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

[hitsvilleuk]

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?

Dating this guy I had a huge crush on. We were so not compatible on any level and he was quite insecure about a lot of things, which he took out on me. Although I did cry when he dumped me two weeks after, I was also incredibly relieved. I think I was more upset with how disappointing that relationship was. It was so much better in my head.

@Justaboutawake

Mr Frosty. Waited 22 years for that useless bastard

Sorry to break it to you but the modern day version with its safety blades etc is just a cheap imitation of the 80s marvel!

@Christmashope19

Legoland I was totally underwhelmed

Agreed. Rip off prices, long queues, everything was shabby and run down. The Lego “cities” were broken mouldy and dirty. They really treat customers with utter contempt.

@CroutonsAvatar. Margate?

@MaudesMum

Spas. Admittedly part of this was/is because I'm not entirely happy with my body, but even if I'd been ecstatic with the way I looked I can't see the attraction of hanging around in a slightly damp toweling dressing gown in between treatments, and drinking a lot of herbal tea. And always having to get out of the really nice things (like the hot tub) because others wanted to get in. And going into rooms where people then carry out slightly weird treatments. I had great hopes about being in a flotation tank, but I spent the entire time feeling twitchy about being alone somewhere with a rather low ceiling. Whilst I'm sorry that they're all having a horrible time with Covid, I can't help feeling relieved that I'm not now being invited to any spa-related events...

My husband and I booked a weekend in a very expensive spa hotel with a full day spa experience. Mud baths, massages, the full shebang, the outdoor infinity spa pool was amazing, lovely and hot and overlooking beautiful Scottish scenery. The food was outstanding.

Ended up in hospital with the worst UTI known to man, total agony, literally pissing blood. Doctor said “ah, been to a spa? Those jacuzzis - bacteria soup! You couldn’t pay me to get in one - full of fecal particles which is probably what’s caused your uti” 🤮🤮🤮🤮

I’ve never set foot in another jacuzzi.

Buying my first home. Thought it would be like the adverts with feeling giddy at having my own place at last and doing DIY every weekend with music playing in the background. Sure, it’s better than private renting but that’s like saying a migraine is fantastic because it’s not a brain tumour.

Truth is I hate DIY and gardening. Getting quotes from tradespeople is shit. Houses are money pits and a constant source of money. Worst thing is if you get a bad neighbour you can’t just move to a new rental once the lease is up.

It’s way too much adulting for me.

I also thought I'd love scuba diving, I am a strong swimmer, love the sea, swimming and snorkling. Went to Great Barrier Reef (many years ago, was still in good shape). Everyone else was blown away by how great it was. I nearly had a panic attack about 1m down, went back to the surface and just sat in the boat the whole day, getting sunburned.

In later years I read about killer jellyfish in that exact area, and saw that movie where the couple gets eaten by sharks, which was based on a true story again from that exact place. Didn't feel as bad about having wasted all that money, at least I survived...

Oh, in that post I meant to say the Reef was still in good shape, not me! (although that's true too).

Truth is I hate DIY and gardening. Getting quotes from tradespeople is shit

We do a lot of DIY, not because we enjoy it but because it's marginally less shit than dealing with tradespeople.

@Standrewsschool not me. But have friends who bought in Margate a few years ago and feel similarly.

At the moment, retirement! I retired on January 4th 2020, and got about 6 weeks of doing what I liked before lockdown struck!

I can imagine that any jacuzzis or hot tubs in places like hotels is a bit of lottery as to how clean they are and how clean the people are using them ( not showering before going in the pool area or whatever) I think it can be a let down and sad that people become ill as well!
It is hard pinning a tradesperson down these days as many are crazy busy or promise the earth them don't deliver or you have to have them back weeks later to re do the job as it's gone wrong!
It is hard going if it's things you can't tackle or do yourself.
Owning a home can be a complete money pit.

@FiddlefigOnTheRoof I agree with your comments about whale watching. DD and I went on an amazing whale watching trip in Madeira a couple of years ago. They have people up in the mountains with telescopes who are in contact with the boats, and who let them know where the wales are. We saw loads of pilot whales, another rare whale that I don’t remember the name of, porpoises and a loggerhead turtle. It was brilliant. The people doing the commentary in the boat (a small inflatable that only seated 18 people) were marine biologists so the trip was really informative as well.

I actually think people have an idealised view of travelling and don't do much research about where they are going before they go.

I agree. The one that sticks out in my memory is the Harry Potter Studio tour. The number of people who seem to think it is a theme park amazes me. It is more like a museum than anything else. If you don’t like looking at exhibits and reading about them just don’t bother going.

@Susie477

A holiday at an all-inclusive resort. At first it was great, then as the novelty wore off it started to feel a bit samey and by the end of the holiday I just wanted to get out of the place.

Turns out I enjoy foreign travel to be in another country, to eat the local food with the locals and to drink the local wine. Not to queue up at a hotel buffet with 500 other British tourists to eat food I don’t want but have already paid for. Lesson learned.

Totally agree with this, did an AI holiday in Mexico! I thought it really brought out the worst in people. Never again!

Yes @RedToothBrush! There are so many brilliant municipal pools that we loved. Blue Lagoon was on our last day and such a let down. Rest of country is stunning.

Good and bad one: Beijing was a huge disappointment to me too (was the same trip as Barreir Reef one), but not entirely their fault as Den Xiaoping died literally the minute we arrived and everything was closed and there was military everywhere. Also could not get on with the children pooing in the street through holes in their trousers, instead of having nappies.

We did get to go to the Great Wall though, that was not a disappointment, it was good. Then a funny thing happened on the way back to the city. Like another poster we got pressured by the guide to go to an "attraction" which was clearly a factory owned by a relative of the guide. Unlike the other poster we caved and went to the factory. It was a silk factory and an old lady there told me (through the guide) that one day I would have a little boy and I should buy this (very beautiful) silk wall hanging, with one hundred children embroidered on it, for his room. I had no children, me and XH had absolutely no intention of having children. But for some reason I bought it. I am sure the price was vastly inflated (can't remember what it was).

Several years later that wall hanging was one of the few things I took with me when I walked out on XH. Guess what, I ended up meeting DH , and of course, we had a little boy. The wall hanging is framed and in his room.

Again very much yes to the municipal pools in Iceland being better than the Blue Lagoon (I don't know if this has changed, but from my experience, be prepared, if you go into the sauna at the municipal pool, to see lots of naked Icelanders of both sexes casually sitting and chatting together).

Working with children.
Hong Kong.

@Eddielzzard

Yes *@RedToothBrush*! There are so many brilliant municipal pools that we loved. Blue Lagoon was on our last day and such a let down. Rest of country is stunning.

I agree, local pools (or the geothermal beach if in Reykjavik) are a better experience. The Blue Lagoon was a completely different experience ten years ago, even just five years ago thinking about it. Its a shame really and I can see how many other areas of Iceland will be similarly affected in another ten years.

Hawaii - I was so disappointed it was ‘American’ rather than ‘Hawaiian’ (yes, I know that’s totally unreasonable). Waikiki was a bit rubbish and parts of the world famous beach were only about 3 metres wide. Overall, food was poor quality and very expensive. Our (Hilton) hotel charged $25 for a beach umbrella for a day and a further $25 for each beach bed (and this was about 17 years ago). Our visit to Pearl Harbour was incredibly moving though.

Mauritius - we hired a driver for a day who took us wherever we fancied. Driving through small villages and away from the tourist areas there was quite a lot of anti-western sentiment on display (banners hanging across the roads etc) which made me a bit more cautious for the rest of the holiday.

Christmas Day. When my DC’s were young I spent most of the day cooking dinner. I hugely regret that now - I should have spent the time with DC’s, playing with them and their new toys and sod the dinner.

@QueenRefusenik

Promotion. Get job you love, do it well. Get promoted... For a tiny fraction more money you get to do loads of paperwork and manage other people doing the job you loved. None of whom appear to love it...

This is so true. One of my colleagues has just been promoted to my (management) grade, she pushed for it for ages, I feel like doing an evil laugh.

My friend used to have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve , then spend Christmas Day with the leftovers and playing with the kids and their new toys! I have mentioned it to people and met with negativity , but I think it's a great idea.
Christmas dinner is only a posh roast and there is generally enough for the next day.
Christmas Day can be a huge let down at times and is more stress than any fun especially with over excited little ones who are tired from being up too early. I used to dread all of it.

We have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve! It's much much better!

Living in a village, absolute boring shite.

Countryfile live, god knows why I thought that would be great.

Camping, just no. I was as miserable as sin and it was nothing like being in the famous five.

Having a dog, I mean I loved her but it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

Don't understand the Dyson cordless hate though, I'd sell dh if I needed a new one and couldn't afford it.

Oh and Christmas Day, every year I think it'll be different and every year it's a total let down.