to ask for your DFL (down from London) stories

[holidayspotlocal]

Living in the West Country and we are currently inundated with tourists. Great to have the money in the local economy and I hope they have a lovely time on the beach. However, some are obviously from cities and have no idea what life is like here.
We call them DFL - down from London. (they may be from other places tho)
Most worrying is the lack of knowledge about tides, rips, crumbly cliffs etc, and the sheer rudeness to hospitality staff. Plus they drive shiny 4x4 Landrovers that can't squeeze into a passing place without the parking sensors going off and they can't back up on the lanes.
Last week I heard one say 'Where has all the beach gone? I'm sure there was a lot more sand this morning'

This is a local shop for local people.

DH overheard a child in the chip shop queue ask "mummy, is there wifi in our tent?"

My dc used the internet on our last camping trip in the tent.

Hope you never visit London op.

I’ve been to Cornwall many many times.

I’m never ever rude to service staff. Be it in shops or restaurants or anywhere else.

Surely that’s just a dickhead thing?

With small kids in tow I did always make sure to be alert about tides when holidaying with them that’s also common sense surely?

I think you’ll get horrible and dozy people from all geographical areas, I don’t think it’s exclusive to London.

We are currently on holiday in the West country and DH overheard a child in the chip shop queue ask "mummy, is there wifi in our tent?"

I’ve camped on sites with WiFi. Sounds like this child has too. It’s not a daft question.

@NeverTalkToStrangers

If you can’t see why “what’s the difference between a wood pigeon and a clay pigeon?” is funny then I’m not sure I can explain it. Cluelessness can sometimes be amusing, as per the many enormous and very funny MN threads about things we learned embarrassingly late in life.

That's got nothing to do with growing up in a city, though. Lots of people are just a bit dim, and would have been so no matter where they were raised 🤷🏻‍♀️

Not everyone in London is rich. Spending lockdowns in a small flat with no easy access to outside space and all parks being crowded has been difficult. Plus, going on holiday in the UK is really quite stressful and expensive, if like me, you don't own a car and have the stress of car hire, driving a car you're not used to, in places you don't know very well, but you're trying to do your best, drive safely and contribute what little you do have to the UK economy, whilst in a desperate attempt for some fresh air purside the city(and I grew up in London before you suggest I didn't have to move there. My support network is here)....but now I guess I have sneery locals to mock me rather than help me too....Great.
Ironically, I wonder if you bemoan and subscribe the stereotype also that everyone in London is unfriendly and rude? We may not talk much on the tube, but I can guarantee you, most are nice to and help tourists

Surely one of the things that determines holidays is because you want to go somewhere different...? Of course you should behave politely and considerably to others (just as you should in your home town) but some things might be a surprise whether you're urban visiting coast or country, or the opposite way round.

I would add that anyone whether tourist or local should heed warning signs about tides and cliffs etc.

Have to add thankfully everyone I’ve met on my travels has always always been really lovely to me and my DC. At one point in my life I was in such a bad place any hint of meanness would have pushed me over the edge.

I can imagine it must get tiring having tourists in your home town every summer. We once visited Lynton and Lynmouth (in Devon) which is beautiful and the local shop owner told me he wished they’d get more tourists as a lot of business had closed down due to a very small population and not many people thinking to holiday there. It’s a gorgeous place we went on loads of walks along a dazzling azure coastline regularly whilst there.

Oh gosh. Because we need MORE division in the world. Let’s create a new one.

Oh and let’s create a new sneary acronym DFL. Just grow up OP. Don’t you think there is enough hate already in this world ?

I have no problem with this thread as long as we can have also thread about the yokels stumbling into London off the trains from Penzance and Swansea, guidebooks and West End tickets in hand

@MrsRobbieHart

We are currently on holiday in the West country and DH overheard a child in the chip shop queue ask "mummy, is there wifi in our tent?"

I’ve camped on sites with WiFi. Sounds like this child has too. It’s not a daft question.

I agree, and even if it was, ITS A CHILD!

Maybe that child would think it was funny a country kid didn't know how to navigate the tube.

Makes me so cross what is happening in the world at the moment division wise but no. Let’s create a new middle class one called DFL. It’s pathetic.

@Sandinmyknickers

Not everyone in London is rich. Spending lockdowns in a small flat with no easy access to outside space and all parks being crowded has been difficult. Plus, going on holiday in the UK is really quite stressful and expensive, if like me, you don't own a car and have the stress of car hire, driving a car you're not used to, in places you don't know very well, but you're trying to do your best, drive safely and contribute what little you do have to the UK economy, whilst in a desperate attempt for some fresh air purside the city(and I grew up in London before you suggest I didn't have to move there. My support network is here)....but now I guess I have sneery locals to mock me rather than help me too....Great. Ironically, I wonder if you bemoan and subscribe the stereotype also that everyone in London is unfriendly and rude? We may not talk much on the tube, but I can guarantee you, most are nice to and help tourists

This! ^^ Thank you! 🙌🙌

I hope the OP isn't one of the ones standing on the left!

@jimmyhill

I have no problem with this thread as long as we can have also thread about the yokels stumbling into London off the trains from Penzance and Swansea, guidebooks and West End tickets in hand

Why would that be any funnier? What's wrong with a guidebook if you're somewhere you've never visited before?

What do you suggest Londoners do then? Learn everything about everywhere they are travelling to before arriving? It’s such a snobby attitude and I’m pleased that the people I’ve encountered have been much kinder. I’m 40 years old and have travelled with family all over the country and have (luckily) never required rescuing. I would imagine many people can say the same.

Maybe we should start one called UFTS. Up From The Sticks. Ah but no we don’t. Why not? Because thankfully my neighbours don’t try and create stupid divisions. Why is that? Hmmm. Why?

Have you not been a holiday spot local very long then OP? Getting stuck in mud etc not exactly new is it ?

Personally I am happy to have tourists by us and hope they feel welcome. It’s part of the deal living down here and always has been.

It’s attitudes likes yours OP that make people feel unwelcome in the country... Bet you’re proud of your snobbery!

@Volterra thanks . We all need to live together in harmony and hopefully the events of the last week have been a bit of a wake up call for that.

@MsHedgehog exactly

I live in Cornwall, born here (but have lived elsewhere!) and this attitude drives me mad. We rely on tourists, there’s no way the economy down here would survive!

As for the ‘shiny landrover’ comment- I can reverse mine very well thanks. I’m sure it’s nothing to do with my place of birth

GreenWheat

I was thinking of starting a thread about country bumpkins that don't know how to use a diagonal pedestrian crossing or navigate the tube. But then I thought, "ooh hang on, people are from different places and maybe instead of being so superior I should help them next time....."

Why would that be any funnier? What's wrong with a guidebook if you're somewhere you've never visited before?

Yes that was my point

Everyone's away from home and out of place somewhere