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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To refuse to use my parents' made-up name for their house...

169 replies

MerryMarigold · 13/12/2011 17:43

OK, so they used to live in a house which didn't have a number and had a name. My kids would get excited about going to blah blah cottage., Now they have moved somewhere where the house does have a number. But they miss having a name for their house, so they've given it a name. I just feel naff using the name. I mean, the house already has a number! And it's not like a massive road, there are only 6 houses in it, and it's a 'court' so it sounds quite nice anyway.

AIBU and should I just swallow my pride and call the house by it's new 'name'? Or should I just say we're going to visit blah blah court and address post to no.6 blah blah court?

OP posts:
Bathsheba · 14/12/2011 13:32

I know at least 3 "Hillcrest"s which are half way up a hill and not on the crest.

It annoys me.

AnotherMincepie · 14/12/2011 14:34

Royal Mail like you to use numbers as it's easier for them.

Names are a nice personal touch though - the naffness of some is quite British and sweet really!

So use both.

Dunroamin
6 High Street
London
PO1 STC

Redrubyblues · 14/12/2011 14:44

I know of a house called Dim View.

Floggingmolly · 14/12/2011 16:36

How often does their house come up in conversation? Why call it anything? When talking to the kids, it'll just be Granny's house Confused

5Foot5 · 14/12/2011 16:46

I want to live in Duncoding when I retire.

I knew two families who both called their house "Phendrew" because they had sons called Stephen and Andrew

HenriettaFarthingay · 14/12/2011 16:54

Ours has a name, and it's pretty unusual - so much so that there doesn't appear to be another in the UK. I understand that the chap who built the house had spent a number of years in Australia, so called it after the town he lived in over there. As for the number - there's a debate about that. I've been told it's either no. 7, 14 or 18. I suppose I should check really, but as we sit here all on our own, it's pretty well known to the postie, etc.

Original poster
MerryMarigold · 14/12/2011 17:51

Actually the name comes up in conversation all the time. We just got used to it, as the other one had a name. "Where's Gran", "She's at blah blah Cottage", etc. and parents use it a lot. We 'call' our house by the road it's on (ie. Let's go back to blah blah road) if we're at someone's house. Maybe that's weird, just our habit. Maybe we just have to learn how to say 'home' and "Gran and Grandad's house."

OP posts:
MabelLucyAttwell · 14/12/2011 18:00

I once wrote a letter to a Bar in Malta. I knew what the bar was called but not it's address so I wrote on the envelope: Jessie's Bar and drew a map underneath.

It reached its detination.

BuntyPenfold · 14/12/2011 19:32

My mother made her own house name sign.
It was a bungalow, in a row, in the perfectly flat fenland.
She named it 'Denver'.
The shame.

dutchyoriginal · 14/12/2011 19:36

:) at Ciske

echt · 14/12/2011 19:40

HenriettaFarthingay

The house isn't called Tittybong, is it?

Or Black Charlie's Opening?

Just a couple of Australian place names.:o

Jajas · 14/12/2011 20:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

breatheslowly · 14/12/2011 21:19

I know someone who build a house and named it "Highpoint". It was at the highest point of the road, but still...

Bogeyface · 14/12/2011 21:24

Cant believe I forgot this, on the road where my friend lived when we were kids was a Witsend. I never got it then.......Wink

irregularegular · 14/12/2011 21:29

You have slightly unusual conversational habits, I think! Our house has a name, and only a name - there are no numbers on the road - but I never refer to it as 'X cottage' except when giving someone the address iyswim. I just call it 'home'.

CatPussRoastingByAnOpenFire · 14/12/2011 21:32

My house is called Eyrie. It's a right pain! "can you spell that please"?
And if I say "like the eagles nest" they all go "what??"
We nearly bought a house called "Trollhatton"!

outofteabags · 14/12/2011 21:38

Our DS renamed our new house as part of the moving house process, it was called The Fairway before we moved in and all the houses around us have names. I have to confess the name is bonkers but DS felt very happy about taking ownership of the move (which was a big one away from everything he ever knew)More often than not I just use the number but our official address with council and royal mail has the new name and the number.

HappyCamel · 14/12/2011 21:43

I think it's fine and you should use it, if it makes them happy.

We've named our house. It's a reference to the name of my grandad's house because that's where the money came from to buy ours. Some people might think it's naff but it reminds us of him and how lucky we are to have it and to honour his gift to us.

JADS · 14/12/2011 21:45

Reminds me of my first flat, not even a house. The couple who owned it before me decided to call it "Treetops". FFS it was a first floor flat in a terrace in a scrotty bit of Plymouth!

MapofTassie · 14/12/2011 22:52

In Tassie there is a small town called 'Doo Town'. Each and every house has to have a name that has 'Doo' in it. Xmas Hmm I am particularly fond of 'Doo Fuck All' Xmas Grin
Oh YABNU.

MrsTwinks · 15/12/2011 09:06

I also know a "Wits End", in that case its a play on the family surname

When I was little our neighbours were and they had a lovely name plate with their (very mexican) surname on. They left it when they moved house, nearly 20 years later its apparently still there - people think its the houses name!

BlackBobBorderBinLiner · 15/12/2011 10:53

YANBU, MIL refers to her home in a bizarre third person way

We could be standing in her kitchen next to the kettle but rather then say 'We'll have coffee here then go into town'
She'll say 'We'll have coffee at Pine-Trees then....'

The bungalow has had a number for at least 50 years but MIL painted a sign 30 years ago rather then using the original builders' 'Dunroamin' name.

It always make my teeth itch.

We have an address without a number or even a road - it is an utter pain for deliveries and directions, but MILs finally tuned snob cerebellum throbs with excitement when she refers to it. In return my children refer to Grandmas bungalow Grin

clare458 · 15/12/2011 12:09

I agree with Lemondifficult, My sil called her terraced house 'Rose Cottage' even though it had a number and wasn't really a cottage.
If it is a barn, then that's ok. Although telling the kids 'We're off to Providence Barn is quite a mouthful.

Toughasoldboots · 15/12/2011 12:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

brighthair · 15/12/2011 14:00

Numbers can be just as bad to find. The people who did my old road had obviously had a very liquid lunch before they did it
7c above 22a and 87 next door to 12
Poor postman was often seen looking bemused in the middle of the road Grin

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