My mum grew up in the post war streets of N.Ireland
The sort of streets with terraced houses that were all occupied by the local factory staff, where the children played in the streets and the mothers & wives polished their front door steps until you could see your reflection and swept the pavement.

My mum likes to tell stories of this and remind us of how she came from nothing and isn't a snob and how being a prude only makes you look stupid.......

She has since refused to sell the Merc she can't afford to run, when pushed about selling it she agreed on the condition that she could get a Jaguar and I quote "It's has to be easier to run at that price".....when I suggested getting something a little more practical like a Focus or Bora etc she looked horrified and said that no-one would ever see her driving a common car like them.

When I was booking accomodation for my family to attend my graduation my mother refused to stay in the 3 star hotel I had booked on Salford Quays....she went and booked herself into the 4 star Copthorne Hotel accross the way (we were only in Salford for 1 night!)

She asked me not to show photos of the area I lived in Salford to friends of her's as it looked 'rough'

When I introduced her to my girlfriend and announced she was from the east of Belfast she told me 'That won't do' to which I replied 'You can fuck off mother'

She has repeatedly asked me to replace my Ford Ka with something larger as it 'would create a better image for the house' (!?!?), and she asks my brother to park his white van out of sight when he visits...he does not.

Then every Christmas we get the chat about how everyone is equal balh blah blah and how she is just as common as everyone else and how she lived in a street where blah blah blah
( Bamboo Steamer, Fri 17 Oct 2008, 12:10, Reply)