Sometimes things can surprise you

[robpage]

I have just had my delivery from well known better quality supermarket the driver was a Ghanaian lad and he was asking with having the crackers and a wrapping paper if I was getting ready for Christmas. He was telling me that despite him being a ****** that as Isa ( Jesus ) was mentioned in the Quran he felt that he could celebrate his birthday too and then he can have Christmas . I found it really refreshing he is working on his master's degree at Portsmouth University and the delivery service is a part time job after a few minutes he started to laugh and said I might celebrate Christmas but I suggest you don't bother with the fast at Ramadan you'll hate that not eating all day then he started to laugh one of those deep rumbling laughter infectious . Trivial but that much laughter actually made my day and he seemed to think it quite funny that I was not going to be following the Ramadan fast . There are some nice people out there with all races and all religions sometimes we just need to take time to talk to them

[Les Woodard]

So true Rob and this all gets lost with all the media hype and BS that is around. Think that you experienced a rare moment of being on board again where we used to accept the fact of who you are and not what you are. Been my mantra for a very long time that I want the freedom of choosing who I like and do not like as those around me should have the same freedom with myself and life would be so much better if we went back to this.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Wales has a number of ethnic communities, many of whose members belong to non-Christian faiths. They are to be found mainly in the cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. All the world's major religions are present in the country, such as Judaism, *****, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. Cardiff boasts the highest proportion of members of most of these religions.

Never knew much different in my time, good and bad in all. The Welsh are friendly, we have many via the docks and sea overtime that are the salt of the earth.

Keith.

[robpage]

Another part of the story was after telling me he was doing a masters degree in economics , he had been lining up a job on Libya but the bandit North Africans there were catching Sub Saharan Africans and selling them 'into slavery , so he was revising his plans , it was interesting to hear his opinions , he was from Gambia , what a refreshing young man

[Les Woodard]

Proves my point of view. Get two people together and most likely will end up having a good old chin wag plus laughing at themselves and each other. Put another person in the mix that does not gel with them and it all turns into racism or bigotry. How many of us used to make jokes about others simply because there was none of them within the crew. Example plenty of jokes about women simply because there was no females same with blacks unless there was a black seaman mind you recall my mate on one trip being asked why the hell he was bronzying with the rest of us as he was already black and he informed us that he to got a deeper colour one of the best mates I ever had at sea and ended up spending time with me and the family much to the surprise of the locals in the village LOL.

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Les.
Thanks for the memories.
Cheers Des


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[robpage]

I think sometimes we can take a blanket judgement and be very wrong and how do we judge people on the way they dress or the colour of their skin . When I spent 3 months in Stoke Mandeville national spinal injuries centre this year I would have weekends go down to the main restaurant and by myself full English breakfast the lady cooking it with Moroccan wearing a headscarf and I sat there and it amused me one day that not only was it Ramadan and she was not eating during the day but she's also cooking pork sausage bacon and black pudding I did say to her that I found it quite bizarre and she said it's a job but it's a good job and it pays well and she doesn't eat any of the stuff she cooks but she suggested that she could do a Moroccan breakfast and she has a really good recipe for sheep's eyeballs again we both ended up laughing I think we don't have enough understanding of our fellow man were too quick to judge at times

[happy daze john in oz]

Here in Melbourne our ethnic communities are fast growing, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Croatians, Somalians, and even Russians.

The greater majority have assimilated and work hard, nothing to see some with two or even three jobs.
We have some Sri Lankans as neighbors and they are fine people, in our supermarket a lady from India is one of the best workers you will find and so cooperative to fullfil customers wishes.
We do tend to put people from overseas into 'baskets' and consider them all the same just because there is one bad one amongst them.
We should not judge a book by the cover, nor should we judge all person by the actions of a few.

[robpage]

when younger , newsagents used to open around 6AM for the morning papers , shut by 6 PM , When Mr Patel arrived he opened 6 - 10 PM and we loved it

[Red Lead Ted]

Rob, My local Mr Patel, If you shout up at the window of his flat above the shop he will come down and sell you anything,
Things have changed alright down the years my old Mam used to get her Fruit and Veg in on xmas eve these days all the shops are open for xmas on xmas day. Without sounding like an old grump i can remember my old Mam baking mince pies and whatever other goodies she could for us, And the whole bloody street would be made welcome anyone's kids who showed up got what they wanted if it was available as did we in other houses the community spirit and welcome mat is not what it was years ago sadly, Just a footnote to this Police are warning all men be careful who you peck on the cheek or hug under the mistletoe this year it could end up with a sexual assault accusation. BARMY