what stunningly obvious pieces of knowledge escaped you for years and years?

[thewomanwhothoughtshewasahat]

I managed 25 years of life without knowing who Pele was. I managed 36 years without knowing a dodge was a kind of american car. dh managed 25 years without realising that the name The Beatles was a play on the word beat. how do educated well-read people manage stuff like this? and don't you love it when you learn something like that?

I always thought if you said you were mixing with the 'hoi polloi', it meant that you were mixing with the 'posh' people. Apparently, it means exactly the opposite!
Also, it is amazing the number of people who ask me if I am an identical twin when I mention I have a twin brother. Errr, no, I answer, because I don't have a moustache! How can you be identical to a boy? Impossible....!

Well, if we have to admit to embarrassing things, when I met my dh I asked him where he came from. He said "Brisbane" and I had to really work my brain working that out as I was thinking Brisbane in Scotland or Brisbane in Australia? Of course, what I was really thinking of was Perth - there is a Perth in Scotland isn't there???!!!

(Incidentally, I blame this confusion on the fact that my Australian boyfriend (dh as is) had scarcely a trace of Asutralian accent).

Sigh

Ok my turn

I have dodgy knees and was told that cod liver oil would help

So I bought a bottle of them, broke all the capsules and rubbed the oil into my knees

that george michael was gay (it took the policeman / toilet incident to let me know)

once met someone who wondered aloud during a conversation about history why Windsor Castle was built so near the motorway. And went on to comment that Athens is so boring, as there's not much to see there.
Wouldn't have believed either, but heard it with my own ears. Cue stunned silence.

twiglett, i was in denial about that too. still convinced it's just that he hasn't met me yet...!

shut it greeny

That dumbfluff wasn't real.

you wish, FilthyDaddy

Absolutely pmsl.

I was convinced that Phoebe was pronounced Fo - ebe rather than Pheebie.

Still think my way is better .

I just remembered another one.

When I was 14, I became vegetarian for moral reasons and decided not to buy any more leather shoes either. So I thought I would buy some suede shoes instead...

I think someone else pointed out my mistake before I bought them.

For years I thought that Famous Five books etc etc were written by 'Cried Blyton'.

oh yes, and that Roald Dahl was a typo and his name was really Ronald

A few years ago there was an advert for Rice Krispies that said "Did you realise Rice Krispies are made from rice?" errr... no I'm not sure what I thought they were made from!

this is not quite the same but worth a go

A few years back, for some bizarre reason, we and another couple we talking about owl pellets and how owls can only bring solids up, not down as they have no bottoms.

My friend looked aghast and said "really? Well how do they have sex then?"

Needless to say we looked askance at her husband.

ha ha ha !! wongster

Helliebean - glad it's not just me who asks the stupid twin question then!

Message withdrawn

I lived in my old place for almost 7 years, and when the hot water ran out i'd shower in cold water .. only to find out shortly before i moved when a friend came over she told me about the booster button

Suzywong, I was letting ds1 (10) read these posts until I got to yours and couldn't press the active convo button quick enough!

Up until last year, I am ashamed to say that I thought Thailand was an island (rhymes - you see).
Before I bought my first flat, I thought you could go into any country wide estate agent (lets say First Move) and tell them where you'd like to buy a house & they'd find it for you!!

I am another one who thought (until I was about 16) that mincemeat was minced meat! I never ate mince pies at Christmas until after that!

That gas works go up and down according to how much gas is in them...I guess I thought that some were being dismantled or something....