Do you like surprises?

Anyway, we have both derailed this thread. Naughty corner awaits.

P.S. She started it Miss!

I don’t mind surprises as long as it wasn’t going to be a party for me. I had a surprise week away for my 60th and another surprise away for my 70th.

Indeed. Yes and apologies for derailing the thread OP!
interesting though to discover you too have a second property! 😁

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Indeed. Yes and apologies for derailing the thread OP!
interesting though to discover you too have a second property! 😁

I am a dark horse! 🐎

I don’t like surprises and I have used the word apartment for about the past 40years!

I absolutely hate surprises, I too have a birthday in may, my children have been making some arrangements for something they think I will love, and I will. Especially as my husband is keeping me informed all the way along, as he knows I would hate being surprised, so I only have to pretend to be surprised, which I’m pretty sure I can pull off, everybody happy.
My son has been known to tip me off as well.

No I don't, my husband did one for my 50th i was very embarrased and hated that he invited some of my colleagues it was awful. Everyone but me seemed to enjoy it.

Marydoll

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Indeed. Yes and apologies for derailing the thread OP!
interesting though to discover you too have a second property! 😁

I am a dark horse! 🐎

I was thinking earlier about when you used to ask how much our houses were worth FGT 😂

I'm such a suspicious person I usually sniff out a plan. The only real surprise I've had was one Christmas Eve, when my son walked in the front door. He was travelling and was supposed to be in Rio de Janeiro for Christmas. Now, that's a surprise and we had absolutely no idea he'd turn up. I'd love to have another surprise like that, since he's now settled, married and has a daughter in Sydney.

Ah that was a great bit of fun Beechnut! I used to ask the newbies. Startled some of ‘em I think! 😂

Well, I do love a party and I do love a holiday, and I also love being in full charge of all the arrangements though I have been known to have the occasional grumble about it. I’m pretty sure that all my family know that I’m a control freak that would absolutely hate a surprise. Unless, of course, it’s a present or a big bunch of flowers.

For my 60th my daughters arranged with three good friends of mine for us to go for a posh afternoon tea paying for the whole thing ahead of time, I did of course have a lovely meal with just family. But this did upset me a bit because said friends would usually, on big birthdays, arrange to go for afternoon tea or a nice meal, then would each pay for themselves and then collectively put money in to pay for the birthday girl, they would also put money in for a really nice gift. Seeing as my daughters paid for the whole thing they didn't need to do this - which is absolutely fine - but they also didn't bother with a big gift, with each just getting me a bit of something. I suppose is silly to feel a bit cheated like this. And I of course was really impressed that my daughters had planned this for me.
x

I HATE surprises what if I don’t like it and I ve got to pretend
What if I m not prepared, what if I m not dressed right
No I need to be forewarned and prepared and know what’s happening when and why
Luckily my eldest who lives nearest me also hates surprises so she wouldnt do anything we hadn’t discussed
I have a big birthday coming up and she asked what I wanted to do and we re doing it (going to centreparcs for the weekend)

One of my daughters has had to be tactfully restrained at times, she loves a big gesture, but she doesn’t necessarily seem to fit the surprise to the recipient, I think she decides she’d like to do something, and then arranges a lovely surprise for somebody’s birthday.

I loathe surprises. I had a horrible one once. I much prefer making little plans and knowing what I'm doing. I'm not totally inflexible though, but unless George Clooney shows up to take me out to dinner, I'd rather not have any surprises.

No, not keen.

Would have absolutely hated having a surprise 40th, 50th, 60th 70th birthday ‘do’.

I’m not keen on surprises but then my sons are so unlikely to organise anything there’s no real danger. Our goddaughter has tried - she loves a surprise - but now understands I don’t share her enthusiasm. Oh dear, I do sound a miserable soul . I just like to be prepared.

I don’t like surprises but like Cornergran my family are very unlikely to organise anything. I have a big birthday coming up in August and will arrange how I want to celebrate it

I hate surprises and my family know it. My DD has just rung to ask which show in London I would like to see for my birthday in June!

Oh, I can see that the real me of about 9 years old keeps popping out from the 79 year old person that everyone sees.

Most of the surprises I have had ,I am game to have a go. I appreciate the efforts made to make the surprise even if it is not exactly what I want. I remember making a major effort for my lovely husbands 60th birthday, involving getting him unaware to the lake district on the pretext of a days walking there. We usually shared driving and he was great at nodding off when he was sat in the passenger seat. I was counting on this to be able to get well on the way before he realized what was happening but he didnt fall asleep at all that day. However I had booked a night at a super hotel called Merewood and we had a special room complete with jacuzzi etc. I had managed to stash in the boot, unseen, the birthday cake and champagne and presents and cards from the family who were all in on the surprise. Warned the hotel that we would arrive in walking stuff but had all the evening things hidden too. Apart from the fact that I had to tell him earlier than just arriving at the hotel, it all went very well and he talked about it often and said how much he had enjoyed it. It certainly took a lot of effort and wouldnt like to do it again but therefore can appreciate the efforts put in.

But you see as I say , mentally I am about 9 so love to go on the waltzers at the fair, and see a little alley and sometimes just walk up it to see what is at the end. Cant do a lot of those things now due to my back etc but when days are not very good and I am struggling I would hate to think that this is how every day is going to be for the rest of my life, so surprises are a positive thing to me.

I also find it good because no one will be judging what you are wearing as you did not know you would be going to that place. Win win to me, dont have to think about it. Each to their own. One of my very oldest friends is exactly the opposite. She always looks very well dressed and sorted for every occasion but of course that what she wants. Good advance notice so that she can plan etc and that makes her feel much more comfortable. When we meet up we have lots to talk about and do and as we are such old friends she is quite happy to meet up on an off chance and so I could ring her and say are you free to meet today, and I totally accept if she says no, so we match up and stay friends however different we are about things. As they say "whatever floats your boat"

A friend organised a surprise party for her husband, except we knew it wasn’t a surprise and that she had told him! On the day the whole thing was very false with the husband trying to look surprised and telling people that he didn’t have a clue.

Marydoll

I am puzzled FGT, APARTMENT is not a word, I would normally use. In Glasgow, many would say flat, as do I
In fact, today DH and I were discussing the flat we rent out. He would think I had gone all posh on him, I I talked about our apartment. with one p.

In my defence, I taught foreign languages in another life.

appartement in French and appartamento in Italian.
That vocabulary is embedded in the depths of my brain.

I still remember a TV news item about some incident in or near a small block of flats somewhere in SE U.K. A TV journalist asked a young woman whether she lived in one of the flats.
Reply was a very indignant ‘It’s not a flat - it’s an APARTMENT!’
😂😂

Witzend

Marydoll

I am puzzled FGT, APARTMENT is not a word, I would normally use. In Glasgow, many would say flat, as do I
In fact, today DH and I were discussing the flat we rent out. He would think I had gone all posh on him, I I talked about our apartment. with one p.

In my defence, I taught foreign languages in another life.

appartement in French and appartamento in Italian.
That vocabulary is embedded in the depths of my brain.

I still remember a TV news item about some incident in or near a small block of flats somewhere in SE U.K. A TV journalist asked a young woman whether she lived in one of the flats.
Reply was a very indignant ‘It’s not a flat - it’s an APARTMENT!’
😂😂

As you can see, I have no delusions of grandure 🤣

No . I like things preplanned and I like routine it's how my life has always worked. I can cope with emergencies but they don't sit right with me . Until I had my diagnosis of my disability in 2022 I didn't realise things make me anxious just thought I was weird.
All my family know I don't like surprises and plus I tend to question what's going on. When my daughter was pregnant the second time I already knew as I could see the signs so had to act surprised when her eldest gave me the scan picture. But my daughter said you knew . I said I could tell. It's like I can always tell if a baby is a boy or girl . Years ago where I used to live I asked a new mom how old her son was and she cried turned out everyone thought he was a girl. But I told her I could see clearly he was a boy.

Anyway if anyone shouted surprise if I am standing up I end up on the floor. As my startle reflex kicks in my limbs stiffen and I fall like a tree. Sitting down I am frozen until it wears off. 🤣

Marydoll

Witzend

Marydoll

I am puzzled FGT, APARTMENT is not a word, I would normally use. In Glasgow, many would say flat, as do I
In fact, today DH and I were discussing the flat we rent out. He would think I had gone all posh on him, I I talked about our apartment. with one p.

In my defence, I taught foreign languages in another life.

appartement in French and appartamento in Italian.
That vocabulary is embedded in the depths of my brain.

I still remember a TV news item about some incident in or near a small block of flats somewhere in SE U.K. A TV journalist asked a young woman whether she lived in one of the flats.
Reply was a very indignant ‘It’s not a flat - it’s an APARTMENT!’
😂😂

As you can see, I have no delusions of grandure 🤣

Ooops grandure grandeur!