General Chat

Bridget - I really love the sound of spending a Sunday where you are!!! Idyllic, relaxing, peaceful and what Sundays are all about......Zzzzzzzz

Sunday here is the first day of the working week. The weekend is Friday and Saturday, many people get a 2 day weekend but not all. Friday is the religious day, and it's always very very quiet in the morning until midday prayers. After that, people start to move around, visiting family or going out for the day etc. These days the (bigger shops) are open, limited hours, but that wasn't always the case, they didn't used to open until 4pm on a Friday.

K

Ah, but you've hit the nail on the head there, Ann........the beauty of living in a free society is that ( in Britain) we do have 'rights', as in the right to demonstrate, freedom of expression, the right to appeal etc etc, whereas here, that's exactly why they wanted Mubarak out, because they didn't have freedoms such as those. So they went against the law (and 100's were killed for it) by demonstrating and voicing their opinions, wanting this to be a more liberal society. OK they've got Mubarak out, but who is to say our way is any better...I am sure plenty of Egyptians are looking at the TV just now wondering what the heck London has turned into with its free society!!!!!
And I'm looking at the TV news right at this moment, wondering whether our liberal society is an ideal one!! At times like this, No!
But without a free society, we'd be back in the dark ages and we'd all have plenty to say about that ;-) especially me!!

K

Thanks Karen, no you won't be banned, that was extremely enlightening. Actually today you are probably safer where you are than you would be in parts of London. Sounds like you have zero tolersnce there. We could do with it here, instead of pandering to Human Rights all the time.

Hi everyone,

Ann in Glos asked about any possible anti-western feeling in this region, so I'll comment on that first.

I have to say that on the whole, I've never noticed it in Egypt. They are a friendly bunch, and desperately in need of foreign tourists and the revenue tourism brings, so they go out of their way to be friendly to anyone who looks like a tourist (and to them, being western I MUST be a tourist). How genuine their friendliness is, is very hard to say. Put bluntly - tourists have money, and if they can afford to come here on holiday, then they must be very rich!!! Who can blame an Egyptian for such a thought - the average chap here struggles to put food on the table from day to day, so holidays feature only in his dreams.

My Arabic isn't great, but I do try to use it. My neighbours, whilst we are not close, seem friendly enough when we bump into each other, exchanging the usual pleasantries of the day, just like anywhere else, and I certainly don't feel any hostility from them. But I admit to not knowing many Egyptians, as I tend to mix with other expats, of various nationalities.

I was not out on the streets during the 'revolution' during Jan & Feb of this year, and wouldn't have gone near the city centre, where the main riots were, with a barge pole! But nobody in their right mind would have, regardless of being a westerner or not.

It's a case of being careful, of being aware of surroundings, and I liken it (a little) to how things were for anyone living in London during the 70's/80's at the height of the IRA troubles. It's not that you go around constantly thinking there will be trouble, but you just try to keep yourself very aware of what's going on around you.....for example, I do avoid going near Tahrir Suare in the city centre where many of the die-hard protestors still camp out, albeit peacefully protesting currently (which is why it's not on the daily news, but they are still there).
And Fridays are a day to be careful, particularly after midday prayers when, if anything's going to kick off, it's most likely to be then, so I do avoid being near a mosque or a crowd especially on a Friday! Not much different to how we behave in a UK city...trying not be in the wrong place at the wrong time, especially after dark? We, even unconsciously perhaps, avoid being in certain areas/amongst certain types.
So it's not because of anti-western feeling in particular, it's because, in general, this region is more volatile, once again.

Looking back, I've never encountered any anti-western feeling directed at me, personally, except for one incident in Doha during the 2nd Gulf War, when a car full of youths kept driving by shouting obscenties, or in polite terms, to 'go back home' .
I do remember one day during that time when a British Embassy warning came through that expats were to avoid a particular area in the city centre that evening as an anti-US demonstration was to take place. To the local population, you see, we are often mistaken for Americans - they cannot differentiate between English, Scottish, French, Australian etc, just as we cannot differentiate between Saudi, Omani, Egptian, Syrians etc.
It was, on the whole, a peaceful protest as it turned out, with only a little trouble (which is dealt with in an entirely different way, no pussyfooting around and no PC brigade in the Middle East). During that time (2003) there was noticeble anti-US & anti-British feeling, many hated Bush & Blair, but in many Middle East countries protests/demonstrations are not allowed, crowds/gatherings are illegal, so as soon as anything is seen to start, the heavy mob stops it in its tracks. Expats were advised to avoid certain areas on Fridays/ after Friday prayers, and generally it's the same in the whole region still to this day.

Hope that answers your question Ann, sorry to all that I've rambled on and on and on!! :-\ I'll be getting myself banned from this thread soon!! :-D

K

Thought I´d keep it going as it had got to the bottom of the page again.
Woke up this morning & thought it was about 5am because it was pitch dark.In fact it was 6.45 & the sky was black. Was sure we were in for a storm, but so far nothing has happened. It´s grey & windy & very humid & incredibly hot when the sun does break through.
Looking forward to some input from the Dutch contingent (& anybody else who cares to join in)

Nudge just so it doesn,t fall off the board! :-D

So Sunday seems to be much the same wherever you are. Unless of course one is living in a Muslim country, and Asian countries etc. Wouldn't it be nice to know what the weekends are like in these far places?

We are watching the West Ham v Cardiff football match, and it is half time with a niln, nil result.

Ower lunch was very pleasant and the conversation lower nicely.

The weather is rather overcast so not sure if we will have rain this evening or not.

Not much else to write now and the second half is about to start
So signing off

Bridget Spain
19.06 hrs
:-)

Typical Sunday here too Bridget.
Hubby has taken himself off for a snifter & opportunity to put the world to rights with his cronies. Meanwhile I have taken out a small mortgage & bought an English Sunday paper so that I can pass a peaceful couple of hour on the patio this afternoon with the cat for company.
Bliss.

Heatherg, thanks for that, I always wondered how to spell it, glad you knew what I meant :-) At least with French I can understand some of it if not dialect. Schwyzerdütsch sounded difficult to me, but then I never learnt German and that is always almost incomprehnsible (as is Dutch.) Spanish we know a few words and phrases and can read bits of it so manage with signs etc in Tenerife. (We spend two separate months there a year.)

Karen, no problem, when you are not busy.

What a complement for everyone who is adding to our board. Thank you everyone for your grand efforts and entries.

I am out for lunch shortly and will be back late afternoon early evening. I may ask our host and hostes why they chose Spain and the other couple who will be there..depends on the other talking and if it flows well or not....

Like a Book. I will not forget those words.

Bridget in Spain

12.38 hrs :-D

Rita's right, this IS like reading a book! It's great!
Sorry never got back to Ann's question yet re: hostilities towards westerners etc...will comment on that later, I haven't forgotten Ann.
But today haven't got much time, it's hubby's day off and whilst he's busy in the kitchen making ice cream I'm supposed to be off up to the bakery!! I'd better get going......the opening and closing times of shops etc are all back to front at the mo due to it being Ramadan.
Speak to you all later, or tomorrow.....happy Sunday to all,
K x

Thank you Heathererg
How long have you lived where you are now? What do you enjoy the most and dislike the most? Is the weather reliable etc etc.

Did you have to learn French after you arrived or were you already fluent.
I did not manage to speak French despite trying at school and going to night classes for a year. I do so admire people who can pick up different languages so easily.

Looking forward to reading more about you.



Best wishes

Bridget

10.09 hrs Spain :-D

Hello Ann
We speak French where we live,near the Lac Leman. Not many people here speak German even though they spend years learning it at school. My husband would like to learn Schwyzerdütsch ( I had to look it up) because he likes the sound of it.
Very quiet here this Sunday as it's raining! We usually go for a walk in the local Arboretum on a Sunday morning but not today. I hopr theweather's better next Sunday for the African Festival there.
Heatherg

So sorry there are errors in some of my spelling etc in the above but can only get the first few lines when I try to edit.

I " must pay more attention to the detail" is ringing in my ears, and I left school so many years ago I am not saying when!
:-D

Bridget 08.59 hrs

Good morning to you all and I trust that you will all have a great day.
I have sent a personal message to Dutch to see if she is able to add some info about living in Holland. Also thought that when my son and his partner are here again in October I will ask them to add to here as neither of them want to go back to the UK to live. I thought that would give two views one from the 30 somethings and the other from a person who is slightly older.

I will also ask my son who lives in Barcelona for his reason for going there 10 years ago to work at the uni for one year and never went back to the UK to live. Also his partner came to Barcelona for a year or so and also made the
same decision...


More about my part of Spain.

It is a typical Sunday here. That means that this little part of the world is still asleep,the sun is peeking through the clouds, the trees are gent
Y moving, no music, no voices to be heard talking, even the dogs know that it is Sunday a day of quiet and peace until around 10 am.

The church bells will start wringing in about an hour, I enjoy the sound of church bells.

Soon the men will start going to the bakers gor the fresh bread, no additives, so bread must be bought each day...delicious...on the way home they will sit with therir male friends and have a coffee with Brandy.
Around 11 am the church bells will ring again to call the community to church. We went once! It is not the same vas going to church in the UK.the people NEVER stop talking to each other and as there are many local dialects it sounds just as I imagine the Tower of Bable to be!!! As a RC mass was lead by the priest, no fidgeting or talking was allowed, communion was deeply imprinted in our hearts and head, look at the floor when walking to get communion. Hold your hands together in prayer, walk back to your seat with head lowered, do not talk to anyone and kneel until the priest indicates otherwise. Forget that approach here and .....the church is packed every Sunday on at least 3 occasions throughout the day, whilst in the UK catholic churches are being sold off for lack of interest....

Oh dear I am rambling again.. Sorry.

After church the people will promenade along the sea, it reminds me of Itally 35 years ago, everyone in their finery walking on one side of the road, sitting down for coffee then crossing to the other side of the road just as if it had been organised and repeating the coffee etc.
Again no real Spanish person will have their main meal until the evening but they will eat seafood, and a variety og little snacks.
In the afternoon when the sun is at it's highest in the sky and in temperature they will have there siesta whilst the " Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday son".

Well have once more rambled on so will try to gracefully retire for the day and look in again this evening.

Hope to have plenty to read by then

Enjoy your day everyone
Bridget
08.51 hrs Spain

Rita, just noted a few things in you interests ,
I know Glamorgan very well as my twins went to Wales for their university time. They both stayed there until younger twin went into the Army,
Bedwelty, Glamorganuni of my twins, Cardiff wher they lived and worked as students,
Hackney where I lived from the age of 16 to 18,
Somerset near to where my young sister lives she is on the Bath boarder.

The name Faraway always makes me look as my father was a Farady!!

Bridget who needs to sleep but it is to humid

Rita, just noted a few things in you interests ,
I know Glamorgan very well as my twins went to Wales for their university time. They both stayed there until younger twin went into the Army,
Bedwelty, Glamorganuni of my twins, Cardiff wher they lived and worked as students,
Hackney where I lived from the age of 16 to 18,
Somerset near to where my young sister lives she is on the Bath boarder.

The name Faraway always makes me look as my father was a Farady!!

Bridget who needs to sleep but it is to humid

Thanks for that Bridget, I have learned a lot about other countries where Brits have settled.

many of my ancestors went to Australia and New Zealand. some went off to Canada and America I am intouch with some but we dont correspond that much now as we are all getting old.

My sister 6 years my junior went to America to live with her husband who was Italian/ American he was born in New York and his family were born in Italy.this was in 1956 she told me she found it very claustrophobic at first being as the buildings were so high she over looked Central Park but they lived many floors up. she took the children out everyday.
If the lift broke she was in trouble as she had three children.

she said the heat was bad as well as they didnt seem to get much air circulating due to the height of the buildings.

during the winter they use to have deep snow and it was bitterly cold
she lived out there for 10 years she met her husband through friends who were out in Chaonix in France,. and he was over here in England.

we use to phone her on Christmas day the family would line up near the phone and all speak to her for a minute to wish her and the family a happy Christmas ( we had to book the call well in front of Christmas Day otherwise you would not beable to get the call )
when we sent her Christmas presents off we always put in things she could not buy in America and she missed it was little things like custard powder, gravey,Jellies, soaps and sweets.mainly clothes from M & S.and of course choclates . we all use to shed tears afterwards, and she was very homesick. she came back every other year on The Queen Mary with the children..

She taught at a school out there when they children were of school age.

They had a house in New Jersey which they went too for the holidays.

she came back to Britian her and her husband and family in 1966. the children went to univeristy over here. She taught school till about ten years ago when she retired.
Her eldest son moved back to America as he had a good job to go too, but she visits there every year. and he comes over about four times a year,

Rita

AnninGlos,
Perhaps you could invite them both to join us?
Night night for the third time, I think.
It is very humid tonight, can't get cool!!!

Bridget
22.57 hrs Spain :-0

Forgot to say that nearly all homes in the countryside have generators for heating etc. And many also have wells, some have oil delivered and it is stored in huge containers.