Do you do your research or are you just a chancer?
Discussion
Talking about doing new things here, whether it be a hobby, going on holiday or for a meal out etc.
I always do some kind of research as I like to get things right first time, so can't understand people who do none and just mess it up. It's not difficult is it?
As I get older I've been getting a slight interest in the gentle art of gardening. I don't know much about it, so bought a book (remember those?) and read a few online guides so things are going ok, we'll be rewarded with a bit of fruit and some flowers.
Other people however seem to do nothing, but buy all the gear they can see, do no research and just end up with a pile of dead plants.
I just don't get it
I always do some kind of research as I like to get things right first time, so can't understand people who do none and just mess it up. It's not difficult is it?
As I get older I've been getting a slight interest in the gentle art of gardening. I don't know much about it, so bought a book (remember those?) and read a few online guides so things are going ok, we'll be rewarded with a bit of fruit and some flowers.
Other people however seem to do nothing, but buy all the gear they can see, do no research and just end up with a pile of dead plants.
I just don't get it
227bhp said:
Talking about doing new things here, whether it be a hobby, going on holiday or for a meal out etc.
I always do some kind of research as I like to get things right first time, so can't understand people who do none and just mess it up. It's not difficult is it?
As I get older I've been getting a slight interest in the gentle art of gardening. I don't know much about it, so bought a book (remember those?) and read a few online guides so things are going ok, we'll be rewarded with a bit of fruit and some flowers.
Other people however seem to do nothing, but buy all the gear they can see, do no research and just end up with a pile of dead plants.
I just don't get it
I have zero interest in researching things, I just do them and trust my instincts as to whether its a good idea or not. If it works out (which is a large proportion of the time) then great, if it doesn't, then you've learned something.I always do some kind of research as I like to get things right first time, so can't understand people who do none and just mess it up. It's not difficult is it?
As I get older I've been getting a slight interest in the gentle art of gardening. I don't know much about it, so bought a book (remember those?) and read a few online guides so things are going ok, we'll be rewarded with a bit of fruit and some flowers.
Other people however seem to do nothing, but buy all the gear they can see, do no research and just end up with a pile of dead plants.
I just don't get it
If you get everything right, you can't learn anything and research is boring in the most part.
Growing plants isn't exactly hard is it - they do it without anyone interfering perfectly well all over the world. Its probably harder to f
k it up than get it right, unless you're exhibiting stuff at Chelsea or massive Vegetables at a fete or something.Wing it. I hate the idea of planned nights, holidays, etc...
I used to be a very avid member of Tripadvisor for Las Vegas and got so sick of people planning their vacation to the 15minute interval for a whole couple of weeks. Exhausting and leaves no opportunity for just experiencing life and seeing what happens (which is the joy of Vegas particularly)
Similarly with boozy nights out. Fair enough have a time and place to meet and maybe a meal (unless eatings cheating on that night) and leave it at that. But having 9pm at X, 930pm at Y, 10pm at Z etc... please!
I used to be a very avid member of Tripadvisor for Las Vegas and got so sick of people planning their vacation to the 15minute interval for a whole couple of weeks. Exhausting and leaves no opportunity for just experiencing life and seeing what happens (which is the joy of Vegas particularly)
Similarly with boozy nights out. Fair enough have a time and place to meet and maybe a meal (unless eatings cheating on that night) and leave it at that. But having 9pm at X, 930pm at Y, 10pm at Z etc... please!
I like to plan... OH does not.
Things like, when I organise a surprise weekend abroad, I will book restaurants, places I want to go, etc. Nothing too over the top, but just in case some are of high demand and we are only visiting once with no intention of going back.
OH... We will be lucky if the hotel is booked, sometimes she will save a few £££ and then its so out of the way all the savings are then spent on taxis... or I will ask where are we going for dinner...
'Oh... not thought of it or looked, we can just wander round at dinner time and grab a place'
We had been wandering round all day and were in a nice area of Paris, so naturally nothing was available, the only place was a stty restaurant that we left half way through the main course it was so bad.
Then I will get the blame for expecting her to sort it out on a surprise weekend I was not aware of and should spend a few hours during our time there looking for somewhere to eat.
Drives me nuts.
Also does it in London, doesnt know where something is or if the transport is running, just wings it... lost count the number of times that tube has been closed, or the place is not open, all because she chances it just working.
Things like, when I organise a surprise weekend abroad, I will book restaurants, places I want to go, etc. Nothing too over the top, but just in case some are of high demand and we are only visiting once with no intention of going back.
OH... We will be lucky if the hotel is booked, sometimes she will save a few £££ and then its so out of the way all the savings are then spent on taxis... or I will ask where are we going for dinner...
'Oh... not thought of it or looked, we can just wander round at dinner time and grab a place'
We had been wandering round all day and were in a nice area of Paris, so naturally nothing was available, the only place was a s
tty restaurant that we left half way through the main course it was so bad.Then I will get the blame for expecting her to sort it out on a surprise weekend I was not aware of and should spend a few hours during our time there looking for somewhere to eat.
Drives me nuts.
Also does it in London, doesnt know where something is or if the transport is running, just wings it... lost count the number of times that tube has been closed, or the place is not open, all because she chances it just working.
The other year we booked a 2 week holiday for 4 people in South Africa down the Garden route.
My wife spent months before researching everything. So much so that almost every single hour was planned.
So much so that I hated the build up to it. The stress of keeping to her schedule, and the difficulty of trying to alter her plan. So much so that I have it down as my worst holiday ever.
By all means do the research, but I missed the "I wonder where this track leads, oh look a market, oh look, let's have lunch from this street food vendor"
My wife spent months before researching everything. So much so that almost every single hour was planned.
So much so that I hated the build up to it. The stress of keeping to her schedule, and the difficulty of trying to alter her plan. So much so that I have it down as my worst holiday ever.
By all means do the research, but I missed the "I wonder where this track leads, oh look a market, oh look, let's have lunch from this street food vendor"
I've never bothered to look at restaurant reviews before going - especially if it's a pretty normal (£10-£15/head for a main) and I've never bothered looking at a review of a coffee shop before I go. Trust your judgement and if you're unsure, order the thing it's hardest for the chef to mess up.
Bought a lawnmower a couple of years ago. Went to Homebase and bought the cheapest petrol model they sell. It still works pretty perfectly 3 summers later.
Needed a new car 2 years ago; bought the biggest 4x4 with the equipment I wanted at a price I was happy with. Bought a house on a whim - well, it was the first we looked at and we hadn't gone out that day to find a house, but called in when we were in the area.
Holiday's are slightly different - like to have an idea of places to go, but generally do that with recommendations from friends who like the same sort of thing to me, rather than trusting Trip Advisor. Darren from Basingstoke's opinion is largely irrelevant. If we're somewhere new, find a nice neighbourhood and go to places round there.
Couldn't imagine planning and researching things for so long; I'd never get anything done.
Bought a lawnmower a couple of years ago. Went to Homebase and bought the cheapest petrol model they sell. It still works pretty perfectly 3 summers later.
Needed a new car 2 years ago; bought the biggest 4x4 with the equipment I wanted at a price I was happy with. Bought a house on a whim - well, it was the first we looked at and we hadn't gone out that day to find a house, but called in when we were in the area.
Holiday's are slightly different - like to have an idea of places to go, but generally do that with recommendations from friends who like the same sort of thing to me, rather than trusting Trip Advisor. Darren from Basingstoke's opinion is largely irrelevant. If we're somewhere new, find a nice neighbourhood and go to places round there.
Couldn't imagine planning and researching things for so long; I'd never get anything done.
My Mrs used to plan the holidays and one year wanted to go to Egypt. To see some history etc.
Along I tagged handing over my credit card details at the booking time all happy that someone else was organising things only to find out that when we arrived no research had been done at all. Hotel was lovely but right in the middle of Egypt 500 miles from either the Valley of the Kings or Ciro for the pyramids. I then spent another fortune on internal flights during our stay.
She still decides when/where we're going but I do a fair bit of research in the background to guide her in the right direction.
Along I tagged handing over my credit card details at the booking time all happy that someone else was organising things only to find out that when we arrived no research had been done at all. Hotel was lovely but right in the middle of Egypt 500 miles from either the Valley of the Kings or Ciro for the pyramids. I then spent another fortune on internal flights during our stay.
She still decides when/where we're going but I do a fair bit of research in the background to guide her in the right direction.
Pit Pony said:
The other year we booked a 2 week holiday for 4 people in South Africa down the Garden route.
My wife spent months before researching everything. So much so that almost every single hour was planned.
So much so that I hated the build up to it. The stress of keeping to her schedule, and the difficulty of trying to alter her plan. So much so that I have it down as my worst holiday ever.
By all means do the research, but I missed the "I wonder where this track leads, oh look a market, oh look, let's have lunch from this street food vendor"
Doesnt sound like a holiday to me. I hope she sent detailed minutes after your return My wife spent months before researching everything. So much so that almost every single hour was planned.
So much so that I hated the build up to it. The stress of keeping to her schedule, and the difficulty of trying to alter her plan. So much so that I have it down as my worst holiday ever.
By all means do the research, but I missed the "I wonder where this track leads, oh look a market, oh look, let's have lunch from this street food vendor"
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