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Original poster

To ask what you dreamed would be fabulous but is actually maybe a bit shit

999 replies

hitsvilleuk · 10/04/2021 11:00

I think this about lots of things to do with celebrity lives, when I was younger I thought it all would amazing now not so sure.

A particular one I have is that I always longed for a villa on the Italian lakes. We went to a hotel there one year for 5 days ( in the same village as George Clooney ) It pissed down for 3 days. Everything was dark and damp and that combined with the endless queuing for flights and the thought of maintaining a property in another country sort of did for the dream. Not achievable without a lottery win anyway but now I don't even want it.

Anyone else got stuff like this or that they actually got and then thought 'meh'. I seem to have it about more and more things as I get on - I just don't want stuff anymore. Is it just to do with age?

OP posts:
MummyJ12 · 10/04/2021 17:00

@Shannith

Harry Potter World. It was just a bit...shit.

I just kept thinking this is so British. In a crap British way. It's stuck in Watford (I appreciate why).

You get the Knight Bus from the station. This could have been so exiting with a few actors or sound effects. Reality was a bog standard London bus with some Harry Potter ads on the outside.

It was an experience or massive missed opportunities all the way through. I was gutted as was DD.

Totally agree! A wasted day spent queuing and paying for shit! It wasn’t magical at all, and it completely ruined the magic of Harry Potter for my two.
Diesse · 10/04/2021 17:01

My husband. I was SO IN LOVE and he’s turned out to be a right dud.

Christmas. Just too much graft and expense. Maybe I’d like it more if I didn’t have to host it every year.

Gardening. I’d like a bit of gentle pottering every now and then, instead of hard labour.

Laiste · 10/04/2021 17:02

@Shannith

Harry Potter World. It was just a bit...shit.

I just kept thinking this is so British. In a crap British way. It's stuck in Watford (I appreciate why).

You get the Knight Bus from the station. This could have been so exiting with a few actors or sound effects. Reality was a bog standard London bus with some Harry Potter ads on the outside.

It was an experience or massive missed opportunities all the way through. I was gutted as was DD.

No! We are were going to take DD (7) there in the summer for a big treat!

Re Newquay - (again 90s) we were only able to be there an hour or so (on the way through to somewhere else iirc) and went in Fat Willy's (just to say we had) and then had an ice cream on the cliff in the park and watched the people way down on the beach and on the water. It was lovely and sunny and i remember there was a fascinating big bit of land out in the sea separated from the cliffs and it was v beautiful.

RedToothBrush · 10/04/2021 17:02

@poundoflard

Canada on the other hand blew my mind with gorgeous -ness and lovely humble people . It's amazing what a line across a continent can do to divide it!
I hated Montreal.

Bloody awful city full of rude Canadians.

I thought Vancouver is over rated (quite clearly you have to go outside the city to see cool shit but I was there on a budget, without transport and only there for a couple of nights).

Loved Toronto and Ottawa though.

Abracadabra12345 · 10/04/2021 17:02

@LunaNorth

The Epcot Centre.

Cringeingly dated.

Yes, yes, yes! Something else a friend raved about but overpriced food and dull.

I adore this thread!

Roszie · 10/04/2021 17:03

I loved my Mr Frosty,

I used to make loads of ice drinks and the penguin had the syrup to flavour them. We used it for years, it made cupfuls of shaved iced.

The pyramids are shit.

Shimmyshimmycocobop · 10/04/2021 17:05

@Terrylovesyogurt

Agree re Paris. Went many moons ago for our 1st wedding anniversary. What a dump, and the locals are so rude. We love a city break, been on dozens all over Europe(including other cities in France) and the USA, the only time I've ever been mightily disappointed is our trip to Paris. It amazes me anyone ever returns.
See, I had no interest in visiting Paris mainly because I'd heard people talk about it like this. We went in 2014 with the kids as we got a good deal, I loved it! I thought it was beautiful, no one was rude, I bought a second hand jacket from a small market along the Seine which I still get asked where I got it. In short we had a lovely few days. DS1 is now there at Uni and I think has now observed the seedier side but he is very happy there. Vegas, however, I wouldn't go back if you paid me.
FishyFriday · 10/04/2021 17:06

I'd agree with the marriage posts.

Malta. I felt like I'd gone on holiday to 1986.

Hoolihan · 10/04/2021 17:07

My son and I loved the Harry Potter Studios! It's definitely more of an exhibit than a theme park but I knew that when we booked. We had a fab day out (though wouldn't stay in Watford again tbh 😂).

Sarahtrue11 · 10/04/2021 17:08

"Am so glad to read that, I am off to Romania and Albania when covid allows.. I’ve cancelled twice already. Can’t wait!"

Oooh great. Enjoy! You will love them. In Abania, I really recommend the Dajti Express. It is near Tirana, the capital. You can get a short bus from Tirana to it.

The Dajti Express is the longest cable car ride in the Balkans. It is a cable car that goes on a ride over a mountain, and you can stop at the top of the mountain at a cafe there, and enjoy the views.

It was lovely, and it was 6 euro.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 10/04/2021 17:09

The whole of life basically - I've done everything on my bucket list including getting a motorbike licence and it has not lived up to my expectations.

Sarahtrue11 · 10/04/2021 17:09

[quote Shorthairlady]@Sarahtrue11. I agree, Romania is a really beautiful. Amazing food, great people, very scenic and just seemed so big. [/quote]
It is beautiful isn't it. The scenery, lovely people, and gorgeous little towns.

I wouldn't go back to New York, but I would go back to Romania.

Hoolihan · 10/04/2021 17:09

The opera - so long, so boring. Ditto the ballet. Yes I am an oaf.

Sarahtrue11 · 10/04/2021 17:09

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

The whole of life basically - I've done everything on my bucket list including getting a motorbike licence and it has not lived up to my expectations.
What were some places that were on your bucket list? I am so interested
ZebraSpotts · 10/04/2021 17:11

Fancy car - i got a new BMW company car, well mehh and mehh. Takes me dxact same places as the previous car which was a lacklustre Audi. My fav company car was a brand new VW Golf, considerably less cost than the bmw, can could find a suitable size parking space anywhere.

Falling into the notion of wanting a fancy badge car is something i try not to repeat. Despite constant ads and marketing for cars. Happy with my 15yr old Astra now

Polkadot123 · 10/04/2021 17:12

Worked in Bora Bora once... very boring island with not much to do. Beautiful and great scuba diving but I’ve been better places in Asia for a fraction of the price

Sarahtrue11 · 10/04/2021 17:12

I liked Paris. But I was there for two days, and I fit a lot of things in that I wanted to see. If I was there for longer , I would probably get annoyed with it

KatherinefromKensingtonHighSt · 10/04/2021 17:13

I grew up in a tiny council flat with little money in the 70's, sharing a bedroom with my sister who was and still is a disagreeable biaatch and parents who hated each other. But, i had great friends in the kids in our flats and the street and their families. All mums looked after each others kids. So diverse, i was exposed to much foreign culture, foods and love.

I always dreamed of having a big detached house in the country, with a gravel drive, big frig off gates and a massive garden. My children would have rooms of their own and i would have my own space.

After yrs of work and sacrifice i got what i finally desired but it is too much for me. I have 2 DC's one grown now and left home and one 15. I am single and i really rattle around here. No neighbours upstairs to go for a cuppa, no community. I worked, so missed out on so much of my DC's , in search of this. The DC's have had a great and privileged childhood and enjoyed the house but i have missed out on so much. I think my kids have missed out too. They do not duck in and out of others neighbours houses like i did and they have not experienced other cultures like i did or made diverse friendships like i did.

Will be downsizing in a few yrs and looking forward to being back and moving back among community.

What i always dreamed of and acquired has in fact deprived me and my children of so much. I see that now.

Sarahtrue11 · 10/04/2021 17:14

Some one mentioned bucket list.

The things that are still on my bucket list are:

Keep improving myself in every area
Be a better daughter
Do something in my father's memory
Walk the Camino Santiago again, I have done it once. I liked it.
Walk the Appalachian trail in the USA.
Wild camp somehwere.
See more states in the USA.
See every country in Europe. So far I have seen 25 out of 44.

Coniferhedge · 10/04/2021 17:16

Thailand. We went to Bangkok and Phuket. It was beautiful and the people are lovely, but I know lots of people who rave about it and go every year (when allowed) for a beach holiday. Why would you go all that way on a 12 hour flight when you can have the same beach holiday on the Med just 2-3 hours away?

Agree with Disneyland Paris. Put me off Disney for life.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 10/04/2021 17:16

God, yes, the house in the country. Fucking faff. Money pit as well. Mine was also bloody haunted.

BigPaperBag · 10/04/2021 17:16

I wondered how long it would take before Mr Frosty came up, it’s like MN bingo 😂 I was so tempted to buy one for my niece yesterday but after being reassured of their crapness I resisted. Still annoyed at my mum for not buying me one and my cousin for not letting me play with hers. As for things that don’t live up to expectations, I’d have to say the game Operation. Quite a disappointment really.

longwayoff · 10/04/2021 17:17

Marrying into the Royal Family. Doesnt look like a bundle of laughs at all but there's always a queue of hopefuls.

Abracadabra12345 · 10/04/2021 17:17

@Sarahtrue11

I think the places are are told to go to are often a bit shit. We are toldthat good places for holidays are Spain, Italy, Greece, New York, LA etc. We are influenced by the media to go to the same tourist destinations.

It is the places off the standard tourist trail that are amazing.

I remember going to visit Romania , and some one said to me "why would you go there , it will be a dump".

Romania is stunningly beautiful. I loved my visit there. It is gorgeous.

Similiarly when I went on holiday to Albania, someone told me that it was bound to be shit and poor. It was gorgeous. A really beautiful country, Really nice

Thank you, thank you! We’ve been waiting to go to Romania for 2 years (Covid) so now I’m even more excited.
Carouselfish · 10/04/2021 17:19

Having my own cruiser. Turns out it's much more scary when you have to balance and control everything and look out for traffic and drop down the gears when stopping. I love being a passenger but the best thing about my bike is how pretty it looks parked.