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Original poster

Things you didn't expect to like, but do

204 replies

BiggyJ · 23/09/2025 21:05

I really, really did not expect to like the Stacey & Joe TV show.
But I do 🤷‍♀️
Their whole set up is just lovely - extended and step family are just one big family
It's just an easy watch, very wholesome.

OP posts:
Absentosaur · 24/09/2025 07:20

Letstradegums · 23/09/2025 21:36

Amateur Dramatics. I reluctantly went to a local show recently and it was the best thing I've ever seen.

What was the play / show?

CryHavoc · 24/09/2025 07:24

CrossFit. I went to one free class offered by my husband’s gym, expecting to be able to tell him that I’d tried it and didn’t like it so he could stop nagging me to go.

That was nearly four years ago. I was hooked from the first class, I absolutely love it.

notacooldad · 24/09/2025 07:30

I can’t help but read the word “freekeh” in a 70s pornstar voice complete with with a Barry White soundtrack (all in my head thankfully). Is it just me?
Probably! 😆
Freekah is my favourite grain in a salad.

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TV
FamilyPhoto · 24/09/2025 07:36

Screamingabdabz · 23/09/2025 21:16

Blackpool. I was expecting the worse kind of tacky poverty-stricken dreary North Sea depressing shit hole but it was actually some of the best fun I’ve had. And great fish and chips!

Its on the Irish Sea, a bit less exposed than the North Sea coast.

IlovePond · 24/09/2025 07:45

Benidorm - the - admittedly very small - old town is lovely and the promenade areas are really nice to walk along. We were very pleasantly surprised and made a return visit.

IlovePond · 24/09/2025 07:49

EnglishGirlApproximately · 23/09/2025 22:35

Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando. Thought I'd be grumpy and wanting to get back to my normal cultural holidays but two days in found myself eating Mickey shaped pretzels while wearing mouse ears 😂

Completely agree with this - went to Orlando not expecting much and within 24 hours had gone full on ‘mouse mad’.

I wish I could go back, but in the meantime I wear my Disney jewellery whenever possible and my extensive ‘ear’ collection has pride of place in my makeup/jewellery cupboard so I can admire them all on a daily basis 😹

EnglishGirlApproximately · 24/09/2025 07:54

IlovePond · 24/09/2025 07:49

Completely agree with this - went to Orlando not expecting much and within 24 hours had gone full on ‘mouse mad’.

I wish I could go back, but in the meantime I wear my Disney jewellery whenever possible and my extensive ‘ear’ collection has pride of place in my makeup/jewellery cupboard so I can admire them all on a daily basis 😹

Edited
Show quote history

I'm going again in 3 weeks just a couple of years after our 'very definitely only going once' holiday 🙈

IlovePond · 24/09/2025 07:56

So jealous @EnglishGirlApproximately - please wear your ears proudly and have a MM pretzel for me!

Bojosgirl · 24/09/2025 07:56

Marinated anchovies

AngelinaFibres · 24/09/2025 07:57

I knew I would like being a granny but I had no idea how utterly, life affirmingly ,wonderful it would be. Having the time of my life with the 2 small boys.

Mygardenandme · 24/09/2025 07:57

Management. My mamager went on long term sick and as I was the most experienced in the team I was asked to step up for 6 months. I was dreading it. I've always avoided management posts.

9 months later, there have been challenges including having to put someone on a PIP (and it isn't working so that's going to get really tough😪) but I enjoy it. So much so that Im considering applying for a permanent management post.

ERthree · 24/09/2025 07:58

Screamingabdabz · 23/09/2025 21:16

Blackpool. I was expecting the worse kind of tacky poverty-stricken dreary North Sea depressing shit hole but it was actually some of the best fun I’ve had. And great fish and chips!

When did Blackpool move to the North sea ?

LegArmpits · 24/09/2025 07:58

Noel Gallagher

Equimum · 24/09/2025 07:59

Disney World! We decided to do a day-trip just t past we'd been when our eldest was a toddler and we in Florida. I was highly cynical and had never been a Disney fan, but I fell in love with the park, and we did a full-on Disney Florida trip a few years later.

Mygardenandme · 24/09/2025 08:01

Exercise.

Tell school leaver me that I would become a marathon runner or that I would pay £50 a month to go to a gym and I would have laughed in your face.

I really do blame school PE lessons for making me avoid exercise for so long.

researchers3 · 24/09/2025 08:01

Shakemesexy · 23/09/2025 21:14

Crack. It’s so moreish

😁

MyElatedUmberFinch · 24/09/2025 08:06

Nocalmwaters · 23/09/2025 22:29

How far have you got through the series(es)? Has your husband (and the general culture surrounding GOT).. eerrrr.. warned you about anything?

Mine would be: having a baby the second time around. We really struggled with our first when she was a baby (no idea what we were doing, general anxiety, pandemic, lack of sleep, etc). Went into the second one thinking it would be the same, plus the added stress of having a three year old. Turns out it was so much more chill. We knew what to do (baby wearing, co sleeping, breast feeding was easier, etc.), had all the stuff already so no big decisions, and I was on mat leave with my then toddler as well, who was a lovely toddler (just not a great baby, as discussed).

Show quote history

I binged the first five series’ and then my DH and I watched the last 3 series’ together.

LadyHexham · 24/09/2025 08:15

Screamingabdabz · 23/09/2025 21:16

Blackpool. I was expecting the worse kind of tacky poverty-stricken dreary North Sea depressing shit hole but it was actually some of the best fun I’ve had. And great fish and chips!

Blimey
Blackpool isn't on the North Sea so I'm surprised you weren't disappointed 😜

Makingpeace · 24/09/2025 08:16

Clarkson's Farm.

squashyhat · 24/09/2025 08:18

India. After being completely overwhelmed and homesick on my first visit I have been back several times and grown to love it.

PegDope · 24/09/2025 08:21

The Financial Management module of my Master’s.

I hated economics in school, was really bad at maths and so was expecting to be allergic to this class but I love it!

LittleBitofBread · 24/09/2025 08:22

ButterPiesAreGreat · 23/09/2025 21:27

You skipped a lot of it then. (Disclaimer - DH grew up there and even he thinks it’s a dump once you’re away from the proms). It’s the most deprived local authority in England at last count.

Show quote history

What a miserable reply.
I know Blackpool has its problems, but this poster obviously had a good personal experience there.
I went a while ago as a friend had an art/performance piece on. That was good, the fish and chips were good, the Tower ballroom is a marvel, we went to see another show at an excellent art gallery and enjoyed walking along the seafront.

PruthePrune · 24/09/2025 08:23

Beach holidays. I'd always been a camping, hiking type when the husband booked a holiday to Cyprus. I absolutely love lying on a sun lounger, interspersed with having a dip.

scalt · 24/09/2025 08:25

Netball. I hated PE at school, and couldn’t catch a ball until I was twenty, couldn’t swim until I was twenty-four. However, I started playing netball aged thirty-five, and I loved it. I’m a bad loser, though, so I mostly umpire rather than play. I used to get told off for muttering about umpires’ decisions, so I though “if you can’t beat them, join them”.

CoffeeCantata · 24/09/2025 08:28

Screamingabdabz · 23/09/2025 21:16

Blackpool. I was expecting the worse kind of tacky poverty-stricken dreary North Sea depressing shit hole but it was actually some of the best fun I’ve had. And great fish and chips!

It’s on the Irish Sea! 😀

But that’s good to hear because its reputation has taken a battering in recent years. I wonder, if climate change leads to more long, hot summers whether the English seaside could see a revival?