheDodgyEnd · 13/10/2017 23:53

@BoreOfWhabylon oh I know about panache. But to me ballache is and forever will be a more appropriate word Grin

OP posts:
BoreOfWhabylon · 13/10/2017 23:30

Link again
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/panache

BoreOfWhabylon · 13/10/2017 23:29

Loving the poor little terracottas!

TheDodgyEnd I think you might have been confusing ballache with panache - pronounced pan-ASH

‘he entertained London society with great panache’
‘Fashion is about fun, style, panache, and feeling good about yourself.’
‘Flaws cannot be concealed by style and panache.’
‘Yes, it is still the capital of North African style and panache.’
‘It is cute, astute, cerebral football, a mirror image of their studious manager though with an added dash of style and panache.’
‘With her typical panache and literary style, the author comes at the serial killer genre from a new angle.’

[[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/panache]

QueenUnicorn · 13/10/2017 22:51

That wrestling was real...

nigelsbigface · 13/10/2017 22:47

Sade is a band??

BeyondNoone · 13/10/2017 22:43

"If pontetrct was in wales in would be pontyfract hehe"

I think it would be pontyffract. One F would be a V sound.

Original poster
TheDodgyEnd · 13/10/2017 22:18

And another one I’ve just remembered. (slightly worrying the amount I’m coming up with) I was at least 16 when I learned that Schweppes isn’t pronounced
‘scooch-weppers’

OP posts:
allegretto · 13/10/2017 22:14

Um, until two minutes ago and a look at Google maps, I thought the Galapagos islands were somewhere completely different!

DadDadDad · 13/10/2017 22:06

I knew some clever clogs would mention zoos, but Galapagos was the answer I was looking for. I'm sure when I checked this a couple of years ago, I convinced myself that there will be some Galapagos penguins just north of the Equator.

quencher · 13/10/2017 22:01

And the Galapagos. But not near the North Pole. There is a technicality here because Galapagos is right bang on the equator. Most of the islands where the penguins are fall in the south. For the place as whole it both south and north.

CompletelyUnknown · 13/10/2017 21:54

In my embarrassed need to confess my massive egg mistake I didn’t proof read. I’ve tried to block it from my memory. I’ll need to accept my error in judgement. Always proof read no exceptions.

StealthPolarBear · 13/10/2017 21:25

Meringue :)

CakesRUs · 13/10/2017 21:25

My friend was visiting from Australia She saw a badger and was shocked, she thought they were mythological creatures like unicorns and fairies Grin