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?

Why would you be jealous:?
Unless you're on a very tight budget, you'd just purchase something like that too surely, if you wanted it?

I don't think anyone is angry, we're all just expressing our views.
Calling different views angry is basically an attempt to shut them down though. 🫣

Agree with Prosecco or red no less 😂

Not really, especially as we live in a country with sleeper trains that go quite a long way (although nowhere near as long distance as ones in the USA, Canada and Europe.) Are you going to tell someone who's been on a train all night they can't have breakfast?

@Morgenrot25 We get it. You seem to hate food smells. Unless you only eat peppermints, Parma Violets and rose flavour Turkish delight?

If they are planning on putting the food on the table a bit at a time, then it makes no sense that she is moaning about not having a bigger table. Two tray tables on the back of the seats will suffice for that situation most of the time.

Even if the food fits as she envisages, it will be awkward for the two strangers sat next to a couple eating a meal and having a conversation 😂

The three items you've listed also smell, because all food smells - I actually said that previously, in response to OPs comment regarding her food not smelling. 🫣

No, they are not just my opinions

These things are absolute facts:

People are allowed to eat and drink on trains. Intercity trains serve food and drink, including hot food, wine and beer. Railway stations are full of takeaway food and drink outlets

These things are, I would hope, uncontroversial customs:

People are entitled to their own space on a train.

If you have a table between four of you, you have a quarter of it each. You can spread the food on your bit of the table, but not on someone else's bit.

These things are suggestions:

If you are bothered by the sounds of smells of other people doing perfectly allowable things on the train, maybe don't take the train

Over the course of your journey, you could, of course, put different food on the table at different times.

This is, indeed, an opinion, but based on the afore-mentioned facts and customs.

It is completely reasonable to eat what you like on a train.

This is a new opinion:

It is completely reasonable to offer one's opinions on a message board thread.

But you must be able to see how 2 people next to each other eating off of separate trays is a far less pleasant/sociable experience than sitting at a table opposite each other with the food between you.

I would be very annoyed to have to share a table with these two. OP sounds insufferable and entitled. I am guessing there would be quite a few people irritated by this. I would die of embarrassment to have my 'picnic' at a shared table. Just eat before you board.

Thanks. Are the other 2 people strangers? What do they do while this ‘picnic’ goes on?

Agree with the PPs saying that OP’s DH has booked the seats this time so as to swerve the weird train picnic.

Most of it was your opinion.
Your opinion isn't more valid than anyone else's. No long essay required.
🫣

It's probably more pleasant for everyone around you though.

Ha ha, I'm entitled for sticking to my side of the table, and letting the other people do what they like with their part of the table. Really? I would say that the people trying to dictate what others are allowed to do on their own part of the table and trying to dictate what they allow on the whole table ate the entitled ones. Stick to your own part of the table and mind your own business. It's perfectly reasonable to eat lunch (in whatever form I like) in the space I've reserved on a train that is travelling over a meal time

I am only seeing you trying to shut down other's opinions.

I like the idea of a train picnic. And I wouldn't be bothered about sitting next to a couple having one.

Sigh. I'm not encroaching on anyone else's space. Why are they bothered by what I eat for lunch? They can do what they like in their booked space, I'll so what I like in mine.

I've been using LNER since 2007 and I can't remember ever having pendolinos. The west coast line does though, or it did have. East coast is all Azumas now

Eating lunch isn't the same as having a picnic though. You surely must see that? A sandwich and a drink is completely different than a table picnic.
Your more private airline style seats are the best option all round.

This is not a long essay. This is an annotated version of my earlier post to show how, no, most of the post was not opinion.

You do know that people are permitted to eat and drink on trains? You do know that railway stations sell food and drink? You do know what baby wipes is good for? You do understand that these things are facts, not opinions, right?

She means she can have have chopsticks to eat with, not showing off she can use them

you sound so joyless, what is wrong with just having happy times, maybe even with a wipe thrown in.

Why did you ask AIBU if you've already decided you're completely in the right?

Wondered the same.

Surely only toddlers and children struggle fo think of a way to stay entertained on a train? I’ve got two little ones and the thought of a train journey right now is bliss - even staring into space or looking out the window. Napping, reading a new book or magazines, listening to music or a podcast, watching something, crossword, game on your phone, colouring book if so inclined, scrolling on your phone, knitting!

It also seems very bratty to be annoyed about your birthday starting at 3 beyond childhood. You’re heading somewhere to celebrate it for goodness sake.

Yes, because the only joy in life is a train picnic on a table wiped down with a baby wipe. 🫣

🫣🫣🫣

Good grief! You really do have difficulties with reading comprehension, don't you?

The AIBU was about feeling disappointed with her husband's booking. Remember?

the AIBU wasn't about the picnic she normally has though.