Can we make our own 'from our own correspondent'

[teafortwo]

I love love love this radio show...

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/default.stm

Can we please please please have a thread that has a vibe a bit like this?

We can have a bunch of parents who live all over the World in all kinds of countries (including Blighty), with all kinds of neighbours and themselves living in all kinds of situations (rural, city, suburbs and anything inbetween) explaining what is happening where they live. Day to day things (what is on sale at your local market, what you ate for lunch), portraits of figures in your community (e.g a lovely old village character), big news stories (e.g student riots), little news stories (a much loved dog has died that used to wander around the town centre), arguements in the cafe (sport, politics, religion), music and dance (e.g I notice all Parisian teenagers like to do this weird wiggling dance and they even have lessons for how to do it on national telly), observations on things that are different from where you come from (I don't know...e.g a New Yorker's take on living in the Lake District), interesting discussions on languages spoken... etc etc... I think it could be fun!!!

So tell me...

Am I making sense?

and..

What do you think? Shall we give it a go?

I can't imagine living near someone I knew to have murdered my family.

sorry

Here in Germany every child has a Bobby Car. It is something that just belongs to childhood here in Germany. They have been making Bobby Cars for over 30 years so 2 generations of German DCs have grown up with them.

DS got his finger stuck in the Bobby Bar this afternoon. They have a little hole in the front, for towing. DS was in the garage with his little friend and he was shouting for me to come into the garage. He did not sound upset or anything, just the normal, "Maaaaaaaaaaammmmmaaaaa" so I kept asking what he wanted and did not get up. My friend and I were drinking tea and I thought he was just being annoying.

My friend's DD said, "DS has his finger stuck" so we leaped up to help him. He was very calm. We popped him, bobby car and all into the paddling pool until his finger could slip out.

No No. You have nothing to apologize for. It is very good to be able to read all these accounts from all these places around the world. The world is a big place, and what you see on the news seem so far away. This is bringing the world closer. And that is a good thing.

I agreew with Quint, Wellies. Don't apologise. This is the good thing about this thread, it lets us see what life is like is a place that we have only seen on TV, the good and the bad. Hearing from someone firsthand makes it easier to understand what life is like in a different country. Far more so than reading an anonymous news report.

And I have to say that if your friends are able to put the horrible events behind them and live side by side with the people who did such terrible things, then they are very strong and brave.

Bloody hell W@p. Harrowing indeed. Thought of you tonight watching Karadzic in the Hague.

On similar note we went to National Museu here in Dhaka last week where there is a harrowing exhibition regarding 1971 independence war of which I knew embarassingly little.

On similar note we went to National Museu here in Dhaka last week.There is a harrowing exhibition regarding 1971 independence war of which I knew embarassingly little.

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/27/serbia.balkans

This was in my Sunday paper this week - I read it with a little bit of fear in my heart.

I am interested to know - what is your opinion on what Ashdown says Welliesandpyjamas?

What a glorious thread! Bravo to the OP.

Unless you're after a north Wales correspondent I won't be contributing, but will remain an avid reader.

Thanks for the link T4T.

I think Ashdown is SPOT ON and good on him for saying it out loud. I truly hope he is listened to by the right people.

Republika Srpska is a big problem. The squabbling and absolute refusal to consider themselves part of the republic is getting worse and is only heading one way. Trouble is Serbia doesn't really want them...

Ethnic division is as strong as it has been all century. For example, in our town the croats have insisted on a separate school for their children, where their versions of history and geography are quite different to the ones taught in the 'standard' school (attended by muslims, the few last remaining orthodox serbs, and the children of mixed marriages). They are not given the opportunity to mix with each other, which is already leading to more division and inter-ethnic suspicion in the next generation.

As part of the arrangements put in place for the country by the international community, we have 3 presidents here (one corresponding to each ethnic group). This probably seemed like a bright idea around a round table in Brussels 13 years ago but in practice it means that Bosnians feel they have no real leadership and are have lost all trust in politicians due to corruption.

And before I bore you all to tears, I'll just mentioned what happened around the country after the recent Turkey-Croatia football match in the European championships. Riots and street fights between muslims and croats. By young men, just the right age to be the sons of those who fought in the last war and who may have lost their fathers.... young men who are increasingly aware of the West vs Muslim division in the world.... young men just the right age to be the commanders and generals of tomorrow...... And here they say there is always a war every 40 years... I can believe it.

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thanks cod -
you can always be relied on to lghten the mood

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WEllies

But, it is interesting, whilst rather upsetting, to hear of these things, but form aperson's point of view, not the press.

If that makes sense.

WEll, still windy in Westbury
and black clouds now too.

But in my head I have been transported to various countries.

here 's some funny titbits just to show that I promise now to be less sombre:

• there's a little shop in town called "24 Hour Drag Store"
• there's a funeral parlour called "Sham"
• and a driving school called "EuroArs"

thanks Cali, bach
that's the sort of thing you hear about news in the US but interesting to hear that it's true!

Glad it was interesting littlearch. Day-to-day life isn't all about these things here, though. Life is otherwise pretty normal, like anywhere else but with its own little pecularities.

North Wales - hey I think why not?

Welliesandpyjamas - regarding your earlier post please for the life of me don't say sorry - it is the most overwhelming, interesting and human post I have ever read on mn! Those few paragraphs will stay with me for a very long time.

Seriouly, if a line from your post doesn't make it to quote of the week in those mumsnet e-mails... well... you know what... I think mn may as well call itself 'online Daily Mail'!!!

cali, you twpsyn (I've been wellies for aaaaaaaages)... and I still have those coins for DS ready for whoever goes back next!

T4T - well, thanks for those comments . Telling the story isn't a bit like living it so I consider myself lucky every day.

and yes, I want to know what's happening in N Wales. All one world and all that

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