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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to expect a tea pot!

101 replies

CoffeAndCream · 22/02/2018 10:25

Currently on holiday in Cornwall in luxury caravan on a newly refurbished site. It's got a dishwasher and washer/dryer, a nice glass cafetiere but no teapot!!!! There is one glass casserole dish but no other serving dishes or bowls - I'm using the colander as a fruit bowl.

I've never stayed anywhere in the UK where a teapot has not been provided. I would have brought my own if I had known!!!

What are your must-haves when self-catering?

OP posts:
Original poster
CoffeAndCream · 22/02/2018 12:05

No oven gloves either!

For all those saying that I shouldn't expect much as it's just a caravan, most caravans don't include a dishwasher or washing machine. This is the accommodation.

www.darwinescapes.co.uk/holidays/lundy-3-sandymouth/

OP posts:
danTDM · 22/02/2018 12:08

So, you don't think YABU, most do, so don't ask. I think you are ridiculous FWIW. Most do.

morningconstitutional2017 · 22/02/2018 12:09

I'd expect a potato peeler and other suitable knives for preparing food. Obviously a kettle but not fussy about a teapot - a teabag in a mug/cup and saucer is perfectly adequate for me.

Drivemecrazy1974 · 22/02/2018 12:11

I've stayed in many caravan/holiday parks and have never had a teapot. Most people these days would just use a single teabag in a mug.
I'm kind of surprised you would expect one to be honest.

Drivemecrazy1974 · 22/02/2018 12:12

Also, very rare to have oven gloves either - we've been known to pick a set up at a cheap shop on the way because we always forget to take them or we just double up a drying up cloth (which also are very rarely provided). I think you might be expecting a bit too much from your caravan holiday!

Katedotness1963 · 22/02/2018 12:15

We once stayed in a place where the teapot hadn't been emptied. No idea how long it had been like that but I tackled it daily for the week we were there and could not remove whatever was growing in there.

Worst was the place with no corkscrew!

Lies. Worst was the place with a death trap cot including a mattress that appeared to be stuffed with straw...

CluedoAddict · 22/02/2018 12:16

My parents only drink loose tea. They take their tea pot, tea cosy and tea strainer whenever they go away.

WaxOnFeckOff · 22/02/2018 12:18

I suppose that everyone expects different things. I wouldn't expect a teapot and don't think I've ever seen one anywhere I've stayed but then it probably rendered itself invisible to me as I wouldn't be looking for it. We don't use a fruit bowl at home so wouldn't expect one. We serve onto plates from the oven so wouldn't be fussed about serving dishes.

I appreciate that others do and would miss them but I can't say it would occur to me to provide them.

I like if there are enough dishes for 2 meals so that I can properly fill the dishwasher, I like decent bowls so you can actually get a proper amount of cereal/soup in them and eat the soup before it gets cold so I hate the big wide bowls (though great for pasta). I like a sharp knife or two, a good can opener, serving spoons/spatulas, more than one chopping board and lots of glasses and cups so you aren't constantly washing them by hand.

meredintofpandiculation · 22/02/2018 12:19

What I hate is when they've tastefully arranged all their crockery and saucepans to occupy the whole cupboard space, so if you are actually self catering and not going to restaurants each night you start your holiday by a big re-sorting of the kitchen to clear a couple of cupboards for your actual food, and then the job of putting it all back again is another job to be added to that awful please-deep-clean-the-cottage-and be-out-by-10am-at the-latest-so-we-can-clean-it-again.

WaxOnFeckOff · 22/02/2018 12:20

We tend to take a few mugs, some plastic bowls, a bottle opener/corkscrew, a knife sharpener, some tongs and spray oil as well as all the usual bits and bobs.

malmi · 22/02/2018 12:24

One word. CafeTEAère. You know it makes sense. Do it.

Original poster
CoffeAndCream · 22/02/2018 12:26

@danTDM some people agree with me that a teapot is a basic expectation others don't. I asked because I was surprised, everyone I know uses a teapot and I've never stayed in self-catering accommodation in the uk where one hasn't been provided.
I am rather surprised at the number of people who don't own or never use a teapot, everyday is a school day!

OP posts:
WaxOnFeckOff · 22/02/2018 12:37

I don't drink tea so that probably colours my opinion :)

Dh up until recently was the only tea drinker so made his in a cup - he also drinks different types of tea rather than always breakfast type tea. However, Teen DSs have suddenly developed a taste for tea and are having a cup in the morning so it may make sense for us to invest in a pot - although DH only drinks coffee in the morning...

ivenoideawhatimdoing · 22/02/2018 12:43

I feel you op! We stayed at a cottage in the lakes once with no frying pan but three sizes of pyrex measuring jugs. Upon enquiry the frying pan had been broken but the vendor was yet to replace it!

Crispbutty · 22/02/2018 12:47

“Never noticed teapots but I'm allergic to tea, always take my own coffee filter thing, just as well if people use the cafetiere for tea! “

Would you take your own cups and spoons too though? I’m sure if things are washed properly you would be fine as you say.

OutyMcOutface · 22/02/2018 12:51

The majority of people (both in Britain and in general) are tea peasants and use teabags hence negating the purpose of teapots, infusers, tea makers and, samovars. I have never stayed in a hotel/holiday let that provided a teapot, one is lucky to find a cafetière tbf-i would never expect one. I just bring a few infusers with me and it's all fine.

expatinscotland · 22/02/2018 12:51

YANBU

TheBlindspot · 22/02/2018 12:57

I would like a tea pot, but it wouldn't ruin my week if I didn't have one.

Whenever we go away self catering, I always take my own:

Non stick frying pan
Plastic fish slice/spatula thing
Sharp knife
Kitchen scissors
Small cheese grater
2 large mugs
Mini electric milk frother - we often go away in autumn and this means I can make lovely hot chocolates when we get in all chilly.

I can't bear the metal pans and utensils, and I've been caught out too many times not having a decent knife, grater or pair of scissors. I also don't want to drink my tea or coffee out of a thimble!

Elendon · 22/02/2018 13:20

Lovely place OP.

I just knew there would be a fruit bowl in the photos.

LoniceraJaponica · 22/02/2018 13:24

“I'm shocked at how many people make tea in a mug, everyone I know uses a teapot.”

I’m shocked your shocked Grin
Don’t you work? No office I have ever worked in provided teapots. We just put tea bags in mugs. Everyone I know does. I am a tea peasant, and so is everyone else I know.

“The other thing that's a pain is if you want to make a cake”

People bake on holiday? Really! Although I agree that the lack of scales is annoying as I like to weigh out pasta before cooking it.

“but I'm allergic to tea,”

I have never come across a tea allergy. Is it an allergy or an intolerance?

“Worst was the place with no corkscrew!”

Many decent wine comes with a screw top these days – problem solved Grin

I think I must live in a different world to the OP. Tea pots, fruit bowls and decanting food into serving dishes before eating is a bit posh for me Grin
I just serve straight from the pan(s) onto plates, and only use serving dishes for salad or when we have guests.

Whenever we stay in a self-catering cottage I usually end up putting most of the clutter on the worktop into cupboards as I can’t bear cluttered worktops.

Original poster
CoffeAndCream · 22/02/2018 13:41

Perhaps I do live in a different world to you Lornicara! I have worked in offices and we had teapots, perhaps it's a regional thing? I'm making a pasta bake tonight with a salad - except there isn't anything to put the salad in. (I'm using the only dish to bake the pasta)
I bought apples, oranges and bananas - don't most people put fruit in some sort of bowl?
We seem to be a nation divided about teapots! Grin

OP posts:
TheBlindspot · 22/02/2018 14:02

I would just put a portion of salad straight on the plate, unless I was cooking for guests. Job done!

mrspapalazarou · 22/02/2018 14:04

A whisk!

Always make a Birds trifle when we go away and trying to whip up dream topping with a fork is an absolute joke.

LoniceraJaponica · 22/02/2018 14:07

What kind of offices have teapots in? If I wanted to make tea in a teapot I would have to bring a teapot in myself. Quite frankly I just don't have time to faff around with a teapot at work, not to mention the extra washing up.

I don't spend a lot of time cooking on holiday, as I am on holiday after all, so we tend to stick to simpler dishes. We like to eat out a lot on holiday. We don't tend to buy fruit on holiday either as we aren't big fruit eaters. I have a fruit bowl at home. It currently contains 2 avocados and a lemon. I keep all other fruit in the fridge.

WaxOnFeckOff · 22/02/2018 14:10

I put salad in individual bowls so no big bowl required and every bowl has an even distribution of ingredients.