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AIBU

Do you like surprises?

(69 Posts)
surfingsal Tue 11-Feb-25 12:42:13

I hate surprises I like to know where we are going and what we are doing etc. My 70th is this summer and I reminded my children that I really don't enjoy surprises , they all said they would never do anything I did not know about in advance, am I the only one who feels like this?

GrannyIvy Wed 12-Feb-25 07:18:49

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

cornergran Wed 12-Feb-25 07:02:20

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 grin. I just like to be prepared.

Calendargirl Wed 12-Feb-25 06:51:20

No, not keen.

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

henetha Tue 11-Feb-25 23:20:52

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.

Sara1954 Tue 11-Feb-25 19:53:02

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.

BlueBelle Tue 11-Feb-25 19:34:31

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)

Babs03 Tue 11-Feb-25 19:18:56

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

Maggiemaybe Tue 11-Feb-25 19:08:25

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.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 11-Feb-25 18:00:37

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

nanasam Tue 11-Feb-25 17:55:01

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.

Beechnut Tue 11-Feb-25 17:45:49

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 😂

tanith Tue 11-Feb-25 17:37:24

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.

Sara1954 Tue 11-Feb-25 17:35:57

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.

Ladyripple Tue 11-Feb-25 17:35:11

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

Marydoll Tue 11-Feb-25 17:33:14

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! 🐎

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 11-Feb-25 17:31:02

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

Beechnut Tue 11-Feb-25 17:24:46

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.

Marydoll Tue 11-Feb-25 17:17:20

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

P.S. She started it Miss!

Marydoll Tue 11-Feb-25 17:16:11

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.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 11-Feb-25 16:48:34

Ouch! Quite right Marydoll. Slap on the wrist for me. 😁
In my defence Your Honour I’ve seen you spell it this way before. I live in an apartment so the word jumped out at me!

Pax?

HowVeryDareYou2 Tue 11-Feb-25 16:44:15

I don't like any surprises.

NonGrannyMoll Tue 11-Feb-25 16:24:07

It depends upon what the surprise is and how ready I'm expected to be. Friends turning up for an unexpected daytime visit, bring it on! Walking into a room full of people cheering and blowing party trumpets when I was expecting to have a quiet dinner with my DH, forget it!

Barleyfields Tue 11-Feb-25 16:16:45

🤣🤣🤣

Marydoll Tue 11-Feb-25 16:16:24

Too late!

Barleyfields Tue 11-Feb-25 16:16:04

Careful FGT, Marydoll will correct your spelling!