Things that are supposed to be enjoyable but aren't in reality

[Tooconfused12]

Here's my list:

Holidays with the family (kids under the age of 6.) Too expensive, the kids are always tired/vomiting/over-stimulated. Travelling is a fucking nightmare. There's at least two arguments with your partner. And you (being the woman) end up doing all the prep for about three weeks beforehand. When you come back it takes at least a week for you to get through all the washing. And you're exhausted.

Being on the beach. It's actually a bit shit all round. Sand everywhere. People get too hot and uncomfortable. Sand in the food. Warm drinks that have been left out in the sun. The kids end up with sand in their eyes and so do you. It's always really windy and the sea is miles out which means you have to walk for ages to get there. Someone gets bitten/cut by a rock/sunburnt/swallows loads of sea water and you give up and leave after about 2 hours of drama.

Eating out. Too expensive, better quality of cooking at home with fresh ingredients.

Paris. Dirty, smelly, you're followed everywhere by sleazy men trying to sell you stuff or pickpocket you. Everyone's really fucking rude as well

Having sex. It's a bit touch and go, most of the time it's slightly boring, the bloke normally orgasms before you and the people you really fancy - when you end up shagging it turns out to be rubbish after all that build up. Or they ooze sex appeal and charisma but they do something to give you the serious ick and your vagina slams shut.

Hen do's - end of.

A ‘high flying career’.

The biggest lie I’ve been told, certainly. There’s nothing fun about constant stress.

There was a recent AMA from a rich housewife where posters piled on to tell the OP that she can’t possibly be happy and fulfilled without a career. Complete bullshit.

I can't say that I've ever been on a cruise myself but I'm quite surprised that this thread has got up to page eleven without them being mentioned.

I have been on quite a few overnight ferries though and they were quite the ordeal.

No idea how you can say that about Paris. I have been more than 15 times and love it so much. I do not find Parisians rude.

Hen dos. I’ve never enjoyed a single one. Even if the bride tries to keep it low key there’s always THAT hen who decides to do umpteen things for she’s going to push the cost onto everyone else and , hey, let’s have a fancy dress theme!!! They’re so often centred around crappy ersatz “workshops” like jewellery making or cocktail making and actually nothing of the sort. Even worse if it involves a spa day <shudder>

Christmas markets. Overpriced tat (edible or otherwise) sold from a shed to an endless loop of Last Christmas where sickly overpriced mulled wine is the only respite.

Foodie markets. No, I don’t want to pay for “dirty” or “loaded” street food which is a) vastly overpriced (this is a theme…) b) hugely overdone and c) consumed in the drizzle, a repurposed shipping container or similar. If I’m going to pay restaurant prices I want to be in an actual restaurant.

Musicals. Stop singing and GET ON WITH THE FUCKING PLOT.

I’m sorry but London is very dirty and there are lots of extremely unsafe areas.

Massages in a salon. I really can't relax with a stranger's hands on me!
Manicures in a salon. I do a much better job at home, without the awkward small talk.

Musicals. Stop singing and GET ON WITH THE FUCKING PLOT

Thank you!!

Clothes shopping, it seems to be something many other women love. I hate it. My size is never in stock, nothing ever fits or I find the perfect item only to discover I need a small mortgage to pay for it. That's rare though because most of the time I just can't find anything that looks nice.

Agree with all 100%!!

Yes!!!!

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is my exception to this. The musical numbers are essential 🤌

Nice to see a lighthearted thread!

agree with hot tubs/ jacuzzis, nightclubs, foodie/christmas markets (usually too busy, too expensive, overpriced tat).

On the food front - I’d maybe add brunch (not bad but very overpriced for what you get), I sense they’re getting less popular but small plates, lunch places that do the fun pick your own salad but it ends up being mysteriously priced and far too expensive, takeaways, all you can eat buffets (or buffets in general). Eating out generally is only fun if you know the place will be good.

and yes Christmas and New Year. New year in particular there is so much pressure to have a fun amazing time it feels inevitable to be a let down. Weddings I agree can have a similar vibe of forced fun. Birthdays fall into this category too. Work Christmas parties (although not sure if anyone actually does expect them to be fun?).

oh and the massively obvious one to me is dating. Whether casual or serious a lot of pressure to find even bad dates fun and it costs a lot of time, money, effort but if you don’t find it fun people either think you’re taking it too seriously/approaching the wrong way or have either bad choice, bad luck or a bad personality…!

hard disagree on swimming and beaches though.

Snow. Too cold and wet.

Baby showers. Boring.

Valentines Day. Makes me cringe every year. I’ve never understood people paying for an overpriced meal to compete with all other couples as to who is in love more and everyone in the room knowing sex is on the cards. My DH is a romantic at heart but every year we will have a takeaway at home.

Traditional wedding reception. So boring 😴. The best weddings I’ve been to have been alternative, stand out and different. A silent disco being one of them. Genius!

Avocado. Slimy. Don’t understand the hype.

Stanley cups. Also don’t understand the hype.

PDA e.g. public proposals. Also makes me cringe.

Extreme sports and adrenaline fuelled activities. I like feeling secure and safe.

Karaoke - another cringe.

Michelin starred restaurants - dim lighting, over attentive waiters, tiny items of food, massive bill, the urge to get fish and chips on the way home.

Weddings

I think it’s quite sad that anyone wouldn’t enjoy their family holiday with their young children. They were some of our happiest times and our happiest memories

Puppies.

Endless mess/poo/wee everywhere, constantly destroying things, never ending attention seeking. Give me an old dog any day.

Yes, this!
I have had a puppy. Never ever ever again

Because I live in Florida, cruise ships are big business. Wouldn't want to go on one myself. We have a saying here, that they are for the Newlywed, Overfed and Nearly dead.

City breaks
Girls holidays
Cocktails
Yoga Retreats
Any manufactured ‘fun’ - pottery, games etc

Put all those together as a cringe Hen Do and I would discombobulate.

🤣🤣 your OP made me laugh.

I completely agree. My husband and I usually do a touring holiday with a beach bit at the end. We have only just realised we don’t like the beach bit as much as the rest. This year ( February) we didn’t do the beach and didn’t miss it.

Cannot think of anything worse. Lugging a bloody buggy all over the place. No way!

Agree with all of it except travelling with small children under 6. Since DD could walk, talk, reliably use the toilet and be semi-reasoned with she’s been excellent company - I’ve just come back from a city break abroad just the two of us (she’s a couple of weeks off 4). If you’d have told me when she’d just turned 3 that I would be booking a city break just me and her and be looking forward to it I’d have looked at you like you’d grown a second head 😂 so I’d amend the list item slightly to “holidays with infants or feral toddlers”

Our first holiday was a cruise with a 2yr old and a 6 month old (offered and paid for by the in-laws who came with us) and that was great!
Mallorca 2 yrs ago with a 4.5 yr old and 2 yr old was hell.
But out last holiday just a few days ago in Portugal with our now 6.5yr old and 4.5 yr old was pretty good! So it's definitely getting easier the older they get and I'm sure when out youngest is 7 - we will be laughing. I'm not sure id go abroad again until he reaches that age.