to willfully misunderstand something my MIL said?

[NotQuiteCockney]

She went on a bus today, and said it was 'like the United Nations'. I smiled and said 'oh, that sounds nice'.

Hah!

NQC - LOL My FiL made the same comment at ds's christmas play (I wasn't there otherwise I suspect my response would have been 'yes, and your point is?')

Fantastic!

Now you just need to tell me a way to respond to "he was a coloured man, but awfully nice", which my (white) Grandmother says when talking about anyone non-white. She's 90, so I've given up trying to change her...

I have been shocked by comments from old/middle aged people on the ward where I have been working.

A patient asked for some pain killers, I said I would ask the nurse - the patients husband (visiting) said to patient- " whats she like anyway- the nurse? nice is she?"

Patient- "not a she- a he- and he is black"

Patients Hubby " a man? black aswell? - blimy watch what drugs he gives you then!" -- Then turns to me- "not giving out dope on the side is he??" and laughs out loud- Like he is some kind of comedian...

• this aimed at the same nurse that has been nursing his wife.

Tosser.

My mother gave me a lift to the hospital when I had to have my fanjo restitched. When she heard the doctor's name (an Indian name) she said to the receptionist "Dr ---? Is she English?" The receptionist replied "No, but she speaks English..."

I have lived in this country for most of my adult life but the other day a co worker who tends to take an special pleasure in reminding me I', a foreigner, said "if you were from here you would know what I'm talking about", I felt like saying "what if I'm not from here? you may be from here but so are the sheep and they remain clueless!

Why do people feel so comfortable talking this way? I can sorta understand if you're 90, they grew up in a very different world, but as for the rest!

My mom was older than my MIL, and although she had her moments (happy talk about what good rhythm black people had ) she was a hell of a lot more up to date on this stuff.

Oh, I'm just ignoring the attitude about 'wretched Americans' at Wimbledon. Did an American win the women's tennis?

Oh, well, that makes sense, non-white people are all, always from some other, very warm country. Oh, wait, what about my half-Tanzanian Swedish friend ...

Discussion between MIL and DH:

MIL: This country is getting ruined by immigrants!

DH: [annoyed] Mum don't say that! I am also an immigrant!

MIL: But dear, of course you aren't... you are Spanish!

DH: Yes, but I live in Britain!

MIL: So what? you are still Spanish. No son of mine is an immigrant.

DH: [Hangs the phone and proceeds to bang his head against the wall].

That is just typical, isn't it?

One of our neighbours had a real thing about immigrants (not really nice white immigrants like me - more those horrible non-white ones), and moved away to Spain.

Oh that makes me LARF nqc- when people say that they are moving to spain becuase they are sick of 'immigrants who cant speak bloody english' in our (whose????) country.

then they go and buy a duplex in Torrevieja, and sit outside bars all day reading the Sun- only conversing with other expats. arseholes.

I'm sure she will be getting what she deserves