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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be shocked that stately homes used to weigh guests and record it in a visitors book?

53 replies

crunchymint · 15/12/2017 14:51

Found this out yesterday. It was seen as a bit of fun. I can not think of anything more horrific (well of course I can, but you get my meaning)

OP posts:
Crashbangwhatausername · 15/12/2017 16:28

IIRC I have heard of this before and my understanding was that the guests would be weighed on the way in and again on their way out in the hope of a weight gain so the hosts could demonstrate how well they fed their guests

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 15/12/2017 16:28

I'd just get taxis!

😂

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/12/2017 16:31

Crashbang If the food and wine was good, I would oblige

OP posts:
ohfortuna · 15/12/2017 16:35

I remember being astonished that the Spice Girls weighed 7 stone or something
what all four of them combined:o

LurkingHusband · 15/12/2017 16:35

Why do people care if others know their weight? I weigh 12 stone.

In a nod to being a old fart (only just 50 FFS !) I was on a course recently - the oldest there - and everyone else only knew their weight in Kg. It was a weird moment - they honestly didn't know what stone were.

It was like being stuck with some Americans Smile ...

AdoraBell · 15/12/2017 16:40

I never knew they did that,but can easily see how everyone would want to try out some fancy new fangled device.

60sname · 15/12/2017 16:40

LH that's weird - I had height/weight done at the midwife's last month and they were astounded that I knew them in cm/kg!

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/12/2017 16:41

I only understand weights in stones and pounds as well.

OP posts:
ohfortuna · 15/12/2017 16:42

in my experience Americans give body weight in pounds, so might say 'I weigh 147 pounds' but would be puzzled at someone who said 'I weigh ten and a half stone' because stones are not common parlance

ohfortuna · 15/12/2017 16:46

(I dont actually weigh 10 and a half stone)

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 15/12/2017 16:47

lidoshuffle having watched the series I get the impression that the idea behind the programme was that she turned up on the doorstep with none or little knowledge of the families, and got to know them throughout the show.

Cornettoninja · 15/12/2017 16:47

I wonder if it's to do with horses and posh people hobbies - hunting maybe?

LurkingHusband · 15/12/2017 16:52

in my experience Americans give body weight in pounds, so might say 'I weigh 147 pounds' but would be puzzled at someone who said 'I weigh ten and a half stone' because stones are not common parlance

pints and gallons are ... fun ...

spankhurst · 15/12/2017 16:59

I’d bloody loathe being weighed like that. I weigh tons more than people expect ( not delusional, I am almost obese in bmi but wear size 14 at 5 foot 8). Being publically weighed is my idea of a mundane hell.

Welshmaenad · 15/12/2017 17:05

Me too spankhurst, even medical people are surprised at my weight, I don't look like I weight that much (I mean, I'm a size 18 so I don't look dainty anyway) but I'm nearly 6ft so I think I just carry it better than people expect!

lidoshuffle · 15/12/2017 17:05

Ah thanks ThroughThick , I only saw this one. Its a bit disingenuous though, esp. since Nimmy March is an actor and there's a team of researchers! Grin

AdoraBell · 15/12/2017 17:08

Lurking I grew up using stones and pounds but now my head does kilos Xmas Shock

I blame living overseas for this development. At least I make sense to my DC though.

LurkingHusband · 15/12/2017 17:16

I grew up using stones and pounds but now my head does kilos

the irony is my (non British) DF was totally metric, and it's all we used at home. The thing being I didn't often get weighed at home, but at the docs/school who gave it to my DM in ... stone and lbs.

I suspect trying to reverse metrication won't be the walk in the park some have suggested.

SusannahL · 15/12/2017 17:21

I think this is an absolutely brilliant idea.

I am now going to weigh every guest who visits my (non stately)
home to protect my furniture from the heavyweights!!

nocake · 15/12/2017 17:25

There's a town in the UK where the mayor is weighed on taking office and again on leaving office, to ensure they don't live too well on the mayoral income.

Abra1d · 15/12/2017 17:27

When I was in a bit of a state about my weight (eating disorder) I switched to weighing myself in kilos because there wasn’t the same anguish in looking at the number. It was much more objective and non emotive. Just a silly old number on a scales.

Original poster
crunchymint · 15/12/2017 17:36

Susannah I await the AIBU posts from your visitors -Grin

OP posts:
goose1964 · 15/12/2017 17:57

We must remember that when this was in fashion the more you weighed the more money you had as you could afford the food to get you fat.So being fat was a hey look at me I'm loaded not a bad thind

SusannahL · 15/12/2017 18:16

Me too crunchymint!

Interestingly talking of NT properties, we shared a table with another couple for lunch at one of their properties, a couple of years ago.
We got chatting and it turned out the woman was a retired air hostess. She told us that in the 60s they were regularly weighed and if they had got a bit plump they were told to lose weight!

Now can you IMAGINE the outcry if airlines tried to do that now!!

LurkingHusband · 15/12/2017 18:36

woman was a retired air hostess. She told us that in the 60s they were regularly weighed and if they had got a bit plump they were told to lose weight! Now can you IMAGINE the outcry if airlines tried to do that now!!

What ? for the crew, or passengers ?