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Original poster

How the other half live

321 replies

MollieO · 06/08/2009 21:03

Bit of a tv evening for me tonight! Anyone else watching?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:12

I can imagine! Our stair was always getting petrol bombed or bairns throwing petrol bombs down the rubbish chute.

Oh, yes, and the polis station in Ferry Road was well busy.

I remember the first year I was there, these bairns chapped on our door around Bonfire Night, asking if we had any furniture or anything like that we weren't wanting.

I thought, 'Aw, poor homeless souls' and gave them some boxes we had.

Then saw the most enormous pyre in a big yard.

Oh, it was Bonfire Night all right!

TheCrackFox · 07/08/2009 00:17

Bonfire night could have been seen from space.

My best memory was the local children being sent out completely unsupervised, knocking on complete strangers doors, asking for signatures for their "against paedophiles" petition. The irony was lost on them.

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:20

Mine was of door-to-door salespeople.

Selling just about anything. Fags, booze, electronics, etc.

One enterprising individual even went door-to-door with a NEXT catalogue.

See anything you like? Well, it can be got, for a cut-rate price .

TheCrackFox · 07/08/2009 00:22

Somebody tried to sell bacon to me at the door. What is that all about?

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:22

And I'm surprised Friday and Saturday night couldn't be heard over in Fife.

Of course, there was one night I decided to go for a stroll. On my own.

In Silverknowes beach.

I wondered why it was so busy! There were so many cars parked along there, and at night.

Went home and told now DH.

He was astonished I'd gone there.

Well, of course, no one bothered me.

Because I was a woman and well, that's where all the boys who work at night go (aside from Holyrood Park).

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:23

Were they out of breath from running from the KwikSave, Crack?

TheCrackFox · 07/08/2009 00:23

That is too funny.

BitOfFun · 07/08/2009 00:24

I was a Leither for years too, foot o' th'walk...plenty of fires in our stairwell, little buggers!

TheCrackFox · 07/08/2009 00:25

Yay, another Leither.

I'm posh now. No stair well - i live in a colony.

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:26

It was a slice of life, TheCrack. And I have to say, 99% of American immigrants to the UK can say they've had a similar experience.

Although . . .

I knew a Yank married to a Scotsman who lived in Castlemilk in Glasgow.

And yep, I went to stay with them.

Once.

Slept on the couch. Was utterly passed out pished and my 'sleep' was interrupted by a stabbing outside at 4AM.

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:26

can't say.

BitOfFun · 07/08/2009 00:28

Ooh, I used to covet those colonies

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:28

oh, that would be the Kirkgate, Bit.

.

MIL will never say she is from Edinburgh.

She is from Newhaven.

TheCrackFox · 07/08/2009 00:28

I might be biased but Glasgow is rougher than Edinburgh.

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:28

I never covted those colonies.

No place to park .

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:29

Trust me, this Castlemilk action was BAD.

BitOfFun · 07/08/2009 00:29

Ah, but you could get a decent bus in them days...

expatinscotland · 07/08/2009 00:31

Oh, hell, yes, Bit.

We left just in time, IMO.

We had to go back in May.

Was a 'mare. The teuchters couldn't take it and were moaning from the time we were trying to find a place to park and rabbiting on about scuppering back to their hole in Argyll from about noon on.

saramoon · 07/08/2009 10:02

Liked the first one in this series but last night's episode made me feel a bit uncomfortable. Always thought we were ok off, DH earns about £18,000 and i work as a part time teacher. We never have holidays but that doesn't make us poor does it?
I think Zelda was not quite right and there is def a drug or alcohol problem. She looks about 70! Loved the boy.
Our 2 dds will always be sharing a room - that was weird as well.

Merrylegs · 07/08/2009 11:07

Actually I thought last night's was more interesting than last week's.

Last week the two families were poles apart - both culturally and financially. The 'rich' family were proper wealthy and their way of life was something the poorer family could really find no reference points to.

But last night's families were in fact quite similar. The 'rich' mum came from the same background as the 'poor' mum and although they were well off, they were not super-wealthy. Sure they had a nice holiday home, but I am sure it is rented out all year to cover the cost. The point the poor dad made was a good one - this is what my kids could achieve, as the 'wealthy' family's start in life was actually not so different to their own.

In that respect, I thought it was actually more of a challenge for this week's richer family to help.

And the holiday 'begging' letter was, I am sure, a device by the production company to move the story to the next chapter.

blissa · 07/08/2009 12:03

I didn't see last weeks episode.

I sat pretty uncomfortably through last nights programme. Maybe I go around with my eyes shut, I knew gated developments existed, but I didn't realise some have their own parks and that people live in some kind of bubble.

I was surprised at how much the 'poor' family have each week. We live on less than that with 3 dcs and £700 rent, I have never considered us to live in poverty though. Yes it's a struggle and we don't have money for luxuries, but we get by.

I too had the same thoughts about the sleeping arrangements, I would sleep in the lounge for my dcs to have a bedroom.

All the children were lovely, and it was great to see how much Brandon appreciated his own room. I think the trust funds were a good idea for the boys.

I didn't agree with the mums purchase of the laptop, I think that, as well as financial help, the parents also needed some help with budgeting and financial advice on how to deal with their debts.

claireybee · 07/08/2009 12:42

I didn't get this at all last night. From the figures given in the programme they have a similar income to us, and I don't consider us living in poverty. Yes more of theirs was tax credits/benefits but it boils down to the same amount that you have to budget with.

And as for the bedroom thing, if he was really such a light sleeper then carrying him from one room to another would surely wake him? Both of mine would wake at that.

poopscoop · 07/08/2009 12:42

Did anyone else spot that poor womans skin tone and texture improved during the show? ~Am wondering whether some money went that way?

Definate toward the end Brandon was being influenced by his parents on what to say in his letters and showing them round his home. The noise outside and how scary he finds it, plus the holiday.

Poor woman - did not like her attitude when the first cheque came through. No tears of relief that some kindness had come her way to help her kids. The look on her face said it all. 'How much?' was the only thing going through her mind.

KEAWYED · 07/08/2009 13:06

Just like to add you can by boys clothes from New Look.

You can at our local one UP NORTH.

themoon66 · 07/08/2009 13:07

Perhaps her skin tone got better because of this wonderful 'home made' skin cream she is planning to see on-line