Big Fat Gypsy wedding anyone?

[zookeeper]

Are we all sitting comfortably?

Oh yes!

Yes, I'm settled in, but I'm never quite sure how i feel/am meant to feel when watching it!

Yes, I'm here with wine and crisps.

I know what you mean - it raises so many questions.

Oooh Appleby horse fair, don't like seeing the animals pushed around and hurt, might pop out and make a cuppa......

cheese and crackers here

ah that's better, big frocks. I won't get upset about those like I do the horses.

ooo that cream dress was not flattering

The girls are probably so beautiful, but it's hard to see under all the make up and skin tight clothes. i don't get why they dress like that, when they live by a strong moral code. The 2 things don't seem to go together.

But all so controlled by the men, I bet 50 years ago the young women didn't dress like that.

I don't understand where their money comes from - they seem loaded

Ye Gads, what did that toddler have on?

I find it odd that I've never seen a Gypsy/Traveller child or adult with a disability - learning or physical - in the programme.

Agent there is interbreeding so that is surprising, and makes you wonder...

Yes, but even without that, if their community mirrored the settled community, you'd expect 5-10% of the population to be disabled. I wonder if there's a stigma attached. I'm off to Google.

It would be good to have more facts although I do like oohing and aahing at the otfits

where will they go now?

I found this from a report about gypsies and travellers in Leicester and the difficulty they have in accessing social care: "It is apparent that Gypsies and Travellers experience an extraordinarily high incidence of disability and ill health and, furthermore, have an average life expectancy of ten years less than the settled community population."

So it's odd that none have appeared in the programme.

write a letter to the pope! hilarious!

I loved thelmas friend writing to the pope comment Maybe they keep their disabled Hidden although this is just a snap shot and the families shown are not that many , I did see a little girl this series who had special needs or looked like she did , Also rathkeale strange place everybody familiy , now im in no way a genetics expert , but all that cousin marrying cant be good can it ?

I'm really gladd zookeeper mentioned about their money - it amazes me! Every week I think how the heck do they afford all this, but haven't liked to say anything in case I cause offense. We couldn't afford the cars/clothes/weddings etc they have - and we both work!

Agree, you look at the audis, Mercs and posh frocks and wonder how they afford it. None of them have so far admitted to having a job that would pay that sort of money. I'm amazed so many keep the irish accents despite not having lived in ireland fr a couple of generations. I'm surprised more don't want to go back to Ireland either as it's not that far away. They go on about being travellers but moan when asked to travel anywhere. They're anti brick houses but happy with a static caravan. None of it makes sense. I can understand wanting to be with your friends and family but don't get why a group of you living on a council estate is any different to living in static caravans for 20 years.
The problem isn't that they're travellers, it's that they aren't "travellers" but stayputters who want to ignore the planning laws other stayputters have to obey..

What about the 50-120? dowrys and yes had noticed no disability and the fitted plastic covers on all the caravan seating.

Its probbaly best not knowing where some of their money comes from , however gypsies have Businesses usually scrap yards or storage yards , they gamble , they also fight and have winnings , and they tend to keep the money in their pockets ,

No mortgage or rent. We would all be rich if we did not have to pay this each month.
No council tax.
No tax.