my big fat gypsy wedding

C_Mababejive

There seems to be an awful lot of romanticised carp about travellers here.

I have nothing against them,indeed the travelling lifestyle is one which seems attractive, but lets not adopt such a patronising stance.

All this tosh about high morals and clean caravans..

Truth is they love to fight and kick sh*te out of eachother and anyone who dares to cross them.

I'll bet many residents of Appleby go away for the time that the horse fair is on.

http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/gypsy-king-slashed-with-machetes-at-appleby-horse-event-court-1.673208?referrerPath=news_2_882

lindaatno9

There was a great piece in my local paper which really made me chuckle.
(rushes off to get it) But now I read it back I do think how sad.

"The frocks were so big the teenage traveller brides all but disappeared inside them, tiny matchsticks stranded in cloud upon cloud of synthetic white fabric. The danger of static electricity looked so fierce that one false twirl and you could torch the bridesmaids."

Herbiecat

I'll bet many residents of Appleby go away for the time that the horse fair is on.

http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/gypsy-king-slashed-with-machetes-at-appleby-horse-event-court-1.673208?referrerPath=news_2_882[/QUOTE]



My cousin lives in Appleby and thats exactly what she does! She says its a nightmare lol

Gleeful

Herbiecat wrote: »

I'll bet many residents of Appleby go away for the time that the horse fair is on.

http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/gypsy-king-slashed-with-machetes-at-appleby-horse-event-court-1.673208?referrerPath=news_2_882

My cousin lives in Appleby and thats exactly what she does! She says its a nightmare lol[/QUOTE]

It's only what a number of Edinburgh folk do when the festival is on as well though. Mind you, they rent their houses out to tourists at the festival.

Herbiecat

And its what the people of SW19 do in June but i'm sure its for very different reasons.

mellymeep

C_Mababejive wrote: »

There seems to be an awful lot of romanticised carp about travellers here.

I have nothing against them,indeed the travelling lifestyle is one which seems attractive, but lets not adopt such a patronising stance.

All this tosh about high morals and clean caravans..

Truth is they love to fight and kick sh*te out of eachother and anyone who dares to cross them.

I'll bet many residents of Appleby go away for the time that the horse fair is on.

http://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/gypsy-king-slashed-with-machetes-at-appleby-horse-event-court-1.673208?referrerPath=news_2_882

What I don't understand is that discrimination against travellers is still socially aceceptable, when we have come so far as a country in terms of tolerance and multi-culutral societys, to still hear people tarring every one of them with the same brush is quite frankly shocking.

Do you also lap up the media image that is given to British Muslims? That they are all terrorists who are going to take over the country any minute now?

I can accept that a certian percentage of the traveller community adhere to the stereotype, but that doesn't mean that every one of them is the same.

Its racism that people get away with, they are recognised as an Ethnic group by British Law.

superfran_uk

mellymeep wrote: »

What I don't understand is that discrimination against travellers is still socially aceceptable, when we have come so far as a country in terms of tolerance and multi-culutral societys, to still hear people tarring every one of them with the same brush is quite frankly shocking.

Do you also lap up the media image that is given to British Muslims? That they are all terrorists who are going to take over the country any minute now?

I can accept that a certian percentage of the traveller community adhere to the stereotype, but that doesn't mean that every one of them is the same.

Its racism that people get away with, they are recognised as an Ethnic group by British Law.

I think it's because they refuse to live by the same standards that we do (i.e. work and pay taxes) and where you have a travelling community there is generally trouble that the tax-payer must pay to sort out through the police, council etc. Even in the sleepy south east the police all have to come together and strategise when the horse fair is looming and the councils have special traveller liasions... Plus there's always a huge clean up involved when they move on, either at the expense of the tax payer or the poor sod who's land has been used. Add to this the fighting, stealing etc which is part of their culture and it's not a bunch of people you'd want living near you - ask anyone who's had them turn up on their doorstep.

Mind you, can't wait to see this program!

SUESMITH_2

me and my dd have just watched this on watch again, and omg those frocks were amazing - wouldnt want one myself but if it floats your boat.

found it fascinating, especially about their culture and how religious they were,that shouldnt have surprised me but it did.

i used to be friends with a large irish catholic family and their get togethers always ended up in fights, that's just how they were.

i seem to remember a big piece on our local news about appleby horse fair and how it keeps the local economy and shops going

i too want to know more about joan, i was worried for her although the fact her dad couldnt walk her down the aisle did make us both smile. she looked so sad and worried.

Starrystarrynight

Fascinating show. Not sure I would fancy having to kick the inside of my dress (as one of the brides appeared to be doing) to help me walk forward, though!
Seemed to be a balance view in all, there's good and bad in every element of society. The only experience of travellers I've had is when they set up camp and it cost the local council over £6K to clean up once they left, including the human waste in the shrubs. Hopefully not all are like that, though.

tartantotty

I am not claiming to be hugely knowledgeable about this, but I think a lot of the issues and the negativity towards travellers seems to stem from the whole paying taxes situation.
From my understanding (which may not be right) travellers don't seem to pay income tax, national insurance and council tax, but can still use the NHS, schools etc. I live close by to an area where travellers set up an unoffical site, taking over a car park. The council provided them with chemical toilets, and a skip for their rubbish which the council empty twice a week. I pay council tax and my rubbish gets picked up fortnightly!
Also, the travellers have dumped old bikes, and other rubbish round and about their caravans, which the council have cleared.
They were asked to leave by the council, and the Police were involved as well, but refused, and at one point there were about 20 caravans - and a lot of top of the range Audi's, Mercs, BMW's and the odd new Range Rover!
Yes maybe I am jealous, because I could afford a lovely car like that if I didn't have a hefty whack of my wage taken off at source to cover my NI and income tax, or didn't have to pay £100+ a month in council tax.

I do try to see the good in people, but I do think that travellers at times don't do themselves any favours.
That said, this is purely my opinion based on what I have seen locally, and I may be misinformed.

The dresses were amazing though - 100% not to my taste, but each to their own!