What did you discover relatively late on in life that everyone else had known for years?

What an educational thread! I have learned so much.

After 3 children and 6 grandchildren I learned that baby vests are designed to pull down rather than over their heads. That knowledge would have saved a lot of battles to avoid poo on heads and faces.

When I was a child I could not understand what was special about a green hill that had no city wall. None of the hills I knew had one. 'There is a green hill far away without a city wall', for those who don't remember the hymn.

I was 23 married with two children before I knew what a lesbian was! I had never heard the word before.

Grandma2213 I remember singing that hymn and wondering the exact same thing . ?

Grandma2213

I too learned this only last week about the envelope necks on a baby vest. Not sure what I thought the design feature WAS for to be honest before this enlightenment?

I used to make Hasselback potatoes very seldomly because I ended up slicing through them instead of part way. Then I read that you are supposed to slice them on a wooden spoon . The sides of the spoon stop the knife going all the way. Eureka! PS I’ve learnt such a lot too on this thread and was pleased to hear I was not the only person who thought the Green hill far away was lacking a city wall.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Going back to the subject of Freddie Mercury, until I saw the film I didn't know that he had a long term girlfriend. Always guessed he was gay.

My vegan son told me that he can eat Walker’s bacon, chicken, beef and prawn crisps, but not their ready-salted!
I was surprised by many of your posts, too. Funnily enough I was discussing the petrol-cap indicator with a friend, just the other day. I have known about it for years, but she had just found out.
I nearly always forget to pull the petrol-cap release lever, though, and have to open the door again to do it,

CanadianGran the Penelope mispronunciation has reminded me that, for years, I thought hat the name McConochie was pronounced Mack-oh-Nochee

When I was a child I could not understand what was special about a green hill that had no city wall

I’m 50 and I still don’t know! What is so special about it?

Oh dear, this is so funny! I was crying with laughter as I tried to tell DH about the new words for the Hollies song "He's wearing his mackinson ", so funny! I drive a German car but the filler cap is on my side when I'm driving which disproves the theory & I'm not too excited about the icon on the dashboard - surely we all know which side the filler is on if we drive the same car regularly?!
The green hill was without a city wall ieutside it, from an old usage of the word without.

I didnt realise why Shaun the Sheep (Wallace and Grommit) was so called, until driving in the countryside recently , I commented that all the sheep had been shorn. Then the penny dropped!!

Well, I realise this will be really odd. . .started to learn French at grammar school aged 11, was given a penfriend and our families have been in touch ever since so, although not fluent my French is quite decent. They are GPs now too so I PM them esp their GC on FB and I’ve only just discovered that when you lose your first tooth in France it’s apparently the “first mouse” (sourit?) and NOT first smile (sourire?)!! I obviously never saw it written down?

I eventually found out the Bee Gees were singing 'and you come to me on a summer breeze' and not 'on a submarine'.

Newquay, did you find out when watching 'Escape to the Chateau'? Arthur lost a tooth on Sunday's programme and the mouse story was mentioned.

I'm surprised about Shaun the sheep. Are you sure? Not the same sound, it's pronounced Shawn.

Inside every bully there really is a coward. Stand up to them and they fall to pieces.

Shorn/Shaun

It sounds very similar to me
Yes, that's why helenonotion

I hope it wasn't that recently, poor Shaun will be getting cold, unless you live in New Zealand!

What do you mean there’s no Santa Claus? ?

It is definitely correct, btw, named Shaun after being accidentally shorn by Wallace's automated sheep shearing machine.

I'm so shocked I can barely speak, MawB

Perhaps so Shysal!

I wondered for years where “Plicity” was and why mice went there. THEN read the hymn “ Pity my simplicity”

I only realised about 10 years ago that people who lived in flats above shops had their own entrance! I honestly believed they must be really trusted by the shop keeper to be able to go through the shop any time day or night ?

Just outside Canterbury there is a small town called Thannington Without. Without what?