Fish n Chips 56

All this talk about Wales reminds me, Rob Brydon was on Jimmy Fallon last Friday night, they showed a couple of clips from "The Trip" which is coming to America as a Movie in March.

Gosh I love Wales, My Dad used to sometimes work in Abergavenny, anyone remember the Aberfan Disaster, I will never forget that.

blackcatsfan

Thanks for the welcome, I'm a Geordie lass (another one!) and will be going back to the North East. I hope to do some traveling in Europe also, I have always spent my vacations in the North East and there are so many places I want to see!

dunroving

Yes, I remember it. They showed a memorial program/documentary a while back (maybe it was to mark the 40th anniversary), it was very moving. I didn't realise until I saw the program that it was the first time there had been live TV coverage of a major news event.

I lived near there in 2006 and took a trip up that way. It's not as grim as it was back then, but still economically pretty depressed.

SoThere

trottytrue and EasternDawn- Thanks for the welcome!

blackcatsfan1- I just joined yesterday, welcome to you!



EasternDawn: The British govt punished women who left the UK around the time of the second WW by not allowing them to register their children born abroad, as British citizens, even though British fathers could register their children. The govt has changed their policies a few times (I'll find a link with a page which explains this) and said it's okay to acknowledge us as citizens. At one time, my sisters could be citizens of the UK, but not me, it's all unrighteous and strange the way they decided these laws.

To answer your ? I am "applying" to "register" as a British citizen through UKBA. If they "approve" me then I have to be sworn in and then apply for a passport.

My husband, who has a Northern Irish father, only has to get his own British passport- no applying for citizenship, no background checks, no swearing in, etc.

It's bizarre. But, that's the way it stands. I have to check my traffic history, the UKBA are strict and if there is anything they find offensive- off with my head , no citizenship. Seriously, I had a traffic ticket years ago, hope that isn't a problem.

We have a dog and we haven't started the Defra requirements, yet. We had to find a new vet since the one we take her to refused to do any of the microchip or paper or blood test requirements. We called around and found a new vet, and I couldn't believe it- his father is from Maesteg. What a small world.


Here's the link to a page which gives details: http://www.turberville.org/IND/campaigns/

jasper123

Ha Ha Ha Sally --- very funny, but yes indeed its true isn't it, so far since I have been home for 9 weeks my Nephew developed swine flu and it was on a weekend too, late at night he rangthe emergency number and a Doc came around HIS HOUSE gave him something right away, and prescribed some anti biotics, hes OK now he was lucky though, --- And my Sister who is dieing of lung cancer in Plymouth gets her specialist nurse come into her home twice a week, and her Doctor comes in to her once a week, And something to note here is in her situation its an on going order for regular as clock work home visits, but my nephew his case was an emergency, so in all cases the system really works doesn't it,
I remember seeing watching a series years ago in USA called? Oh what was the name help? was it Dr Welby, it was very good, he had a side kick Dr on a motorbike and crash helmet, he,s the guy now married to Barbra Strisand, ---- anyway they did home visits back then in USA it was a small town or village though, and the series I think took place in the early sixties, so I think years ago they had doctor house visits at least in smaller areas, of course that was until the big greedy healthcare companies took over medical care in America Ohhhhh OMG so sorry forgot thats a different story and thread somewhere,
Rodney.

between two worlds

Yes, it is, just had tea there a few months ago--in October.

Lovely--and musicians playing live chamber music while you partake.

Tina

SoThere

between two worlds- Thanks for the welcome!

Rodney- I want to see Ireland and parts of Scotland, too, after Wales. I've been west towards Saundersfoot, Laugharne and really enjoyed that area. I hope to see more of England, too.

CelticSpirit- Sorry, I don't know how to download Expat shield to your Mac. Can you ask on their Facebook page? I downloaded it last week, but it wasn't working properly then, will try again to get the IP needed.


sally- Many years ago our dr would make housecalls if we were very sick or contagious! I remember him coming to the house several times. In Wales, my uncle had visits by nurses who would give him injections and check his vitals.




I remember my Mom being upset when she heard the news about the Aberfan disaster. The news of it was on radio and tv, very, very sad.


Barb I have a question for you: Somewhere in the thread you mentioned about certain wood products not being allowed through customs, is that right? I have a foot locker type furniture chest which has a cedar lining, but the outside is brass and other hard material. I have covered it with stickers from places I've visited (when I remembered to buy a sticker) and want to take it to Wales. Do you think this furniture chest is okay to get through customs? Do you have a page marked somewhere with info about household goods going into Britain? Thanks for your help.


Remarkable, my husband just came back from shopping and said someone stopped him in the grocery to ask if he was Welsh because he was wearing his Welsh knitted hat with the dragon on it and carrying my dragon tote bag to put the shopping in, funny! The man said his family was from Wales, but couldn't remember from which part.

Another ? where do these words come from: Why is Plymouth called Pompey? Geordie? Scouser? Where do they come from? I know they are associated with places, but why those words? They aren't putdowns are they?

Anyone watch Downton Abbey in the UK? Did it end the series the same way as here- with the announcement at the garden party of the start of WWI? We had 4 parts about 1 1/2 hours each.

Derrygal

Do you know where in Northern Ireland your husband's father came from? I come from Derry/Londonderry (whatever you want to call it). I haven't lived there since the late 70s. I lived in Cheshire for 10 years before I moved to the US. I still have family in Derry and try to get back every few years. When my parents were alive, I went back every year.

Celticspirit

Marcus Welby MD. I loved that show too!

SoThere

He came from Enniskillen. I'm guessing that your hometown is quite a bit bigger than when finlaw left his home. I've looked at photos online of Enniskillen and it's not the small village I had imagined.

We've never been to Ireland, but definitely will do as soon as we can. There is a ferry from Swansea, but I think the plane will be better as the ferry is practically a day's trip and we have the dog to kennel when we go away. Then rent a car. I can drive a stick/manual and husband can't so I get to do the driving. Even with an automatic, he reads the map and I find fun places to stop at off the map!!! Once we all get to where we are going, maybe we can have a meetup for each area, that would be something...

Mummy in the foothills

I don't remember it I was too young, but my step father was a brand new Policeman back then and had to go and help. It affected him for the rest of his life poor man.

between two worlds

Sally, thank you SO much for the Alan Bennett/Sahara quote! I think I've seen it before but it made me laugh out loud all over again!
And I haven't followed the link re his lover Ann's death, but I will.

So There, this whole thing about children born to UK mothers before 1983 is complex, and I have to look into it. My second son was born in 1985 in USA, I know that he can do what his sister has just done (born 1988 USA) which was simply apply for a UK passport, with all the proper paperwork, and she got it--without even being called for interview!

But my oldest was born in 1980 in Italy and I know that, as to my deep regret I didn't register him as Uk citizen before he was 18, it may be a bit harder for him if he wants to claim his UK citizenship...but I haven't tried to understand all the rules--I don't know if he wants to try and do it. If and when the time comes, we'll look into it. But there should have bee parity with children of UK fathers all along.

Tina

Beedubya

I will never forget that either Fish and my sister more so, as it was on her birthday. What a terrible day that was.

Beedubya

Welcome blackcatsfan, you are in the right place here for sure. I hope you went back and read every post from the beginning LOL!!

When I found this thread I was amazed too as I don't know anybody in real life who has done what we are doing, I thought I was the only crazy one ha ha.

My friend phoned me last night (German background) and she really doesn't understand my moving back, I am sure she thinks I have lost the plot.

Only 19 sleeps for me to go!! I woke up at 3am wide awake, tossed and turned until 5am and just got up......you'd think I had things on my mind!

Derrygal

I was in Enniskillen in 2009 - went on a tour of the Belleek pottery factory with my sister at Belleek then went into Enniskillen for a look around and had our dinner there. It's a lovely little town - not a village - a town. Derry is considered the 2nd city in N Ireland (although it's quite a bit smaller than Belfast). It has 2 cathedrals and totally intact city wall you can walk around - a lot of history there. Good luck with the driving. You're braver than me - I took cold feel last time I was there - had my sister drive me everywhere. I couldn't take all the hills with the stick-shift. Now if I'd had an automatic I would have probably been okay.