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 🤣🤣.

I usually call myself a lawyer rather than a solicitor (although solicitor is technically correct). I work in-house now rather than for a partnership, and the distinction between solicitors and barristers seems less important. For people who aren’t familiar with what the differences mean, just calling yourself a lawyer feels more straightforward.

I don’t work in the City though (but I certainly know what that means!)

This is me!!

I picture yoga mums with glossy hair wearing boden going to see a ‘shit hot lawyer’ in the city to discuss the divorce from their rich cheating husbands.
‘I want all the stocks and bonds and the holiday home in the country.. he wouldn’t be a banker in the city if it wasn’t for me doing daily brunch with the kids whilst he worked’.

Meanwhile I’m sat next to my plumber DP in my new look leggings sipping tea 😂😂

@WeWereInParis

I think it's the core plot of nearly every one, not one in particular, just well captured by @Cwcwbird

@Cwcwbird were you a shit hot lawyer and are your ducks in a row? Especially if you’re gonna be a sahm to his dc. 🤣🤣🤣

cwcbird I was going to say this sounds like a film. It could go either way; fairly good if you get a young Jennifer Aniston to play your part and Ryan Reynolds to play the lonely, single guy who works on the farm, he Was resigned to single life until Jennifer came along. Or absolutely dreadful and one of those monotonous Christmas films they show on Channel 5.

@Pandor I thought lawyer and solicitor were the same thing? But America uses lawyer and we solicitor but the same thing, a license to practice law?

Only heard the term lawyer on American tv and mumsnet.

They're called lawyers where I work (government). And are you going to address the misunderstanding you've made over the term City in the UK?

I've just read a post by a cancer suffering mum stuck in a horrendous marriage with teenage kids who despise their father. Sounds pretty real life to me. Not sure what you've been reading.

I think they already explained re working in the city - realistically there are lot of people who work there and if you are from London and around it sounds v natural.

I am a SAHP and we do not get any benefits.
What is the household earning threshold to get a UC to assume so quickly that everyone is claiming it??

Are you actually aware of childcare costs in the U.K.?

People's circumstances are different and to say they sound unreal and movie-like is a bit offensive.

I saw this on the hallwark channel earlier. It made me cry when the dog got cancer👻

I've always assumed 'the city' to be the city of London (I'm pretty sure the street names have 'the city of London' written under them in the square mile don't they? It's been an age since I've ventured into the big smoke!
It's sensible to get married if you are going to have children, as any assets should be equally split including a pension(s). Given that many women end up going part time or stopping work due to children she is at a financial disadvantage if the partnership breaks down.

Solicitors and barristers are both lawyers OP. A lawyer is a practitioner of the law. The roles of a solicitor and a barrister are separated in England and Wales, not in the US.
As previously mentioned The City means financial services.

No it’s real like everything on the internet.

The City is normal to me but then I’m in London where it’s relevant, I usually hear lawyer not solicitor

I’m guessing magic circle law firm hasn’t been used yet op as that actually does sound like a faraway thing

I’m not even from the U.K. and I know the city as London financial district.. anyone who works as a solicitor or barrister is a lawyer. It’s a catch all term. Have you ever heard of someone studying ‘solicitoring’ or ‘barristering’ @MoaningMyrtle202

^ this

I worked in the city for a while. My closest friend is a corporate lawyer. I don't know anyone claiming UC including a couple of women who are divorced, although of course lots of people do.

I don't see what's so difficult to understand

That's disappointing. I'm on mat leave with a baby that will only nap on me - I'm watching a lot of Christmas films at the moment!

Bit baffled that you're well travelled but didn't know what the City referred to? I think there's an awful lot of situations that fall between Hollywood film and everyone claiming UC though tbh

To be fair people won't tell you their business weather they get UC or not!

I don't agree with OP at her thoughts about SAHM infact it's the opposite... all the husbands seem to be in a great job to enable them to be a SAHM until secondary school!
Well on MN...

Agree with OP about "The city" I don't hear that term in real life!

I say ‘the city’ all the time. It’s normal to say if you work in the the Square Mile. I can see how this may sound odd if you aren’t familiar with the terminology.

I worked in the Ciry as a lawyer. There were glamorous bits but generally it was bloody long hours hard and stressful. Did 7 years that was enough! Glad I did it though.

As everyone already said: the city of London, the square mile, etc. And yes, I know women who decided to get married after having kids for protection. I don't live in a movie.

We have lots of assets apart from our house - rental properties, premium bonds etc.
All of them earned by us apart from a £30k inheritance. We've never earned anything like £120k never mind £360k. I've never been a sahm except for maternity.
We used a solicitor for our wills and properties purchases.

‘Lawyer’ is fairly common too. It is more general and encompasses solicitors, barristers and academics with legal training. Nothing odd about that either.

I'm so confused that you've not heard the term lawyer in the UK? Are you sure you've spoken to lots of people? It's a common term?

I think that there's a lot of exaggeration on MN or showing off in one way or another. But I don't really see the glossy yoga mum stereotype very often, it's a bit of a trope that MN are all middle class SAHMs, but its not really the reality.

And are you going to address the misunderstanding you've made over the term City in the UK?

Address? Who are you - the thread prefect?!