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.

Me too ✋️ love beaches, feel so at peace on them, having said that I do like beaches where there aren't very many people. I also love spa days, baths, centerparcs....

Also love picnics and generally eating outdoors.

Things that I hate are hen dos, drag shows and other raucous entertainment like bongo's bingo. And anywhere really with too many people.

Who was it said "Hell is other people"? Sartre?

I agree, especially long haul - just seems like inviting stress.

It probably depends on the child to some extent but you don't necessarily know that they will be like.

We took ds to Scotland by car when he was 6 months old. He was lovely on that trip - really easy and portable.

We went away in England when he was 10 months old. We all got ill and it was a more trouble than it was worth.

18 months - back to Scotland but more like the 10 month old trip without the sickness. And we were much less lucky with the weather than we had been the year before.

4 years - Croatia - fabulous.

Lessons learned - wait until they are 4 and go somewhere with decent weather.

Work social events

The thing with planes and kids that you have no idea how they going to cope. I think them being tired is a factor

My friend took her DD aged 3 on her first flight. She always hated being in small spaces such as cot and playpen. My friend was naturally concerned how her DD would cope. Friend didn't need to worry.

Then get the worst nightmare of a kid that wont' stop crying, running up and down the aisles and kick the back of your seat.

Going out socialising, making small talk, aeroplanes- too bloody cramped, airports- too many people. Shopping - costs too much, driving - idiots on the road. In fact anywhere outside my front door. On a more positive note loves, home alone, dog, cooking, reading in the garden on a sunny day. But then that’s introverts for you.

Parties
Christmas
Pastry based food
Shopping

What is your point exactly?

Wtf I love beaches (not UK ones) and I love eating out! Swimming in the Med is heaven on earth for me.

For me it’s:
camping – never again
big group holidays
staying at other people’s houses
people staying at my house

I have lots of friends but a deeply anti-social streak.

Nah, isn't it common knowledge that those are the ninth circle of hell? 😄

Playgrounds.

Musicals
Holidays
Eating outside, especially picnics
Barbeques (see eating outside)
Staying over in people's houses
Having house guests
Camping
New year's eve
Cream teas
Spa days
Hen do's

I'm curious.. if we all hate these activities - who goes?
I've never been on a cruise or a plane, I say no thank you to weddings, hens, parties, had my hair trimmed twice in a decade, don't do group ANYTHING, never mind yoga & the like, never been to a spa, had one massage for health reasons, never again.. I do like seeing the sea now & again, otherwise, am just happy at home!

All the extroverts!

My list is
Parties , I get totally stressed out all day before .
Sex , boring , messy .
Hugging .. why does every body think it's OK to hug someone they hardly know . Exception for small children , I want to hug Gc.
Christmas .. boxing day is my favourite day because it's the farthest from next Christmas as one can be .

I agree r.e. centre parcs. I can see the appeal of being car free, easy / minimal planning and I like the rapids but I think you can do FAR nicer UK holidays in an airbnb for more than half the price. I think CP is for people who don't know / cba to plan a good UK break.

I used to agree with beaches, and I definitely dislike the majority of the ones in England which get so crowded as soon as it hits about 19c that it’s almost unbearable- fine sand and a tiny patch to spread out on, far far too many people, long queues for ice creams, the wind, children crying, the massive hike with all your bags from the overpriced car parks to said tiny patch of sand and urghhhhh..,,

But give me a wild fairly empty beach in Northern Ireland or Ireland on a calm day and I’m very happy! Even better if you can drive onto the sand. And then walk for miles.

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

I always see this on MN but when we've been to Paris it's been gorgeous, no dirtier than any other city (certainly no dirtier than London or New York!) and the restaurants we've eaten in and hotels we've stayed in have all been spotless. We've also met some lovely, polite people and never felt unsafe. We've been approached by people selling stuff but they've never been pushy, let alone followed us. I suppose we could be exceptionally lucky, but we've been 3 times and had a lovely experience each time.

I honestly don't relate to the idea that 'most beaches' are like that in England. I live in a coastal area in a pretty crowded part of the country (south east) and we have beaches that have piers etc and there it gets really, I think quite unpleasantly, busy in high season. But literally just down the road either way are much quieter beaches, usually with free car parking nearby. They don't have the amenities, but you can enjoy in much more peace. We went for a beach walk yesterday on a gorgeous sunny day and it was blissful.

I loathe beaches. All of them. Even the gorgeously Sandy and basically empty beach in Portugal from my childhood. Pointless, boring and sand gets in every crevice, causing chafing and a great deal of sunscreen issues.
On that same note; sunscreen. They always always stink of coconut and are sticky and claggy, they make me hot just putting it on myself and require at least 3 hand washes with de greaser to allow me to touch anything again. Hence I don’t live/go anywhere too hot.
I hate picnics and BBQs mostly because the burnt food and charred taste is vile and a picnic involves dragging vast quantities of liquids to a field - heavy, unappealing and bloody cumbersome. Plus someone always has a better looking spread than you (especially if my MIL is involved - it’s all little sandwich bags and squashed cold bacon sandwiches!)
Alcohol in general. Tastes utterly disgusting, burns the throat and chest and makes you act like a moron. Why would you bother?
Going outside. It is always cold (yes even yesterday the hottest day ever according to DH) I went out in full trousers, jumper and a blanket over my knees. I HATE outside. Bugs, wasps, bees, ants, cold. Noisy people, annoying people, people who want to TALK to you? Why?? Just NO.
Sex I do not agree with. You obviously don’t have the right partner!!

Baby showers. I find them tedious and weirdly infantalising. We're a group of women in our 30's and 40's, does no one else think it's fucking weird that we're sat in a restaurant colouring in baby vests with glittery fabric pens??
Has anyone over the age of 6 ever been genuinely amused and delighted by a game involving nappies smeared with fake shit made from peanut butter and Nutella??
Men aren't expected to do these things.

This 1000%. Thankfully I've never had to go to one, but I've heard so many horror stories.

Enforced socialising and people making out your boring because you don't like it. Drinking, people getting stupid because of drinks and enforced conversation is not fun, it's tiring and pointless.
People turning up on your doorstep without checking first, me and my teens like our privacy, a bit of notice or checking with us first is priority.
Holidays with people other than my teens.

@neverbeenskiing Is that REALLY what goes on at 'baby showers'?
My God..

I wish I was exaggerating

A few of my friends said no to baby showers when they were having their babies. Some other friends were disgusted with this.