General Chat

Tuesday 12 September 9pm BBC3

This documentary follows the story of Luke, who grew up in Rochdale and after taking a DNA test discovered that his dad was not his biological father.
The story follows his quest for more answers.

That sounds interesting!

Interesting, thanks Gwyn :-)

Thanks Gwyn…will take a look at that :-)

Have to admit, this is why I find the female side of my family more 'secure' when doing genealogy :-)

Maggie, I have often wondered how many authentic Dukes and Lords we have had down the centuries. I bet there was more than the odd one who were no relation at all to their supposed fathers.

It would have made much more sense for titles to descend down the woman’s line.

All changed now though, thanks to scientists. :-)

Tonight

I was tempted to watch last night Gwyn…..but have saved it for tonight :-D :-D

That had me in tears!
So sad Carlos never got to meet his father.

I could relate to Luke, when filling in forms, though!
I've put up a picture of me, aged 8 or 9.
My children had never seen it. I sent it to them, with no comment, about 5 years ago.
One thought it was a random picture from 'National Geographic'! Have to say, it was the same daughter who, when we were at an Anne Frank exhbition excitedly told me they had a picture of me - it was Anne Frank!
Neither of them thought it was me.

I am one of 4. I have brown eyes, the rest - blue.
Eldest brother - very fair hair. Next brother - black hair, blue eyes (like my dad)
Me - though it looks reddish, my hair was jet black, My skin - the slighest sign of sun, I was dark olive!

I went to 7 different schools around the British Isles, and suffered, discrimination.
Along with the 'you speak funny' (different dialect) - which all 4 of us endured.
I also had the 'where do YOU come from' vibe.
At grammar school, I had a Chinese Mauritian friend - a teacher actually asked us if we were sisters! We had (coincidentally) the same bobbed hair, that's all - though maybe we had a similar skin colour, but I'm sure she didn't ask all fair skinned blonde children the same question :-S

Now, we don't know who my dad's dad was, but we're fairly sure he was Cornish (we have a potential name) - my dad's mum's side were Cornish - some Breton in the 14th century.

Sister and I did a DNA test - we're definitely full sisters, but I have twice the amount of Iberian to her, which could possibly explain my darker skin. One of our great grandmothers was from a traveller family from the New Forest.

My nephew (sister's son) also had a DNA test done at the same time.
His dad was a 'Murphy'. Nephew had similar DNA to sister and I.
No Iberian - but a lot of Roman - did the Romans invade Ireland??? No, they didn't!
I've asked one of my brothers to get a DNA test done - may give us more definition of our dad's dad's origin..

My ex is fair skinned, blue eyed and had light brown/fair hair.
We have 2 daughters - one is very fair skinned, blue eyed, and with straight fair hair, the other, brown eyed, dark skinned, with curly auburn hair.
Transpires, ex's grandmother was also from a New Forest traveller family!

Since my hair has silvered, my skin has lightened. Have to admit though, since being turned down for a job in my 40's, as they wanted men, or women of an 'ethnic minority', when asked my 'ethnicity' after that, I ticked 'British', and 'other'.

When I was 18, I had an afro. Walking home one night, in Portsmouth, I felt a blow to my head, and was told to 'get back to where I came from'.
The lad - on a bike - turned around to spit at me, realised I wasn't quite what he expected, and fell off his bike - well he didn't quite fall off his bike, his legs were still either side of the saddle. Quite painful, I should imagine!.

I minced over on my platforms and put my foot on his head.
'I was 'getting back to where I came from', I was walking home', was my introductory comment. There followed a 'conversation' about why he did what he did, and him pleading with me to allow him up.
Transpires he was the son of an immigrant! His dad was Polish.
Then followed the discussion about why different coloured immigrants are 'different', and 'worthy' of abuse.
Seems he wanted a job (so he was unemployed too!), and wanted to work in the Dockyard.
Shame, I was the receptionist at the Dockyard - the first person you see when you want a job there - and I had a dislike of racists, homophobes (quite a lot of 'trans' dockies - great fun at the pub - I'd just come from one!) and misogynists.
I eventually let him go, on condition that he went the opposite way to me.

So, I don't know what I am, but I'm bl**dy proud of it!

Edit: Younger daughter put a picture on Watsaap of Humza Yousaf's (leader of the SNP) mother - and one of me next to it. No need for any comment - the resemblance was quite strong :-D :-S

Maggie
So interesting that you and your sister have such differing ratios of Iberian connections even though you are full sisters.

Daughter and I have tests being processed at the moment. We hope that results might offer a clue to her son's results, which showed an unexpected Irish link. :-S

It was an emotional story, but I'm glad that Carlos found answers too through Luke's searching.

When I started watching the prog I thought perhaps it wasn't for me but was pleased I stuck with it :-)

It was so nice that through looking for his own birth father Luke was able to help his birth father find his....the wonders of DNA :-). Wasn't Carlos lovely, I did feel for him <3

Same here Belle….but glad I stuck with it, everyone needs a Luke in their lives…lovely guy with a lovely family :-)

I have just watched and enjoyed it.

A happy experience for both Luke and Carlos. Job done for both of them - great. :-)

I’ve not yet watched it but have just read a review of aR4 series that started on Monday, called The Gift. About the perils of doing the test and how a group of people have found they were the product of sperm donation involving fraud.

Sounds both fascinating and frightening.

I thought the need to ensure the legitimacy of the heir resulted in the "heir and spare" description.

After producing said "heir and spare", the mother could have affairs, but not before!

I can remember joking about it re our local bigwigs back when I was still in school ......... we didn't actually have a Lord or higher in Oldham, but there were some wealthy ones who would like a legitimate heir!