AIBU to ask you to tell me things that you learned way too late in life *lighthearted*.

[Tinkofhousepan]

I started talking with a friend who emigrated to the states a few years ago for work. He lives in New York. We were discussing me going over for a holiday as I've never 'done' NYC. Started discussing the time difference between there and here 5 hours which surprised me as when I went to California the difference was larger 8 hours I think.

This lead to me being informed that the two states are on totally opposite ends of the country.

This is my thing I learned late, ive gone 26 years assuming florida and California were next to each other, And i have learned today that Florida is on the same side as NYC. AND IS AS FAR SOUTH AS TEXAS??? I also learnt that Washington is the most northern state on the side of California, where as Washington DC is just below Maryland and right next to Virginia, which is not at all in the middle part of America where I assumed it to be . I didn't learn USA geography at school, but surely I should have picked this up before now, especially considering I have been to both California and Florida!

Anyone else never realised this? Or is it just Me!

I only learned this morning (because of instagram) that female ejaculation and squirting are different things - I'm 37...

I learnt that it's ok to have your own agenda / plan, ok to walk away, ok to give up, ok to have a boundary. Ok to say no. Ok not to have my parents approval. Ok to be single forever.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER oh my goodness YES! People who do that really grate on me ...no, actually, I won't bloody enjoy jumping out of a plane/hiking through bug infested jungles/or cycling naked through Amsterdam 🙄🙄

Learning to play netball aged 37. It's the first time in my life I've enjoyed a competitive sport, and sometimes I wish I had got into it more at school and university.

Also that Michael Gove is on Mumsnet (I'm sure it's he who's trying to destroy all the fun of this thread, just like he did to schools).

That giving lots of information at the first question is not a good thing. I’ve constantly been accused of talking too much and could never understand this, as when watching family videos I’m the one hardly saying anything. A good friend finally explained why just recently. I was gobsmacked that it was considered annoying to give a full answer.

But my revelation is now causing great hilarity (for me) as people are unexpectedly getting only the answer to the question they ask. Nothing more and they’re constantly asking if I’m ok.

Didn't know that either Punta

That dressing thing is hilarious with the stiff ended tape.

I thought it was extra material allowance too

Albadross - who the hell are you following on Instagram? Seriously - are they 2 different things????

Also I bet you there are a fair few Americans who couldn't plot Florida and California correctly on a map...

Was surprised to learn recently that cows have to keep having babies to make milk. I thought they just had the one and then they were away. And I have grown up in a country whose major export is dairy.

Another one, getting a massive tattoo in a really obvious place at 41 is extremely liberating despite working in a 'professional' role where I should really cover it up! Fuck it!

Also that Michael Gove is on Mumsnet

OMG! Surely not.

Does that mean that if I post on here what I really think of him, there's a chance that he might read it?

Hotel I have never even heard of the expression '. cracking the flags' perhaps K2p could enlighten an obviously thick me!

That I'd forgotten the poster on the wall at school that read:

Those of you who think you know everything are annoying to those of us who do

until reading this thread.

That some people can't tell the difference between intelligence and knowledge.

ChickenDinnerChecky - leeks seem to be the answer

And Govey's on here? I read that he spills the gossip after a few drinks. . Mind you, we're definitely watched on here. I once emailed a Tory minister and in his reply he referenced my posts on here (have since n/c but only cos fancied a change). If they're all getting read, I hope he enjoyed my TMI childbirth ones

That renal failure isn't something to do with bums. I had it confused with anal...

Around age 40 I found out that chicken skin was edible. Before that, I thought it was similar to orange peel; not actually poisonous, but not something you would eat.

I spent some years as a child thinking that people with glasses slept in them, that old ladies' hatpins went right through their heads, and that people got fat because water went in through the bellybutton when you had a bath ... always tried to keep mine high and dry!

That Middle Earth was not a place near Wellington....I am still embarrassed by that lol

That Korea isn't an island.
That Beirut is in Lebanon not Iran.

That I can set my own boundaries and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks of them.
That I’m good at keeping people at a polite distance when I can’t be arsed with them.
That a satisfying life comes in many forms and mine doesn’t have to look like other people’s for me to feel successful.

I was 37 before I discovered that "misled" was pronounced "miss-led" rather than "mize-uld".

That working hard at projects (not work necessarily) reaps rewards and I can stop pretending not to care. Previously too scared of failing to even try.

I only found out last week that Sandy's surname in Grease is Olsson and not Dee.

I thought for a long time that Surrey was south-east of London, because one of the first train journeys I ever made on my own was down from the East Midlands to have a look at Surrey University - via London! It somehow never occurred to me that I could have crossed London and gone out in a different direction from the one that was a direct continuation of the way I'd come down in the first place.

I used to know a teacher who thought a Paediatrician was something to do with feet.