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?

But anyway, you can still eat. Just put it on 2 individual tables instead of 1 big table. It’ll taste the same.

Still trying to work out where the middle seat is coming from. OP can you please explain? Surely you are going to be in a pair with an aisle and window or are you going to be on either side
of the aisle?

either way I think you are being a bit melodramatic about your birthday being spoilt. Two pull down trays will be the same size as half a table and you will be more private if you are in a two

I'd rather smell anti pasti than the smell of an egg, cheese and onion sandwich I and the rest of the carriage were subjected to on a train from Swindon to Paddington. She sat next to me and proceeded to open the foil it was wrapped in - at 8.30 in the morning!

’Everyone’ does not eat on a train over lunchtime. I believe it likely bothers others – the people you are sharing a table with – because you describe putting on a fairly full spread and opening bottles of wine or prosecco. Antipasto is smelly.

Upgrade when on the train. It’s only £45 each or so and you get free food and drinks. Win win!

I’m confused about the seat layout - why don’t you just have a normal two seats? What’s a middle seat? Most trains have twos (with trays) and then fours (with a table), no? Most likely someone will swap you for a two together.

Really easy fix on the picnic - just have two separate Tupperwares and smaller drinks / tins each. You can get ‘bento’ boxes pretty cheaply which keep all the diff bits separate for your own sweet and savoury layers.

And just agree to download whichever podcasts float your boat and enjoy through your own headphones. Buy yourself trashy magazines or colouring / puzzle books.

I don't think I've ever got on a long distance train where every passenger ISN'T carrying a bag of food from the station branch of M+S/over-priced WHSmith/Costa/Leon/the one that sells Cornish pasties.....😂
Everyone sits down and whips out their food.
It's like a communal ritual.

And you say you’re not bothering the people you share the table with??

Christ.

But most (like me) often finish munching before the train has left the station! :)

I like M and S food too, it's the massive table picnic on a train that makes it a tad annoying/pretentious.
Having an opinion isn't looking down on someone, stop trying to shut down posters you disagree with.

Yes that's true 😂

Long distance trains often have people eating in them.

some of the better ones even have a proper dining car.

not the same as people eating their maccies on the late train home from London in the evening.
now that does smell!

we always take a M&S train picnic and usually some cans of cocktail - never thought people would object to it. I’m always envious when I see people doing same and I’m travelling on my own

How old are you? Seriously unless you are 5 catch a grip.

I don’t think “lunchtime train” is really a thing is it? It’s not like there’s one train that you get if you want to eat, and if you don’t want to be disturbed by food you get one of the other trains.

People can eat on any train, but it’s not usual to lay out a full spread whatever time it is.

The trains I use don't allow alcohol.

I came to say this

there usually are free seats so identify the carriage with few or no reservations and try to bag some seats

Its not the end of the world if you don't but I can understand why you would

I wouldn't want to eat lunch over a dirty train table though

Which line is that? The trains I use to travel to the south west sell alcohol.

I would not be annoyed by that or your food choices. People who are annoyed by that are clearly miserable and probably secretly jealous. Making the best of a long train journey is such a fun and great thing. Begrudging another’s joy is sad- and honestly any food seems to be capable of ‘bothering’ people which is OTT. We all need to eat!

I’m sure if you arrive early you can find a free table. If not, the seats may have little tables anyway? And if not again, bring a little lap/collapsible table as back up? Don’t let the lack of perfection ‘ruin’ your journey.

@Eldermileniummam
"I wouldn't want to eat lunch over a dirty train table though"
I always take a small packet of wipes with me when on a train.
It takes two seconds to wipe the table 😂

Yeah, but they don’t whip out twenty different tubs of things including multiple PLATTERS and spread them over the entire table.

Crunchcrunchslurpcrunch crunchsmellofporkewcrunchslurp
Crunchcrunchohnomoreporkcrunchcrunchcrunchcrunchsomethingdroppedewslurp

Scotrail.
They used to sell alcohol too.
Edit - apparently they've just recently lifted the general ban but do have a ban on certain services.

Some do to be honest.
They also fill up the table space with laptops, paperwork, make up etc.
I'm sure the OP and her husband were just using their half of the table....