Strange relatives!
 

Boy am I related to some STRANGE people!! First, I go to England, spend a fortune on fares over the past 10 years to visit my sister who has spent zilch on coming to visit me -- and then she gets her knickers in a twist because I don't pay for enough things while there!

Then the other day I got into an email discussion with my other sister about crossbreed and purebred dogs. I have purebred, registered dogs. But my son just bought a Goldendoodle at my suggestion. So I have nothing against some cross breeds. I just like dogs that are "pretty". My sister had a dog that was a cross between a dachshund and something (possibly a pig by the look of the dog). The result was a medium sized black dog with a little tiny head! However, I never told her this was my opinion - its her dog and her choice. All I said was that all reputable (REPUTABLE -- not every) breeder of purebred registered dogs bred to improve temperament, health and looks. She insisted, though she has never owned a purebred registered dog and does not know any breeders of such -- that purebred dog breeders are in it for looks and the money only.

When I didn't agree with her -- she got all nasty and told me that one of my dogs is brain dead and she wouldn't want an ugly dog crate in her house, if she wanted a crate, she would have a rabbit -- I assume that a rabbit crate is far more attractive than a dog crate!!

I thought -- how the heck did I get relatives like that???

Anybody else got weirdos like this or is it just me? My friends are not like that!

Re: Strange relatives!
 

yes and friends too lol :D

My mum knowing that we are moving to canada next year, said her passport was up sometime in the next 12 months and wasn't planning on renewing it as it was too expensive and too much bother to go foreign holidays anymore - my reply was so I take it your not planning on visiting us in Canada then :confused: she said she wouldn't be able to afford the air fare, so I suggested putting a £1 coin in a jar every day and this would pay her flight

My mother in law has said that she will come visit but the step father in law won't as its just too much for him - they go to Turkey every year :confused:

pedigree dogs versus cross bred argument - an age old debate I have regularly on the husky forums I'm a member of, I have nothing against cross breds in fact one of my all time best dogs as a child was one (a good old heinz 57) like you, I like pretty looking dogs that are proportioned well and come with some sort of health guarantee from reputable breeders

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Sure, she can think what she likes. I just thought it odd that when I refused to agree with her uninformed opinion, she got all nasty and rude!!! It was like she was having a temper tantrum -- instead of lying on the floor and kicking her feet, she made rude remarks about my dogs and the comment about the "ugly" dog crate and preferring a rabbit crate - which made absolutely no sense, because obviously if you regard one as ugly, then the other surely has to be ugly too!!

But then she is always right -- I forgot that for a minute!

Re: Strange relatives!
 

No offence meant, Purley, but reading through this you both seem as bad as each other (you and your sister). :D

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Stanley Coren, regarded as one of Canada's leading experts on dogs, claims that so-called designer dogs (Goldendoodles, Labradoodles etc) are really just mongrels by another name.

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Haha - that's what I thought too. Admit it Purley, you are chips of the same block :rofl:

Re: Strange relatives!
 

OMG, do we have the same parents? Those are the exact same words that have come out of my mother's mouth when she was telling me that they wouldn't be renewing their passports and I replied the same as you.

It's true what they say about 'you can choose your friends, just a shame you can't choose your family'.

Karen

Re: Strange relatives!
 

I didn't get rude and nasty with her. I don't see the similarities. We were having a discussion about dogs and when I didn't agree with her she had a hissy fit just like she always does. There will always be people who prefer purebred and those who prefer cross breeds - nobody is right or wrong - its just their choice.

Of course designer dogs are mongrels, only nowadays nobody has a mongrel - they have a cockapoo or a goldendoodle and instead of giving them away, they want the big bucks for them.

I did read that when dogs breed haphazardly, most of the outcome will eventually end up weighing about 40 lbs and be brown or black. I guess the strongest genes are for those characteristics. So, whatever breed you start off with - eventually you will end up with very similar dogs.

Re: Strange relatives!
 

My dads brother and fwife are like this.....they travel all over the world, but have never made the slightest enquiry about coming here for a holiday...my parents go back to the UK about once every two years or so and visit them but it is really a one way street.

Re: Strange relatives!
 

:rofl: You wouldn't would you?

You must be wondering if you did something wrong, otherwise why come on here for validation?

Re: Strange relatives!
 

You write as if they have an obligation to come here to visit your Dad. IMO they do not. There are probably reasons they do not want to visit Canada and that is their prerogative. Perhaps their idea of a vacation does not include Canada.

Re: Strange relatives!
 

I came here to whine about it -- no other reason. I don't care what you say, visiting should be something that is reciprocated. I shouldn't be the one to keep forking out money. Previous trips were fine. I have no idea why she got like that this time.

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Tough crowd. :D

Re: Strange relatives!
 

I'm with you Purley, on the relatives thing and the dog thing ;) I don't think you did anything wrong.

Just had a similar conversation with my Mum saying she can't afford to visit me in Canada. She can easily afford it, she's just sulking because she wants me to go back home to live and I won't!

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Yes, sometimes you just feel like you have to have a good old moan to someone anonymous!!

My Mom was wonderful. She loved Canada. My Dad died of a stroke a long time ago, and my Mom came over here every year. One year she came here for three months. She is now in a home suffering from dementia - she was 94 in July.

But up until eighteen months ago, she phoned me every single day. She had converted the top floor of my sister's house into a bedroom, bathroom and sitting room. My sister's husband suggested that she move into their house, but my Mom used to get upset and tell me that they weren't very nice to her and didn't really want her there. I could hardly ask my sister if it was true, and I will never know whether she was telling the truth, or whether she imagined it.

She was still driving at 85. I took my granddaughter there for a holiday when she was 6 and my Mom drove us everywhere. She couldn't do enough for us. I had a wonderul time on holiday visiting her! I guess I just have to accept those days are over and I won't waste my money going over there any more.

It would be nice if everyone's Mom felt the same about Canada and visiting!

Re: Strange relatives!
 

I am in the same boat, sorry Purley, but who comes on a public website complaining about a family feud over their sisters dog appearance? Is this the Brit sense of humor that I am too dumb too understand? lol

Re: Strange relatives!
 

I've been in Canada for 5 years, and haven't had a single relative visit in 4 years now, and my relatives are way closer, only 3 hour flight from me... I dont go down there anymore unless I want to go on vacation in San Diego.

I have an entire side of my family I never met, probably never will......I hear they are crazy though...lol


I adopt my dogs, dont see a need to pay hundreds of dollars for one, but of course I'd never force my opinion on anyone else nor argue if they prefer something else.

Who knows, maybe the mutts of today will be purebreds of some sort in the future, I mean nature didn't create all the breeds we have now, somewhere, someone mixed things together....;)

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Ummm, I guess I won't comment on your question!

All I will mention is that time after time after time on here, there are posts from people complaining about their mother/father/sister/brother -- whoever - who are being difficult and totally unreasonable with respect to various things -- often to do with their decision to emigrate to Canada!

So why do they post these complaints on a public website? I guess for the same reason as me -- they are ticked off, annoyed, frustrated -- whatever and they feel like having a moan on an anonymous public website. They feel like they can't moan to the people concerned - so they do it here - I can't think of any other reason they do it.

I did it for the same reason.

Re: Strange relatives!
 

I think you need to look at the common denominator:rofl::p

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Some of us that are having difficulties with say "unreasonable mothers" (mine for example) may post on here to gain some ideas from others who may have gone through the same problems (lets face it I wouldn't post this on say a weightwatchers site now would I) - it is not just because we are "ticked off, annoyed, etc and want to moan" to you all. :thumbdown:

And I for one have found valuable advice and hilarious comments from most people regarding my odd mother....:lol:

Re: Strange relatives!
 

well i think you are right, families are great fun :eek:

for instance my mum, who's hubby is off work long term sick cannot make her mortgage payments ( the social is doing that for her) but has found £800 for a puppy to add to her 5 dogs ( griffons pugs and yorkies) yes she is insane and no i cant get thru to her. she claims she wont be able to come see us, surely a £150 flight is beyond her reach...

my sister left her hubby to be with her next door neighbours hubby. then she left him and went back to her hubby then she left him for his brother. she is now with someone completely different and her kids are not all that keen on her.

my brother has 5 kids, his first family may or may not even be his as his partner wrote to him after 5 years and said their 1, 3 and 5yo are not his and she disappeared. his second family was twins with an 18 year old, ( he was about 32) the marriage lasted about 3 weeks. he doesnt have a job but lives on... yes you guessed it the social.

my dad is still paying bills for his divorce 10 years ago and is on long term anti depressants, but maintains that he cant get a girlfriend not because of his illness but because he cant drive ( this is because he is on a three year drunk driving ban)

people wonder why we want to emigrate...:o

*disclaimer* i have no problem with people who are unable to work getting social benefits, i have a problem with people who are too lazy to work sponging off the state. I also have no problem at all with anyone suffering depression, it is an illness and as a psychologist i recognise that, my dad however sinks a half bottle of vodka a day, this will not be helping his brain chemistry!

Re: Strange relatives!
 

That is hilarious -- it could be a TV show!!!

Re: Strange relatives!
 

hmm and I wonder why yr looking to emmigrate ;)

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Your goat now belongs to me ;)

Re: Strange relatives!
 

tell me about it, how i havent been on jeremy kyle as the black sheep of the family i dont know ( im still married to the father of my children, and he works and we own our own home which we pay for, ourselves, oh the shame) i try and stay out of the way at family gatherings ;)

Re: Strange relatives!
 

I have a cousin who had a turkish boyfriend. She had 2 children with him. Then he left her and set up home with her eldest daughter(not his) They now have 4 children together. Work that one out.
Over the years, he has had a couple of fast food outlets which he has lost gambling.
I have no idea what his status is but know for a fact that his partner has everything paid for i.e. house etc.
After about 20 years of these people constantly trying to borrow money and not paying back when we did lend them ( i am a sucker for a sob story), I couldnt wait to leave:thumbsup:
You definitely cannot pick your family!!!

Re: Strange relatives!
 

We could start a new thread - the poster with the strangest family, although so far it appears that TJ will win hands down.

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Tell me about it.

My gran and her 4 sisters in their 80s and 90s still have sibling rilvary.

The sibling rilvary between my mother and her brothers (in their 60s) over the need to get my grandmother's attention is really amusing in a very sad and pathetic sort of way.

Having just been back to the UK for our wedding, I am now being made to suffer by my mother's sulking and more petty games beceause the wedding organising was too efficient and I'm too practical:confused:

Re: Strange relatives!
 

Sounds quite logical to me if you can get away with it. ;)

Re: Strange relatives!
 

LOL well they must be good for something. altho to be fair they do keep one amused ;)

Re: Strange relatives!
 

There is a lot on this site about people feeling homesick and missing family- do you think the rest of us emigrate/ want to emigrate because we want to get away from our awful families! (I'm in the second group...)

Re: Strange relatives!
 

oh im sure ill miss them. ill have to get cable :eek: