PRESS RELEASE: Magners Pear Cider
Written: Friday 5th June, 2009
FIFTY FRUSTRATIONS
NEWS COPY
Bad weather on holiday was yesterday (Thurs) named as life's greatest disappointment.
The crushing feeling of travelling abroad expecting to lie on a beach and get a tan, only for it to rain came a top of the poll to reveal the nation's biggest let downs.
Waking up and thinking it's a Sunday before realising it's actually a Monday was second, followed by a partner forgetting your birthday.
A favourite TV series coming to an end and realising you have forgotten your passport completed the top five.
A spokesman for Magners Pear Cider said: ''When holiday allowances are limited, there is so much pressure to have a perfect week off and getting the right weather has a great deal to do with this.
''To have rain, wind or overcast conditions can really affect the enjoyment factor of a holiday and lead to a great deal of disappointment if experienced.
''Three of top 10 greatest disappointments relate to going on holiday which proves just how much we look forward to taking time off - yet how readily we can feel dissatisfied.''
The poll of 3,000 Brits found losing your luggage on a flight is the sixth biggest disappointment in life, while finishing a good book that you didn't want to end is at seven.
Eighth place went to the frustration of putting an old pair of jeans on and finding they no longer fit, followed by accidently dying a load of white washing red.
Making a cup of tea and then discovering the milk is out of date was voted into tenth place.
Researchers also found that some people think golden celeb couple Katie and Peter breaking up is one of the biggest disappointments, voting the split in at number 15.
And Hollywood stars Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, who announced their split in 2005, shortly after he starred alongside current partner Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Smith, also feature in the poll at number 32.
Sport was a big theme in the list of life's letdowns with Newcastle United's recent relegation from football's Premier League in twelfth place.
England's failure to qualify for Euro 2008 was at 16, while Manchester United's loss in Rome against Barcelona last month was at 18.
Tim Henman's dismal tennis career was at number 21.
Several famous UK landmarks were also voted into the top 50 by dissatisfied Brits including Blackpool tower at 39, Land's End at 47 and the M25 at 49.
Other disappointments which feature in the poll include missing a bus at 20, breaking a nail before a special event at 23, and surprising small-sized 16th Century painting the Mona Lisa at 28.
A spokesman for Magners Pear Cider added: ''Brits are such sports fanatics, yet quite easily get disillusioned with their teams or favourite players.
''Newcastle United, the England Football Team and Tim Henman all feature in the line-up along with the England cricket team's flop in the 2007 Ashes.
Top 50 greatest disappointments in life
1. Bad weather on holiday
2. Waking up and thinking it's a Sunday when it's really a Monday
3. Partner forgets your birthday/anniversary
4. Your favourite TV series ending
5. Forgetting your passport
6. Losing your luggage
7. Finishing a good book
8. Old pair of jeans that don't fit
9. Dying a whole load of washing red
10. Making a cup of tea to discover the milk is off
11. Losing money in a vending machine
12. Newcastle United going down
13. Flat battery on your mobile phone
14. When you turn up on a blind date and find that the other person is nothing like the way they described themselves
15. Katie and Peter splitting up
16. England not qualifying for Euro 2008
17. Leaving your phone at home
18. Man.Utd losing the Champions League
19. Misplacing your car keys when you need to drive
20. Missing a bus
21. Tim Henman
22. England's last world rugby world cup flop
23. Breaking a nail before a special event
24. Stonehenge
25. England not holding onto the Ashes in 2007
26. When you used to watch Blind Date and it would be an old person's one
27. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
28. The Mona Lisa
29. Your favourite soap character dying
30. Burning toast
31. Losing the remote control
32. Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston splitting up
33. Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason
34. The NHS
35. Doing well in an interview and not getting the job
36. Not winning the National Lottery
37. Discovering that a beautiful girl smokes
38. Being dumped
39. Blackpool Tower
40. Poor customer service in a shop
41. Being kept on hold
42. Rude waiters/waitresses
43. Slow broadband
44. Our rail system
45. Late buses
46. Poor mobile phone signal
47. Land's End
48. Miserable doctor's receptionists
49. The M25
50. The London Eye
ENDS
Research conducted by global market research company www.onepoll.com
