To think my friend was really rude?

[Tiamaria86]

We have come for a week away in a caravan with the kids. My friend and her family booked the same week so we will spend some time with them but not all the time.

We arrived and typically its pouring down. She has just knocked on the door to ask if we want to order takeaway with them. I said oh the kids are just eating some bacon rib, potato and cabbage soup I brought with us (they love this, always request it).

She laughed her head off and asked why I've brought food like that with me. I said I've brought a big lasagne, beef stew and a chicken curry that I made as well. We will get fish and chips etc one night and maybe eat out but I thought it was just better to be prepared. She thinks I'm nuts and really made fun of me.

We've just bought a house and money is a bit tight to be honest so I did want to keep costs down and not waste money on crappy food when possible. I feel a bit embarrassed now though like I'm a tight arse!

She was rude but she was probably feeling a bit wrong footed - she probably thought you'd be having some dinners together. It is a bit weird that it didn't come up before you went away.

She was really rude. Good for you trying to keep costs down. Who is she to laugh at you? It has nothing to do with her. Bet she was angling to go halves on the takeaway to save money.

Oh bacon ribs are so tasty! Yes they're cured pork ribs.

I pop them in a pan with cold water and slow cook for about 2 hours. Then tip them out and discard the water. Add a chopped onion and cabbage to the pan and fry for a few minutes. Peel and chop potatoes into quarters and add to pan. Add boiling water and a ham stock cube. Pop ribs back in, season with pepper and cook low until potatoes are soft.

We like it served with a dash of tabasco and warm crusty bread and butter.

Yeah, your friend’s being weird. I probably wouldn’t bring meals on holiday with me (and we don’t have kids so it’s less of an issue for us anyway) but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it! Surely it makes sense to do it, if it works for you? If you know those are meals you and your family love eating and all you’ve got to do is heat them up, it sounds like a stress-free way of doing things. And I’m guessing it also frees up some budget for other treats your kids enjoy more than they enjoy takeaways.

I think everyone has their own favourite ways of making things work for them on a holiday, don’t they? Some people bring things like their own pillows from home because they get a better night’s sleep, things like that. Before streaming, my friend used to buy lots of cheap DVDs of films she’d never seen to take on holiday so her and her husband could have a little holiday movie night every evening after they’d put the kids to bed. Taking a few of your favourite meals would fall into that category I think!

Thanks for posting the recipe. I've googled cured pork ribs and can only find recipes to cure them yourself. Where can you buy these?

I just buy them in the butchers and ask for bacon ribs. Potentially a Northern thing!

Your friend was being thoughtless but it’s probably her own stuff like it’s made her feel disorganised or she sees it as a snub (because you’re eating your meals together rather than out with them).
By the way is the soup unblended? I really like a chunky soup!

We will eat out and have a takeaway as well but I just think for a caravan holiday it's nice to have food prepared. More money for activities etc!

Maybe I am being over sensitive as money is tighter than normal at the moment!

She's probably envious of your organisational skills. We always take the first night dinner at least when camping/caravanning. Plus if camping taking a couple of previously cooked then frozen meals helps everything else in the cool box stay cold.

Yes unblended and leave the meat on the bone. It just falls off as you eat it.

It's not liked you booked a hotel room and took all these dinners with you. It's a caravan and you can do your own cooking if you want or take your own food surely that's the flexibility of it. We went to a cabin resort just after covid and wished I had taken some dinners with me. The food service you could order was disgusting and over priced and it's not about being tight it's just that sometimes it really is way too expensive for the quality you're getting and if you're a family with kids as well the costs just pile on.

couldn’t you just have said you were eating soup? Maybe the descriptive list of ingredients sounded a bit OTT and unnecessary and put her on the wrong foot?

Have you thought about saving the water and using that as stock? misses point of thread

Oh yes it is just far too salty

If I went on holiday as a group, I’d assume we’d all eat together. It’s a bit weird to take full on meals for your family only, without mentioning in advance / coordinating,

I didn't read it as a holiday together, rather op booked and friend happened to book afterwards.

She's probably the type that prefers to eat out or takeaway on holiday and more than likely laughed without thinking when she heard your big list. Lots of people don't like cooking or reheating food and washing up on holiday and there's many like yourself who do, personally I prefer to eat out, it doesn't feel like a holiday if I have to.

I take some prepared meals if I go self catering too. Saves time on prep and washing up when you're on holiday. I think eating out is not the treat it used to be. I'm regularly disappointed with restaurant/take away food.

Ignore her she was rude.

Good to know! X

Why not reuse the liquid from the bones?

I have a friend like you, we went on holiday together for the first time and he brought food for 4 of 7 days, and a crate of beers so we didn't have to go shopping on the first night. I was nothing other than impressed

See that question has already been answered 😅

Oh god I really want this soup now!

I always used to take food when dds were younger and enjoyed caravan holidays. The food in the restaurant was always overpriced crap.

Your friend was rude, but if she wants to waste her money on crappy food, she can crack on.

It's not a group holiday though?