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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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Original poster
Applescruffle · 09/08/2023 21:46

SoSo99 · 09/08/2023 20:48

The mushroom comments have reminded me about Brussel sprouts (I'm a hugs fan). At home we spent ages peeling off the outer leaves then cutting a cross in them. I was flabbergasted at uni when someone just cooked them, no prep, and they tasted just fine.
When i cook them now I still can't help peeling (but I've now moved on from boiled to roasted...delicious).
Still can't help peeling mushrooms. An.old housemate used to pick them as a job, and told me they were grown in pig shit.

I've always done sprouts like this! Pull off the outer leaves and then cross the bottom with a knife! I do this every Christmas eve!!
And stir-frying is the way. In a big wok with butter, chestnuts and bacon. Thank me later.

OP posts:
LylaLee · 09/08/2023 21:46

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/08/2023 21:19

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

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This.

We once had to share with family friends over 30 years ago, and I still remember the disgust I felt as a child.

It is better to have a bucket bath if you're trying to save water: fill a bucket with warm water & set it in the bath/shower. Wash yourself with water from that.

Mummytotheboy · 09/08/2023 21:47

I didn't know that sandwiches should have butter spread on the bread. When I gave my partner a grated cheese sandwich he picked it up and all the cheese fell out as there was no buttery glue (his words!) and it was so dry!

Ohhmydays · 09/08/2023 21:48

SleepingStandingUp · 09/08/2023 21:41

And yet you continue the marriage?

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@loveyoutothemoonandtosaturn there better on a buttered roll and grated cheese, if using ready salted add a little branston pickle 👌🏾

Whatafliberty · 09/08/2023 21:49

I thought beans on toast was normal

JadeAnn86 · 09/08/2023 21:50

When did you first realise this? I am totally shocked that anyone thought this 😳 I take it you and everyone you know went to private school?

LylaLee · 09/08/2023 21:50

Whatafliberty · 09/08/2023 21:49

I thought beans on toast was normal

Who said it's not normal. Unless you're talking about kidney beans or something.

Whatafliberty · 09/08/2023 21:51

I thought beans on toast for breakfast was normal.

Anothermam · 09/08/2023 21:57

I genuinely don't understand how you can peel a mushroom.

Mayhemmumma · 09/08/2023 21:57

Omg...what's a bell-end then?!

TarquinOliverNimrod · 09/08/2023 21:57

UncleRadley · 08/08/2023 19:19

The peanut butter IS the butter!

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Peanut butter isn’t butter though, it’s just peanuts ground into a paste with some salt. It’s so dry without some buttery lubrication, especially the crunchy version!

cazziej64 · 09/08/2023 21:58

My husband and his family all have cornflakes and hot custard for a dessert . Even worse, he has passed it on to our kids and they all love it too. I might just LTB 😂

OnTheRunWithMannyMontana · 09/08/2023 21:59

Whatafliberty · 09/08/2023 21:49

I thought beans on toast was normal

How is it not normal??

Comeonbarbiebrianharvey · 09/08/2023 22:03

Always peeled mushrooms, never knew any different. My flatmate at uni was amazed, it's quite satisfying.

Pineapplemonkey · 09/08/2023 22:03

MerelyPlaying · 09/08/2023 21:27

Ok call me weird (and I live alone, so don’t have to share my towels anyway 😄) but I don’t dry my arse or any intimate parts. I wrap the towel round me, pat off excess water on shoulders and arms etc and then carry on with cleaning teeth, drying hair etc - by the time I’ve done that everything else is dry.

I’m amazed that people wash towels after every use - I couldn’t afford the electricity bills. They don’t even do that in most hotels these days!

I’m so glad you said that, I was thinking exactly the same! I don’t even use a towel, I just put on a towelling robe and by the time I’ve dried hair/put on makeup/made a cup of tea/wasted time on MN, I take the robe off and get dressed, none of this rubbing my arse etc like everyone else seems worried about!

SlippySarah · 09/08/2023 22:04

@womanlywimmin
Excellent post. I once punched a small dog directly in the face because I was sat on the grass with my baby on my lap when it jumped up at us. I didn't wait to see if it was friendly or not, my animal instincts kicked in.

Babasghost · 09/08/2023 22:05

Tonightsthenight91 · 08/08/2023 21:46

I have read this site for years and never bothered to sign up- but this… this I had to make an account for.

My nan used to crack nuts in her bicep with this action 💪🏽 .. no really. I believed this my whole life until at the grand age of 22 my boyfriend and I were arguing over him claiming it was impossible. I left a message on my nans answering machine telling her to call me back with urgency to set him straight.

she called me back absolutely pissing herself that I believed all this time she was cracking nuts in her bicep when in reality she was using a nut cracker and slipping it in between when I wasn’t looking.

My mind is still blown 10 years after this discovery.

She sounds awesome! So funny

Original poster
Applescruffle · 09/08/2023 22:05

Anothermam · 09/08/2023 21:57

I genuinely don't understand how you can peel a mushroom.

You grab hold of the peel and you pull it off. Like so:

Things you didn't know weren't normal
OP posts:
Lilsoph · 09/08/2023 22:09

Crisp sandwiches - has to be processed white bread though. I still enjoy those - comfort food. No so the jelly (as in trifle jelly not jelly jam) sandwiches. Not sure I could stomach those now.

Stravaig · 09/08/2023 22:11

Nut butters and chocolate spreads are already laden with fats, so no nutritional need for more fat in the form of butter/margarine. Unlike fruit spreads, which are just carbs and sugar. That's the why of it. If you look at nutrition labels the concept of spreading a fat on another fat becomes a bit weird and a lot less appetising.

whathappenedtosummer23 · 09/08/2023 22:12

Applescruffle · 09/08/2023 19:50

We have clothes driers in the UK too 😄 it's just not the cultural norm to use them so much. They are expensive and bad for the environment. The norm is to hang clothes outside in the summer. Using a tumble drier in the summer is soo wierd to me.
I was SHOOK to hear that some of the things I thought were perfectly normal were only normal in Britain. I can't imagine Christmas without Christmas crackers (the pulling kind) or advent calenders, and I just can't believe that a nation that loves pancakes so much does not do pancake day. WTF??

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on the contrary I thought having a tumble drier was totally the norm. The only things which didn’t go in them were shirts and sweatshirts /tracksuits. They had to be hung on a rail in utility room but never outside as it didn’t look nice. No comprehension that there were people without tumble driers dishwashers or utility rooms. This was 70’s /80’s

greyhairnomore · 09/08/2023 22:13

DropCloths · 08/08/2023 19:11

Having butter and peanut butter on toast. Totally normal in my family, every time I've done it in front of someone else they've reacted as if I'm eating like late era Elvis.

I do this. Yum

newtoallthisshizzle · 09/08/2023 22:13

No, it’s true! We were brought up on you only getting a lollipop if you cleared your plate and I stand by this still.

Original poster
Applescruffle · 09/08/2023 22:14

I don't think I've ever had a little chef meal, and this lollipop thing is completly new to me.

OP posts:
Babasghost · 09/08/2023 22:16

katseyes7 · 08/08/2023 22:42

I didn't realise until l was fifteen, and staying over at my best friend's house, that never being hugged or told 'I love you' wasn't normal.
That first night when my friend and l were going up to bed, her mam hugged her and said "Goodnight, I love you", then hugged me and said "goodnight, love."
I was so overwhelmed l burst into tears.
Nearly 50 years later, and l don't ever remember my mam cuddling me or telling me she loved me. Not once.
My friend's lovely mam made me realise that some people were affectionate and demonstrative, and that's made me the the polar opposite to the way l was brought up.

Hugs, I went through that to staying over at best freinds, never had hugs from oarent so froze when mates mum did hug before bed and so weird that they would look at you and kisses!!
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