Things you assumed and were astonished to find out you were completely wrong

[Cattery]

For example: The Elgin Marbles. Heard these mentioned from time to time over the years. Always pictured marbles; kids’ marbles. Then I heard they were something to do with Greece and I’ve always thought Elgin was there. Got it all completely wrong

A lot of places aren't where they should be. Apparently Torquay isn't on the Med.

Had to look it up. Oh, no WAY is it in Essex! That's ridiculous.

The Faroe Islands had me scratching my head, definitely thought they were more Canary Islands location 🙈

It is. Pon-shon(t) is the correct pronunciation.

Was anyone else, as a child, scared of the "Doomsday Book"?

I believed it was some sort of "Neverending Story" book that was cursed and if anyone found it and opened it, the world would end as it would set off the Doomsday Clock and we'd only have as many seconds left to live as the clock was currently pointing to.

When I'd try and talk about my fears of the "Doomsday Book" ever being found. My Mum, who had a very poor education and had no idea what I was going on about, told me that "it's all a superstitious load of nonsense".

The week we covered the Domesday Book in History in Year 8, I asked to be excused as I had "very bad anxiety about the end of the world". My Mum agreed I should be excused and called to discuss it with my form tutor. My Dad insisted I attend and "put these fears to rest". My History teacher, naturally, thought we were all batshit and, luckily, educated me.

I'm starting to realise I'm so much thicker than I ever realised.

Santa pod drag racing was a great track that I went yo many times.

When I saw ads for Paul rue drag on TV I was very disappointed .

Wait, they aren't apple shaped at the bottom? Like bell bottoms? 🤣

Love this - my husband would never let me live this down either

I didn't realise Reginald was the longer version of the name Reg. I thought it was a title/armed services rank. I think it was because every Reginald I knew was a military type.

Me too.

And there we go, that’s my main learning from the thread!! Why is it called that then lol
ah forgot to quote, but it was the one that said hamburgers aren’t made from pork!!

Q: What do you call a man with a number plate on his head?
A: Reg

Q: What do you call a dead man with a number plate on his head?
A: X-Reg

Also when I was growing up my Dm told me that GP's were only for people with cancer and other very serious illnesses, and if you made an appointment with the GP and your reason wasn't justified they'd strike you off the NHS forever. Until now I find it really hard to make an appointment, feeling like I am taking the appointment off a cancer patient. When I do get an appointment I'm always thanking them for agreeing to see me and apologizing for wasting their time!

But they call it the English Riviera, so that's probably why you think it's in the Med.

Yasssss me too. I was 30 when I discovered they were real.

Thank gods it’s not just me.

That shooting stars were stars (or suns) at the end of their lives and when we see one, we're seeing the last few seconds of a star's life but from millions of years ago due to the time it takes for the light to travel to us. So essentially seeing into the past. I always loved this, seemed so romantic and poignant.

Until I met my husband who told me they're actually just meteorites.

(I swear I even had a GCSE science lesson about my theory).

This thread is priceless, so many of these I also share, although I like to think Im quite intelligent

I thought Wigan was in Liverpool and therefore would have had a pier
I used to think Pontefract was in Wales until we drove past it the first time
Used to think Watford Gap was in Watford
I also used to think Roy Orbison was blind
I also thought that Newport Pagnell was in Wales, turns out its on the M1 or something like that
Scotch corner I also thought was in London! (Im a Londoner as well) We drove past it and I thought oh this is Scotch Corner

Theres probably tons more that Ive tried to bury away in my brain through embarrassment.

I’m almost 50years of age, grew up in England and thought exactly the same thing. It was only about 10 years ago I found out it’s not real meat. I still can’t bring myself to eat one though.

I don’t believe any of these.

Glad it wasn't just me then!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5
UnctuousUnicorns · Today 22:44

When I was a child, I used to look at old photos and think that the world must have been in black and white back then, until the colour was "switched on".

It's not moleskin? 😬

I never realised the pun for K9 (the dog in Dr Who) was “canine”

I thought Fax machines sucked in the bit of paper and it travelled at speed through a series of “pipes” and was spat out at the destination!
I announced this to all my colleagues, boy how they laughed 😝

Only for that book/film I never would have copped that Dunkirk was in France! My mind was blown

Yes, I read up about them and my mouth dropped open
😲

They give me the heebee jeebees now though as they’re very smart, and some are huge!
A tiny part of me still hopes that there’s a couple of little orange smiley ones around, waving….🐙

Ostend - surely that's on the Kent coast?