Things you assumed were normal

[meredithgrey1]

DH bought some weetabix to have for breakfast a few days ago and I was amazed to see him preparing it by just pouring cold milk on and then eating it like that! I can't eat weetabix now but when I was little my mum would pour the milk on, then microwave it, then mash the biscuits in to create something similar to porridge. I assumed at the time that this was the only way to eat weetabix but my husband was appalled at the very idea and after a quick google it does seem like I'm very much in the minority. So it got me thinking, what are some things that you thought were normal, but then you realised that you/your family were the only one(s) doing it like that?

[Lweji]

I thought everyone eats the whole apple including the core like I do

Are you crazy? Apple seeds have cyanide! (or a substance that changes to cyanide)

And so do bitter almonds.

[Ijustwanttoretire]

clangus00 - I used to eat raw rhubarb dipped in sugar whist sitting in a tree house with my "boyfriend". You're not male with initials AS are you?

[hibiscuswater]

Yorkshire Puddings with a fried egg sitting in the middle

[MrsFezziwig]

My mum used to hoover our heads when we were little as a joke (with the tube, not the sweeper) - it really used to make us laugh. I assumed all families did the same until for some reason it came up in conversation years later with work colleagues and I was greeted with a sea of baffled expressions.
I should add that this was in the 1950s, obviously if you tried to do the same nowadays with a Dyson your entire head would be sucked into the vacuum cleaner and social services would have to be involved.

[SinkGirl]

We always had weetabix with hot milk too (although I heat the milk in the microwave and then put it on the weetabix - except the time when my twins were about 1 and I was so sleep deprived I put the dry weetabix in the microwave and set it on fire).

Then when I was about 8 we went to stay with some cousins I barely knew - they had cold milk on weetabix but hot milk on Rice Krispies and cornflakes. My head almost exploded.

[BlastEndedSkrewt]

weetabix = hot & mushed with lots of sugar is fantastic

[Ijustwanttoretire]

Oooh just thought of another one - I didn't drink tea or coffee when I was young, kids didn't in the 60s, (I drank Ribena with milk, as per my other post) but I used to get malted milk biscuits and dip them in my dads coffee. Not enough to get a flavour but to make them all mice and soggy... until one broke in the cup and boy did he curse! That was when I was taught to 'tap test' a biscuit before dunking - and still do without thinking. (God this is so outing if my sister reads MN)

[MissDew]

I never thought it strange that my parents took all pets (cat, Guinea pigs- cage and run, hamster in cage) caravanning with us. As an adult looking back I am baffled at this behaviour.

My husband's family took their budgie in it's cage with them on the annual caravanning holiday. I was surprised when he told me this. Our budgie stayed at home with care provided while we were away.

[ImportantWater]

Our Christmas stockings were actual stockings. My mum's old, tan, nylon stockings. Or sometimes a pair of tights cut in half when she stopped wearing stockings. I thought this was perfectly normal and widespread - after all they are called stockings. Then in turned out not everyone used proper stockings. Then it turned out absolutely nobody else used proper stockings (except my cousins). Some use long socks. Never found anyone else who used American tan tights. I still feel it is the only correct thing to do though. The excitement of half-seeing your presents (unwrapped of course) through the stretched nylon . I don't wear tan stockings so my kids get their presents in sexy black hold ups. They will probably be posting on a thread like this in 20 years.

[ThanosSavedMe]

Ooh crushed medicine and jam. I forgot about that one

[ThumbWitchesAbroad]

Apple seeds will generally pass through you untouched unless you specifically bite them so most people who eat them won't be harmed by them; and even if you do bite them the amygdalin inside needs time to fully convert to cyanide, and even then you'd need a few to end up actually poisoned.

[RaininSummer]

The post about taking pets caravanning brought back memories . 1970... A Rover with two pigeons sitting on the headrests whilst we were in the caravan. Put then in the van when we wanted to drive somewhere. Dad bred pigeons and these two had lost their Mums. I took guinea pigs caravanning and we used to build then a run with the van cushions and they became like a mini zoo attraction on the site. They were our cushions by the way not a hired van.

[ImportantWater]

My sister used to drink "beena milk". I have never come across anything more disgusting. The Ribena doesn't dissolve properly in the milk and clots, as far as I remember.

[Undercoverworker06]

Condensed milk sandwich eater here! Did you know you can get it in tubes? Then you can squeeze it directly into your mouth, (never done that, never!) My husband eats weetabix with cold milk and Farleys rusk as well (weirdo)

[Littlewelshridinghood]

I've always had weetabix the same way as you OP, so does my children now. Couldn't imagine eating it cold!

[clary]

All you cyanide alarmists, I have done the apple core thing for years and years and I'm still here :)

[Jellybeansincognito]

Everyone being able to think in words, apparently some people can’t do this and they just see images.

[CurrynChips]

@RiftGibbon I missed the previous thread, what is 'making your ears rumble'?

[Lweji]

I have done the apple core thing for years and years and I'm still here

I can tell you that you will die, though.

[Cauliflowerpower]

@spied we often had a Yorkshire pudding for pudding with golden syrup drizzled on it and milk!

If you think about it a Yorkshire pudding is just a puffed up pancake so not THAT odd!!!

[eenymeenyminyme]

Having pudding before dinner at Sunday teatime.

No idea why we did it and was very puzzled when I discovered no-one else did this.

Now I'm craving trifle...

[TrippingOnSunshine]

a tree grows in your stomach
Also true titania!!

[Jellybeansincognito]

I just noticed a thread on my comment above 😅🤦🏼‍♀️

[breadfortea]

yorkshire puddings with golden syrup and clotted cream. yummy.

[MissDew]

Cold tinned pilchards on hot toast.....according to OH I'm a freak they should always be hot pilchards

No, they should be cold, served with a salad or in a sandwich but grilled and served hot, nope.

Grilled sardines on toast served hot - yum.

Cod's roe fried in butter and served on toast. Delicious. Well, when I was a kid anyway.

'Cheese Dreams' were fried cheese sandwiches and I remember them being very nice.