AIBU to be disappointed about this?

[mrsm43s]

Later this week, on my birthday, we're doing a long train journey to visit friends for a few days. Whenever we do these long journeys, we always book them over lunchtime, and do a "train picnic" of nice food e.g afternoon tea style and share some prosecco or anti pasta style and share some red. It means that our trip starts when we get in the train, and the journey flies by.

DH booked the train tickets, and he just accepted the default seating rather than selecting seats, and as a consequence we're stuck on a middle and aisle seat with no table. So lunch is pretty much going to be a sarnie and a bottle of water as there's no table space, the journey is going to be long, boring and uncomfortable, squashed in next to a stranger.

We've tried to change seats now, but as it's a couple of days away, there's no availability of seats at a table, and no availability in first class either.

I feel like instead of my birthday starting at 11.30am once we're on the train, it's not going to start until 3pm when we arrive, and the journey is something to be tolerated, rather than something to be enjoyed.

I don't want to be spoilt, and I get that I'm going to have a lovely time with my friends, but I'm really grumpy and disappointed. I think it's mostly because DH has form for this kind of stuff, always taking the quick, easy way, and never checking anything.

AIBU to be pissed off? And does anyone have any ideas of how to make the journey more fun, or special/treat lunch ideas possible to eat when sitting in a cramped middle seat?

YABU, nothing worse than being stuck next to the couple at the table having a picnic.

There’s usually an unbooked carriage. Get on as early as possible and head there and you could bag a table. It’s usually the adjacent carriage to the shop.

Look at seatfrog. They ‘sell’ spare seats - you bid on them. My dc do this for long journeys and often ends up in first class for £15-20 extra. He says it’s worth it as you get free food.

We looked at this, but they don't guarantee to seat you together. So we could potentially upgrade to two separate first class tix in separate carriages. Mind you, given how pissed off I am with DH, that may not be a bad thing...

Why? We wouldn't be taking anything smelly!

What a misery guts! It never bothers me.

Download a good podcast. Get some gins in tins. But a new book.

I think your train picnics likely bother other passengers, but whatever.

Antipasti is quite smelly. Sounds from your OP there are only two of you, so you are sharing this table with others.

How would they bother other people? It's a journey over lunchtime, everyone will be eating. We sit opposite each other at a table and put our (non smelly) food out on our side of the table only. Can't see how this could impact on anyone else?

Most train seats that aren't at a table have the flip down trays on the back of the seat in front.
Just use those.
Why do you suddenly have to eat a sandwich instead of the other food?
You can still pass it around.
I think some train companies don't allow alcohol anymore (you might need to check that) but even if you are sharing a bottle you just pass it to each other.

(There's some very odd threads on Mumsnet today)

Middle and aisle seats? I don't recall ever being on a long distance train that had middle seats? Usually a 2/aisle/2 configuration? Which train is it?

I've done a train to London before and taken food and wine and we didn't have 4 seats at a table, we just had 2 lots of 2 with a pulldown tiny table attached to the seat in front like on a plane. It was fine! There was a bit of "can you just hold that for me while I open the bottle" type of thing going on but so what?

What’s a middle seat on a train? Every train I’ve ever been on has been 2+2 (or 2+1 in first class).

Yes it's odd. Usually if you're at a proper table as a couple there's always a risk that 2 more people are going to sit next/opposite you. I only book a table seat if there are 4 of us. I really don't see what the issue is really.

Constant eating and drinking noises, potential rustling. All food smells too.

This. Ok, so it will be different, but you can make it nice and relaxed for yourself. Doesn't have to be a shit journey unless you frame it that way.

Get your favourite book/magazine/podcast/download a tv show or film on your phone and have headphones on... however you like to relax with a nice drink and chocolate or something.

Long tube journey?

It's really not. No where near as smelly as egg sandwiches or tuna sandwiches or hot food, or even a cup of coffee tbh. I'm talking olives, Mozzerella balls, ciabatta rolls, one of those preprepared supermarket platters of Chorizo slices and cubed cheese, vine tomatoes, mini peppers, grapes, figs, some kind of posh crisps or nibbles etc. Nothing that would smell more than an average sandwich.

That will definitely smell. 🫣
I'd be fed up sitting next to someone making all that palaver on a train journey.

Who said anything about a tube journey?

cos we don't understand the seat configuration. Are you saying you're both on separate rows completely?

That’s a lot - you’d need table space for that for sure!

Im sure there’s probably a reason you can’t but I’d drive and stop somewhere nice on the way if the enjoyment of the journey was really that important.

That's no more smelly than pretty much any food eaten on a train - unless someone is just eating plain crackers or something 😂
@mrsm43s Just use the flip down tray and pass the food to each other.

All food smells, as stated previously.

Well yes ...but it's not forbidden to eat on a train.

Unfortunately.