Mumsnet world is like a movie to me, anyone else?

[MoaningMyrtle202]

Im well travelled and work with the general public in the UK so like to think I have some kind of idea of your average Joe blogs generally speaking.

When I come on mumsnet however the general replies from mainly British posters seem to show an alternate universe.

People refer to working ‘in the city’. Which city is this? Why call it ‘the city’. Example ‘I was a lawyer in the city’.
It sounds like Hollywood movie speak. I’ve never in my life heard anyone say ‘I work in the city’. People just say ‘I work in London/Leeds/Cardiff’ or ‘i was a lawyer’.

Thats another thing. A lot of people use the word lawyer on here but but I’ve rarely heard that term used in the UK, normally it’s solicitor?

Then referring to marriage. So many posts about ‘protection’ and being entitled to half. Most people I know don’t have ‘assets’ outside their mortgaged home? Most people also buy jointly a house regardless of marriage. A lot of people are also in rented and there is 0 assets.

It’s like everyone lives in some Hollywood movie where they were on 120K working in ‘the city’ as a ‘hot shot lawyer’ but then married top law firm partner husband on 360K. They then gave up their career for children and are now divorcing said high earning husband and taking half these mysterious ‘assets’. Because they enabled husband to become the rich successful man he is today. Like a plot to a film.

In real life most people only own their home with a joint mortgage as an only asset. If the woman is a SAHM it’s usually because their household income is being topped up with UC. Therefore most couples both work albeit one of them part time with kids.

Where are all these Hollywood lifestyle people in everyday life?

Where is ‘the city’? It sounds great. I live in a city and no one refers to here as ‘the city’ so it can’t be here 🤣🤣.

when people say they work in The City, they're referring to London's financial district

How do you know they're British though? Do you think I'm from the UK, for instance?

You post seems very charming tbh. Everyone brings something to MN and takes something away.

‘The city’ is short for The City of London. Geographically this was the medieval London, Westminster, where Parliament is was a different place.

it always was a centre of commerce and it then became the UKs financial district. Like Wall Street is a short hand for New York’s financiaL district.

it’s now a short hand for thé industry of financial services. Especially commercial and investment financial services (businesses banking and managing large funds of money) not retail banking (the banks the rest of us use for bank accounts, loans and mortgages).

it’s a term for an industry Now as those firms are spread out. Some still in the old ‘city’ lots are now in Canary Wharf and other London districts.

if assume someone that said they worked ‘in the city’ worked in financial services. A lawyer in the city is working for a firm providing legals advice on those dealings.

generally they are well paid and demanding jobs.

Loads of people say "The City" in real life. It's not a Mumsnet or a Hollywood thing, it means London's financial district.

I guess I’m a Hollywood movie person according to the OP. The reality is I’m very average and happen to be married to a completely normal bloke that has recently retired from a high paying job in London. Our assets are a detached house in the south east, a flat in the south east, both mortgage free and a massive pension. I’ve mostly been a SAHM, although I was also a teen unmarried mum
when I was younger. We are 53 and 56.

Erm... 'The City' is London, the financial district specifically.

Everyone's different but lots of people have assets in terms of savings, investments, pensions outside of their mortgage. I don't think that's especially unusual.

The city stands for the city of London financial business district...lawyers are different from solicitors lots in London and many other uk cities. Both career options discussed at uni as options where I probably first heard the terms.

It's not Hollywoods it's just business and London . Tbh really common ...

My DH works in the city and I used to work in the city. The Square Mile is another way of referring to it.

I had never heard of it until I went to university. Shorthand for financial services, good graduate salaries and pre covid, superb lunchtime shopping opportunities 😆

I used to work in the city. I was single and had no time for romance. I never celebrated Christmas. Then my great aunt died and left me a Christmas tree farm in a little town out in the country. I was going to sell it but when I went out to view the place, everything changed.

The man who had been running the farm showed me round and took me to a tree lighting festival and Christmas cookie making competition and I rediscovered my love of Christmas and left my big city life behind.

The City is as explained

re the marital assets, in a way, the less you have, the more it matters. I'm in a small flat. If I lost that in a divorce, I'd have half a small flat! Money always matters, even more so when there's less of it.

people live differently. Many people on MN are quite affluent but the two examples you have given are pretty normal folk. My first clerical work was in the City. I grew up in Essex and many of us were commuting there.

Anyone who has ever lived or worked in London knows that The City is a district in London. It is exclusively London speak though as far as I know. I've heard lots of people referring to themselves as lawyers rather than solicitors and never questioned it - I do sort of see what you mean though. And the other thing - it may be more common than you think for people to have investments beyond the mortgage.

The City lunchtime shopping is better now @Dogsgottabone , as it’s less busy! But the Gherkin TKMaxx is closing so swings and roundabouts….

Is this the plot of a Christmas film?

If the woman is a SAHM it’s usually because their household income is being topped up with UC.

I was at a party on Friday night, roughly 50 percent sahms. The only household in receipt of UC was a single mum. I know a lot of sahms (and am one), don't know any getting UC. Depends who you mix with.

And the man wasn't a widower and father to a winsome 7 year old? Pft.

@WeWereInParis

You think? 😂😂😂😂

I didn't know it had one!

haven't been into the City since summer - a Guildhall gallery visit, great place, great tours, free to go.

OP there are lots of lovely things to see in the Square Mile, it's not just boring offices etc.

I live in London and The City is a financial 1 square mile district from Blackfriars Bridge to Liverpool street to the North of the Thames. I worked in the City for many years, albeit, not as a lawyer.

It is exclusively London speak though as far as I know.

It isn't. It's widely used. I've just had a quick look at the bbc business news section and two articles referenced "The City" without explanation.

I agree with you OP. I never hear of anyone talking of working in the city where I am. Just isn't the done thing.

It's like a wee movie each evening when I log in - next chapter please 🤣

I’m pretty surprised that someone so well travelled has never heard of the city of London financial district and doesn’t realise that solicitors and lawyers are different jobs.

a quick google of both of those things could have shown you that it’s entirely normal to be a lawyer in the city and not a Hollywood film or parallel universe

I live in Ireland. I'm well aware when the term 'the city' is used that it refers to the London financial district known as 'The City'.

It's really common knowledge.

Well yes, of course it is 😂

I'd quite like to know which one - sounds like kind of predictable Netflix Christmas film I'd enjoy with a mince pie

And it's just solicitors not lawyers we speak of. I have never used a lawyer.

Bless