Page 13 | I live on a traveller site AMA

namechange2026198 · 2026-08-21T12:49:50+00:00

Well exactly that really got a spare bit of time and I know with some of the recent ridiculous tv shows I thought I’d see if I could answer a few myths and questions. I will say my partner is a traveller I am not but am married into the community which in itself is rare

fashionqueen0123 · 22/08/2026 21:30

Boobiez · 22/08/2026 18:54

I’m sorry if this is really random, but I’m involved in breastfeeding education and support and wondered if you could suggest any way we could improve breastfeeding rates in the traveller community? There’s a significant Irish traveller community in my area, and we don’t get any interest from the mums, they just say it’s ’not the traveller way’ We see the traveller mums regularly in antenatal clinics, often having babies really close together, and whilst this is again the tradition for them, it’s not without risk for mum and baby. How do we reach these mums without causing offence?

This page might be useful to read

Breastfeeding in the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Community | Breastfeeding Berkshire

Breastfeeding in the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Community

I am half Romani on my mother’s side. My mother’s extended family currently numbers at around 400 people, and when I was growing up we all lived a stone’s throw from one another, on the same estate…

https://breastfeedingberkshire.wordpress.com/2019/04/08/breastfeeding-in-the-gypsy-roma-and-traveller-community/

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 22/08/2026 21:36

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godmum56 · 22/08/2026 22:08

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did you mean to put this on this thread?

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 22/08/2026 22:21

LiteralNightmare · 22/08/2026 19:18

I'm in Ireland and the council tend to put boulders or low head room barriers on areas to try to stop them. I really feel for you, if I were you I'd be kicking up a fuss with whoever you can. You do not want this to become a regular haunt. House prices will drop and thefts will rise. There's a LOT of cocaine use (and dealing) with the men now which makes them even scarier than usual.

I hate talking about any group in this way, but look up the stats in Ireland, I think it's fair for people to be alert without being racist.

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To Literal nightmare
Thank you for message of support. Much appreciated.

I was wondering actually how these people make a living nowadays.

They all seem to have have top of the range motor homes, and there was some expensive,top of the cars on the site.

Years ago when these people were commonly known as gypsies.

Sounds like stereotyping, but some of the men used to tarmac paths, lay paving and sharpen knives etc. Women sold pegs and bunches of lucky heather.

So it was interested to hear that they are now turned to drug dealing.

As for security.
Strengthened gate entries and low head room barriers etc don't seem to be any kind of deterrent to them. On other sites in the area where Travellers have moved in.

The have driven through fences with their Motorhomes. Cut through metal security gates with bolt cutters and angle grinders and wait for it, oxyacetyline cutting equipment wearing welders masks. Heavy duty stuff!

I now await replies from several Councillors about this matter.

Fingers crossed

Best Regards
🤞 👍

Uricon2 · 22/08/2026 22:44

Livelovebehappy · 22/08/2026 21:07

The problem is though, that the OP is the exception rather than the norm. Seems she hasn’t really conformed to the description of what many of us have experienced from the travelling community, so the questions we are posing aren’t really relevant to the OPs situation.

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A lot of this thread hasnt been reasonable questions though, rather a personal assault. She has insight into the community and it could have been an interesting discussion. It hasn't.

pineapplecrushed · 22/08/2026 23:32

who are the romany travellers who have set themelves up as beggars ? Are they controlled by a man? And what do you think of them?

busymomtoone · 22/08/2026 23:35

I love this thread and find it so interesting, thank you. I’ve had ( positive) dealings with traveller communities, and even seen books aimed at traveller children as there are( used to be?) special words / language not understood by “ gaujos” ( non travellers ) eg hedewig for hedgehog. Is this still the case or perhaps due to outside influence/ social media etc just standard English now?

DecisionTime123 · 23/08/2026 00:20

I'm about to move to a new build estate next to an established permanent gypsy site. My house will be one of those fairly near the boundary. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, although that attitude has never served me well it's still the right attitude isnt it? Or is it?

I was hoping to ask the OP some of the same questions about her community and at the first sign of something she wasn't happy with, she's off. Yet people are defending this by saying we've all been racist. OP had a rare chance to explain a few things and chose not to take it. Pointless AMA.

sashh · 23/08/2026 02:40

PointedFirs · 22/08/2026 10:56

Wigs and/or tichel or snood or some other form of head covering for married women, for a start. Dresses that cover knees, collarbones, elbows, often monochrome, generally not in bright colours. Flat shoes, often flesh-coloured tights.

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I'll add sometimes a wig and a hat. The tights often have a back seam so there is no chance of you thinking their legs are bare.

On shabos a white apron over the skirt.

No handbag.

Never trousers.

TheGander · 23/08/2026 09:51

In all likelihood they are of Eastern European gypsy ( also called Roma) origin. Their handler is probably a man, it could also be a woman eg their mother in law. I lived in Romania for a while which has a huge gypsy population. I sometimes wonder how things will evolve for these gypsies if they stay in the uk long enough. Will they eventually move to other activities and allow their children ( and women) to engage other than by begging.

HumberSquid · 23/08/2026 10:30

DecisionTime123 · 23/08/2026 00:20

I'm about to move to a new build estate next to an established permanent gypsy site. My house will be one of those fairly near the boundary. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, although that attitude has never served me well it's still the right attitude isnt it? Or is it?

I was hoping to ask the OP some of the same questions about her community and at the first sign of something she wasn't happy with, she's off. Yet people are defending this by saying we've all been racist. OP had a rare chance to explain a few things and chose not to take it. Pointless AMA.

Mmmm, well when you get your new traveller neighbours why dont you pop round w a cake and then ask them to account for every bad thing done by their community. Then you can return the favour. Should be enlightening.

bafta16 · 23/08/2026 13:01

Why do you obsess abotu cleaning and toliet in a park.....nobody ever ever e will answer this.

TheTealBee · 23/08/2026 16:28

Thank you for this post, I am fascinated, very interesting.
Where did you meet your husband and did you always know he was a traveller? What did your parents/siblings think? Did you go out on dates? Do yours and his family ever meet up? Do you come across any prejudice towards your family? Do you have friends outside the community? Sorry for all the questions!