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Original poster

Things you didn't know weren't normal

1000 replies

Applescruffle · 08/08/2023 18:43

What are things you thought every one or every family did until you became an adult or entered a new relationship?

I'll start. I thought that everyone ate the leftover yorkshires after a roast dinner as desert eg: fill them with cream and fruit or custard or something, basically use them like you would a pancake... no?

I thought everyone peeled mushrooms, I didn't know that not only do people not peel mushrooms, lots don't even know they have peel!! 😱

I'll probably think of more.

Nb: I'm not meaning to trigger anyone's childhood or relationship trauma, I just mean lighthearted things x

OP posts:
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7
SoSo99 · 09/08/2023 20:54

My mum, for some bizarre reason, serves ratatouille with pretty much every main course. I realised pretty soon after leaving home that we were the only family with a ratatouille obsession. When I last had a meal at home (and I'm in my 50s now) my parents got some fish and ships from the take-away, and, blow me, my mum whipped out a ratatouille.
She's not too well now and can't really cook,and though we chuckle about the ratatouille habit, I sure will miss it.

CustardySergeant · 09/08/2023 20:54

fullbloom87 "My poor state of mind was so bad that I didn't realise Christmas jumper day at my kids school meant they went in with a Christmas style jumper so would stay up sewing ball balls onto normal jumpers"

The word is "baubles" not "ball balls". 🙂

DeanElderberry · 09/08/2023 20:54

Mushroom stalks are the most delicate and delicious part of the mushroom. Don't waste them

Chop them lightly, put them in a cup with some butter, zap them for a minute in the microwave. Yum.

1967buglet · 09/08/2023 20:57

yank here. That Brits put butter on bread to make sandwiches. We use mayonnaise…bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwiches always have mayo. And butter UNDER peanut butter? Surely peanut butter on its own, or with jelly, preferably grape jelly. Peanut butter and banana sandwiches are also mighty tasty.

SnuggleBuggleBoo · 09/08/2023 20:58

Nevermay · 08/08/2023 19:09

I thought that those rocking machine rides in supermarkets only worked with special grandparent money, which was not the same as the money mum or dad had in their pockets. Special grandparent money was the only currency accepted m=by ice cream vans too.

To be fair Special Grandparent Money is actually a genius idea!

Icantfindmykeys · 09/08/2023 20:58

GoodnightJude1 · 08/08/2023 18:58

I’ve never eaten the ends of a banana….I was shocked when I watched DH munch his way through the whole thing whilst shouting “noooo the ends are poisonous”

apparently not.

Thanks Nan!

Omg this…. Didn’t find out until my late 20’s 😂😂

Barold · 09/08/2023 20:58

Thursa · 09/08/2023 19:41

I was an embarrassingly long way into adulthood before I realised mum and granny didn’t prefer picking at the chicken carcass, there wasn’t enough to go round. They also never sat at the table with us, but waited in the kitchen to see what was leftover for their meal.

❤️

Bertiesmum3 · 09/08/2023 21:01

Maireas · 09/08/2023 20:42

Yes, if you're not sharing, you don't need to wash each time.

How about all the dead skin cells you’re rubbing off every day after a bath or shower?

Barold · 09/08/2023 21:02

pollykitty · 09/08/2023 20:45

… important for what exactly? genuinely curious

Show quote history

Not adding to a hot, damp environment in which yeast and bacteria are eager to accumulate presumably.

Kernsworld · 09/08/2023 21:02

@fullbloom87

They’re called baubles. Christmas baubles. Not ball balls.

S4uk · 09/08/2023 21:03

So many apparently!
never peel mushrooms
towel “sharing”; just get whichever is closest
also share bath water (still at 42! Mum first, then dad, then me)…
and I’m only on page 6

S4uk · 09/08/2023 21:03

Oh; and no knickers under pjs!

Bertiesmum3 · 09/08/2023 21:04

Meowandthen · 09/08/2023 20:40

You must spend half your life laundering towels. Not great for the environment to wash a towel after a single use.

I do find sharing towels, as so many seem to do, a bit grim.

Show quote history

No, when my daughters lived at home I done 2/3 loads of towels a week and now it’s just 2 of us I do 1 load of towels a week, it’s only 14 towels now so they fit in 1 load

laurajayneinkent · 09/08/2023 21:05

This thread is basically the "is it just us" feature on the Radio 1 breakfast show 🙂

Greenly3 · 09/08/2023 21:07

I am wetting myself crying with all these!, thanks ladies xxx

Ohhmydays · 09/08/2023 21:10

LadyPenelope68 · 09/08/2023 13:15

Table family here, we’d still eat pizza at the table, never eat in front of the TV.

Show quote history

My mum has always been a strict eat all your meals at the table person, even st her old house that was tiny n now on the occasion we have lunch at hers. Sofa/floor family at home though, only because house is to small for one or i would have one for dinner times

Sallyh87 · 09/08/2023 21:11

MLP18 · 09/08/2023 20:31

Corned beef hash on pancakes for main on pancake day.
Coffee on cereal (this was from my Austrian grandma)

I also prefer butter and peanut butter.

Coffee on cereal is a really efficient breakfast!

Scottishlanza · 09/08/2023 21:12

All this talk about savoury pancakes, can you all remember Findus Savoury Pancakes, they were a once a week meal in my childhood.

As an adult I use pancakes in place of pasta sheets, eg rolled as in cannelloni or layered as in lasagna. When all said and done they are basically the same ingredients, flour and eggs!

LovelyIssues · 09/08/2023 21:13

@Applescruffle that is what a bellend is? It's the tip of the Penis lol?!

LovelyIssues · 09/08/2023 21:16

@DoneWithHer my Mum said the same! I've never told my children that but my youngest DD always says it to ME! she always says she needs to air out her bits. No idea who told her that as it definitely wasn't my Mum!

Escourtiebabes · 09/08/2023 21:16

@SpanielsMatter I don't understand your comment about Not Paying Council Tax if you rent ????????

LovelyIssues · 09/08/2023 21:17

@SoSo99 that is so cute! I want ratatouille now!

CustomerServiceSmile · 09/08/2023 21:18

My dad would always make what I can only describe as a stir fry, at 9pm ish on Christmas day with left over "Christmas lunch" and baked beans. We would get so exited, as though it was the best thing ever. I thought everyone did it. When I first made this for my DH, he was horrified and refused to eat it.
I can't help but make it every Christmas since that's what I grew up with. We were a working class family from Yorkshire. My uncle mopped up ice cream with bread which my family always joked wasn't normal. We never saved Yorkshire puds for dessert though.

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/08/2023 21:19

S4uk · 09/08/2023 21:03

So many apparently!
never peel mushrooms
towel “sharing”; just get whichever is closest
also share bath water (still at 42! Mum first, then dad, then me)…
and I’m only on page 6

You're 42 and you bathe in 3rd hand bath water and you think this is normal? Nah.

Meowandthen · 09/08/2023 21:19

Bertiesmum3 · 09/08/2023 21:04

No, when my daughters lived at home I done 2/3 loads of towels a week and now it’s just 2 of us I do 1 load of towels a week, it’s only 14 towels now so they fit in 1 load

Show quote history

14 towels in one load? Is your machine an industrial one or are these towels tiny and thin? No way can 14 bath sheets fit in one load.

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