from our own correspondent

[teafortwo]

Old thread...
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/2423/576865?ts=1222265998268&msgid=12499051

New thread...

to be created below!

Enjoy!

I feel so ignorant - Due to the Gaza thing really upasetting me I have not listened to or read the news for quite a while, so I didnt even know there was a strike in Paris

Fooc - N Yorkshire

I am feeling imensley Northern at the momnet, I guess due to the I am a Northerner thread and also the time of the year and my operation etc.

So I wanted to list all the wonderful things that living where I am gives me and brings to our family.

The beach at Saltburn, riding up the vernicular and running down the peir. The annual duck race in the summer down the beck and running in the valley gardens. The boys are so looking forward ot the miniture railway opening for the spring

Watching the Kite surfers at Redcar and also watching the diggers and workmen redeveloping the boating lake. I remember catching crabs with reeds and buckets as a child and can not wait to show the boys how to do the same.

We have also enjoyed the fresh dabs we bought direct from the boat as we drove past to drop my mum as the hospital, perfect fried with a dab of butter and pepper for lunch

We have also been to the North York moors to watch some of the filming of heartbeat and had fun watching the steam trains.

So just a small post from me.

WOW!!! Great post themadhouse!!!

Sorry other foocs - I can't help it. I love everyones posts so so much. My heart does a flip when I see a new post on the foocs. The foocs makes everywhere and everything in the World personal.

However, Themadhouse's posts are always about an England even when I was living there I only read about in books - it is so nostalgic and hot chocolate like and lovely and cute and warm and and and .... I can't help but gush everytime she posts!!!!

Ah Teafortwo you make me smile.

You see this is where we grew up, but work and money took me and DH down south, which we loved, but once DS1 was born then we needed to return for all of these reasons and more.

We so want the boys to have the type of childhood we did. I want them to be able to go out on a morning on their bikes and return in time for lunch all covered in mud. I want them to build dens in the woods and chase the cats through the hay bales as DH did.

Most of all we want them to be happy and the fact is that you have to work hard once you start working that childhood should be pretty idilic and if we can provide that then great. Also I am so enjoying doing it all again and am finding it so uplifting. Life is not perfect and I never pretend that it is, but I am determined to see the good in everything at the moment.

FOOC - also Yorkshire!

Inspired by TMH having been directed by T42...

So, why is a southern country girl like myself living 'oop north' in a large city? I came for the job, with some trepidation, only having been here for the interview. The only time I had lived in a City before was when I was at Uni, and that had not attracted me to urban living.

After 10 yrs of living within 25 - 40 mins walk of the City Centre (depends which side) we have moved further out so ds and Mistledog have a large garden to play in. However, we now find ourselves within 5mins of proper countryside (the sort where you hear curlew calling in the spring, see fallow deer etc) with red kites flying overhead at times, within 5mins of a bus route into the City Centre. The City Centre has so many more cultural opportunities than the large towns we were near when I was growing up - even though it seems to be much more compact. There's a wealth of wonderful buildings (OK, there are a few naff ones too!), and the greenspaces are great. Although some southern towns do do treeplanting much better than the local authority in the City Centre.

Just outside the City you can be straight out into wonderful countryside with proper hills. A bit further and you're into the Dales or the Moors - as TheMadHouse has already noted.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find such an ideal mix of cultural opportunities and fabulous countryside lying quite so close together (in the UK at least!)

Mumsnet brought to you by Yorktastics - Yorkshires biggest holidays and relocation company

Welcome Mistlethrush please hang around a bit! There is a register to sign up somewhere if you want to be all official - also it is really nice to see where everyone is posting from.

I too feel nostalgic for Britain when I read TheMadHouse's posts. There is something about the combination of coast, moorland and city that takes me back (we had it in the West Country too you know )

FOOC Galicia

I logged on this morning to give you a few musings on one stage of life that hasn't been dealt with on these thread yet. We've heard about birth, we've heard about childhood, we've heard about marriage and other celebrations like Christmas and Eid, but if my memory serves me we haven't heard about death.

Unfortunately I have been in the position to witness the processes involved in death and funerals in Spain twice in the last year. On both occasions it was one of DH's uncles who passed away, leaving families filled with grief but also memories of long, fully-lived lives.

My musings come from my position as an outsider. A Church of England protestant, not a Catholic. A Brit, not a Spaniard. And an in-law, not "family".

What strikes me most is that funerals happen so quickly, often the day after death. I suppose it is because Spain is a hot country, so it was best to bury the deceased as soon as possible, to prevent disease. This means that it is all a rush. Phone calls are made. Family who live out of town must drop everything and drive through the night to get to the funeral. Florists make up wreaths and amazingly intricate displays of lilies and carnations in record time. A notice is printed in the paper, giving the time and place of the burial and funeral.

Spanish cemeteries are very different to the green field graveyards of my native Devon. Gravelled paths, tall family mauseleums in white and grey marble forming regular blocks, myriad statues of angels and agonizing Christs. Space is at a premium, and I discovered to my shock, that after ten years the coffin is removed from the tomb to make room for more to come, and the bones are placed in a smaller box in a higher part of the tomb.

Yesterday's marathon started at midday with a service in the sparkling modern chapel at the funeral home. Mourners were dressed as for a day at work, not all in black as I had expected the first time. After a quick run through the Mass, and a cursory reference to the deceased's name in what must be the standard funeral sermon, we were out in the rain watching the burial. In my case I was hearing, rather than watching as there were so many umbrellas in the way. Then at 8pm there was another funeral Mass, this time in a city centre church. In both funerals, only the priest spoke, and there were no tributes from friends or family, and no hymns or music. It struck me as rather impersonal, but the family seemed comforted by it.

It got me thinking about my own death (as these things are wont to do). Where would I like to have my final resting place? Is it possible to have a non-religious funeral in Spain? Why is it that dh and I have never really touched on this subject?

FOOC Greater Manchester

Cies, I do agree with you, it is not a subject a lot of us talk about and the cultural differences can be quite daunting. I grew up is Swizzerland, as a Roman Catholic. I remember going to funerals that remind me of what you are describing (asside from dress code which was more formal + funeral usually takes place 3 days after the death).

I now live in England where the funeral I am told is quite often a week after passing away, but I have never been to one; I think here people get invited to funerals rather than everyone who wants to pay their resperct comming to it (please correct me if I am wrong).

I have converted to Islam 13 years ago, and have never seen an islamic funeral ,the only things I know are that people are burried in a white sheet, not a coffin, preferably in the 24 hours after their death.

Your post is definitely prompting me to ask DH much more about the rituals and "official" things to do if one of us passes away.
It is not the happiest subject but I do thank you for bringing it up, as I am saddly aware we all at some point will have to go through it.

FOOC Nigeria

We are in the Harmattan season, which arrived late this year. Harmattan is fine sand that is brought on the winds from the Sahara. Everything becomes coated a uniform grey and the sun is reduced to a glowing red orb in the sky. This year Harmattan has been very variable. Some days the atmosphere is clear, on others, such as last Monday, it was so thick that visibility was reduced to a matter of metres.

Today I noticed a moth on our balcony. Not usually a cause for concern but I fear it heralds a rerun of two years ago when our island in Lagos was inundated with moths. Sure enough, when I stepped outside a number of moths fluttered out from their resting places causing me to dash inside, slamming the doors behind me! Two years ago the swarms were so thick that walls and ground were black with moths and as one walked outside they fluttered in one's face and hair and left black marks on clothing. We even had to lay towels at the bottom of outside doors to prevent them coming into the apartment.

Coincidentally dd2 had a 'wildlife' moment yesterday. At school she felt a fly on her leg and brushed it away without looking. But it didn't go, so she glanced down and saw a huge, bright red, hairy caterpillar crawling up her leg! She screamed, as 12yo girls are wont to do, and ran round shaking her leg in order to dislodge it. All her so-called friends ran away, lol! It landed on the floor, whereupon someone stamped on it and in dd's words, its yellow insides came out and there were a lot of insides. The hairy caterpillars tend to be poisonous but dd doesn't seem to have been stung.
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I've seen on the news about a big fire in a supermarket in Nairobi - I hope TM&M comes on here soon to reassure us she's ok.

FOOC from the London Borough of Grunge.

Just dropping in to say hi!

Sue - I am feeling rather queesy reading your post - I hate things with wings. I would not keave the house with the moths - urh

I bet cleaning up after the sand is a nightmare too.

We are forcast Snow for tomorrow, so DH has brought work home, so that if it is he can still do stuff. I guess thats what living in the sticks can mean in the UK - we do not get gritted!!

FOOC Greater Manchester

TheMadHouse I have one of those horrible yellow container of grit (from the council) right in front of my doorstep, do you want me to send some of its content your way?

It was snowing a little bit this morning, for about ten minutes but it has stopped now. I love snow, and get very exited at the first sign of the white stuff!

FOOC N Yorkshire

Actually Gorionine I dont mind not being gritted. I can walk DS1 to Preschool and have things for my shoes. DS2 can go in the buggy. DH can always work from home and there is noting pressing to get out of the house for. SO let it snow. We can build snow men and drink hot chocolate

Hi Bocca,

Thanks for joining the foocs!

If you look back in the history of the foocs you will find a few groups of posts where we all get very wow and oooooh and even a bit teary eyed about her royal loveliness - London - It is no secret We luvvvvv Luuaaarnduuun!!!

Please post as much as possible about London - a place lots of foocs hold very dearly in their hearts!

Cies - what an interesting and thought provoking post. I recently went to a very British Methodist funeral - I suppose a Spanish person would find it very very quiet and perhaps even a little dull!

Gorionine - your post was deeply interesting too. With your background what a truly original perspective you must have on all things about the lively goings on in Manchester - I seriously can't wait for your next post!

sue - The more you tell us about living in Nigeria the more I think either you are the braveist woman I have ever met... or probably the maddest!!!! Seriously - Keep posting I love your posts so so much !

I forgot to tell Wellies - fab website... I am very interested in planning a holiday with you one day (afraid pennies this year are going on a new shower-room and other household must dos - but perhaps next year).... it looks seriously very idyllic! Do you get many groups with children?

FOOC Switzerland Geneva

We have plenty of snow today, shall I pass some around?

It started snowing during the night and has continued on and off throughout the day. Where we are the snow tends to go mushy within a day or two, we have to go further up in the mountains to go sledging or skiing. The closer to the lake, the milder weather we have so the snow rarely lasts long.

Yesterday we took a trip up to Gstaad in the German speaking part of Switzerland. DH was pleased to be able to order his coffee in German and understand what the waiter was saying. The waiter spoke Hochdeutsch so that we could understand, if he had spoken Schwyzerdütsch, Swiss-German, then we would have struggled to understand.

According to DH, the Swiss-German language evolved when the Swiss did not go through the same "Sprachreformen", language reforms that the Germans did. Many other areas of Germany and Austria have regional dialect but Switzerland is the only area to have the Swiss dialect as a standard language and is used in almost all social situations.

The town of Gstaad is well known for the luxury hotels, fine dining, designer shopping and the international stars that live and visit. Current longtime residents include Julie Andrews, Elisabeth Taylor, Bernie Ecclestone and the town enjoys regular visits from the likes of Paris Hilton and Kofi Annan. Presumably the Gstaad residents enjoy Kofi Annan's visits more than Paris Hilton's.

Sadly, there were no VIPs around yesterday when we were there, but we did see a lot of very chic ladies in fur coats. We were amused to see that many of them were walking Maltese Terriers, so I looked very glamourous with my little puppy even if she is Maltese Terrier/Cavalier King Charles with not a pedigree in sight.

The drive to Gstaad is very scenic but it does take some time to negotiate the windy mountain roads. The rich and famous take advantage of the helipad just outside of town, next to the Porsche/Bentley/Mercedes dealership. You don't often see a Bentley dealership near remote Swiss towns.

DH suggested a trip on a horse drawn sleigh. We wrapped up warm under the blankets provided and spent an hour jingling through the snow on a two horse open sleigh. Pic on profile of us just before we set off. We were looking a bit more frozen by the time we returned.

Mme Lindt - I always compare swiss german to german for those who don't know about it by saying that those taking part in the conversation in swiss german need umbrellas. My grandmother was from Spietz, and I have relatives in Zurich. Its really surprising that my son, born in England, has more Swiss blood in him than his 'swiss' cousins...
BTW - do pass some of the snow this way please, we just had a light dusting since11am but nothing settling...

FOOC Greater Manchester

sorry teafortwo, I will go for boring post this time!The preasure is on now for me to be interessting. I do not knoww if I can actually manage more than one a year though[bitting nails emoticon].

It is all white here! it looks fantastic. they are forcasting more light snow for today and heavy snow for tomorrow and I cant wait! I hope it will snow on the next school run so the Dcs can play "eat the falling snow flake while running like lunatics" (there must be a shorter name for it, all suggestions welcome!)

FOOC London Borough of Grunge

We have snow that is deep and crisp and even (I can't remember ever having so much snow in the back garden). We trudged to school, only to find it was closed - I didn't bother to ring first as I thought it would be like when you try to ring the GP surgery first thing and 300 others have had the same thought. Duh! We're now back home. Husband is trying valiantly to go to work but I am hoping he'll give up and come home, so that we can make a snowman in the garden.

There's a frantic snowball fight going on in the street involving the dozen or so teenagers whose schools are also closed. I'd quite like to join in!

BabyBocca has just said - unprompted - that she wants to join in the great street snowball fight. So I'm off now to don wellies and scarf. I'll report back later!

FOOC Geneva

My DC started lunchtime club at school last week so I took myself into town for a wander to celebrate my new found freedom, at least for Mondays and Fridays. The snow has already started to melt and so I looked a bit ridiculous by midmorning in my hiking boots. Especially when the sun came out.

After meeting DH for lunch and having a walk along the lakeside in the sun, I came back home to find that we had had unwelcome visitors when I was out galavanting.

The door to the terrace was wide open. At first I thought that one of the kids had left it open before we went to school but then I saw the marks on the door where the door had been forced.

My first thought was my computer as I only bought it 3 weeks ago but it was still sittin on the sideboard, only 3 steps from the door.

I called DH, the landlord and then the police before calling my neighbour to ask if she had seen anything suspicious. She said that around 1pm her door bell rang and her (huge and scary until you get to know him) dog went mad, barking and howling. When she got to the door there was noone there so she went outside, calling "Bonjour" but there was noone there.

We assume that she disturbed the gang and they fled without taking anything from our house.

Thank God she was home otherwise they would have had time to ransack the whole house.

The police arrived within the hour (not bad as we are a half hour drive from the town centre) and did the "hmmm, hmmmm, hmm" thing while using a torch to look at the damaged door. We have been told to shut the shutters if we are away longer periods and to put the alarm on every time we leave the house. Here in the state of Geneva they have an average of 20 burglaries a day, going up to 40 a day in the Xmas period.

Basically the police are helpless. He told me that they have no chance of finding the culprits, they don't even try. Since nothing was stolen, his presence was more to give me a report for insurance purposes than actually to catch the perpetrator.

The Swiss blame the gypsies, and now the Russians/East Europeans for the crime wave. Whoever it was had a bad day today, luckily for us.

oh Mmmelindt I do feel for you. We've been broken into quite a few times since moving to NZ. We've been lucky on all but one occasion (when my grandmothers jewellery was taken - not that is was expensive just sentimental value). For me it wasn't the things they took which were replaceable just the thought that some had been in MY house. It's also reassuring but very sad to know that police reactions are the same worldwide - the longest it took for them to come out was 5 days. They give you the report for insurance, we download images from the security camera and that is usually it. They did catch one lot once though from the camera footage etc about 6 months later doing another break in. They confessed to over 100 break ins . Here the maori's cop the flack.

We now have a safe and always put the alarm on even when we're at home but outside somewhere else on the property - very sad really. I always lock the doors when in the shower etc etc...

Hope you're OK.

MmeLindt - what a shock that must have been. So glad nothing was taken.

Here in Spain they blame gangs of Romanians and Bulgarians. In fact there have been some horrendous stories of these gangs breaking into smart houses in urbanizaciones or posh housing developments in the suburbs. They break in while the owners are asleep and hold them hostage, beating them up until the owners tell them where the safe is and what the combination is.

Most houses in rural areas are like Fort Knox compared to the equivalent in UK. Electric gates as standard. Metal shutters closed whenever the owners go out and at night. And people don't like to live on the ground floor - they use that for garages, junk rooms, utility rooms etc. So anything worth getting at is a floor up.

It's generally thought that living in town in a block of flats is a much safer place to be. PILs would be shocked if they knew that DH and I dream of living in a remote little hamlet.

Fooc Greater Manchester

Oh MmeLindt, it is .

We had a break in in our conservatory two years ago ( I was in the house and did not hear a thing) my hanbag and jacket were stolen, some bit and bobs the burgler did not need were found by a neighbour in a nearby field. We had the same comments from the police here, lock doors, put alarms, install a higher fence... they gave us a "crime number"which does not help at all but makes you feel part of statistics !

They also blames it on Gypsies as there was a fair in the neighbourhood! I myself think it is just someone who saw an opportunity and took it! I do not like when they link between a cultural/national/ethnic group and levels of criminality, a bit too simplistic I think. it is a bit like "pass the buck".

Good luck for you long winter Califrau! here the snow is already melting I was promissed more!I want more!

FOOC in Malaysia

Have just enjoyed reading this thread and am a relatively new MNer - well have been just lurking for a while. We are here with my husband's job and have been here for 2 years now. I have a one yr old DD. Hoping I can contribute a bit. Weather here is around 30 and drier than normal at the moment. Currently listening to the constant fire crackers and fireworks due to Chinese New Year festivities.