Forum Topic

Big Fat Gypsy Wages

Yeah, I know, it's Valentine's Day/night and I'm on the forum!!  In my defence, my husband is next to me having watched Big Fat Gypsy Weddings.  We'd like to know, and perhaps you have the answer, what do these people do for a "living", how do they earn their money?!Perhaps the next series should be called "Big Fat Gypsy Earnings"?

Angela White ● 5328d7 Comments

Fixing Hammersmith flyover?Paid by Channel 4, in the guise of entertainment!

Nicola Howard ● 5328d

i think we all know how many of them earn their living

Rosco White ● 5328d

Is it wrong to enjoy watching them?  By the way, I wonder whether HMRC or the Benefits Agency staff watch this programme.  I was trying to work out how much the cat cakes must have cost, never mind the dresses.  Dolly Parton once said it takes a lot of money to look that cheap!

Anne Brown ● 5328d

I struggle with that question too Anne, on two grounds.  One, is it wrong to encourage them by watching them not knowing how they finance themselves and two, are we laughing at them and is that right?  I think it's the second one that bothers me more.Having said all that, I have some insight into their culture (don't ask me how!) and I have to say they are a contradiction in many ways.  For example, they are fiercely loyal, not just to their own but to those who have shown kindness or favours or they can trust (a bit like the Livepudlian dressmaker perhaps).  However, cross them, or theirs, and you are in for a very rough ride.  There are many other "morals" or values they hold which we could all do with a hint of ourselves sometimes in this modern world.

Angela White ● 5328d

It's an absolutely hilarious programme because they're all  full of crap!  They go on about morals and how they wear shorts under their short skirts to hide their modesty, don't sleep around, family values etc, and then on the other hand show off how they make ridiculous amounts of money by driving porsches, bentleys and mercs and spending thousands on ridiculous dresses and cakes.The fact that the men don't want their faces shown tells you a lot about how they make their money.  I'm also sure they don't pay taxes - how is the Inland Revenue to keep track of them when they're so transient? I don't mind if they want to go about their business on the fringes of society as long as they go private for their schooling, doctors, dentists, etc.  Why should I pay for them when they clearly have enough money of their own and aren't paying in to the system?  I'm only talking about those on the programme last night - I'm sure there are some in their society who do pay taxes and who are sort of settled (although that's another rant for another day!) Still ... pineapple and palm tree dresses ... genius  :-)

Sarah Harris ● 5328d

wages, maybe?!last week i came across one loitering around my car. i asked if i could be of help, it was the middle of the day, and he did the classic diversion tactic claiming to be very interested in buying it. once introduced to one another by name he then rope a doped me by repeating my name at least ten times. after being very persistant for five minutes and verging on aggressive he just walked away toward his van. a tree surgeon no less. a couple of nights later at 9.30pm the call i suspected might come did. a neighbour popping outside to have a cig saw three males breaking in to said car.i approached with extreme caution. having assumed the neigbour was calling the police and not me the three walked quickly from the car sraight toward me. on a very cold night it was easy to look down and snuggle into my overcoat and appear unrelated to what had just occured. as they passed i clearly recognised the gypsey who had expressed interest in buying my car. they on the other hand were much more interested in gettig into there get away car, fifty yards further on. as i reached my car a shaken neighbour pointed out the broken window and wait for it, the hacksawed steering wheel to enable removal of steering security lock.£500 or there abouts is what the damage came to,the exact amount which was offered to me by our friendly neighbourhood big fat gypsey tree surgeon days earlier. ive wacthed the tv show once or twice and was amused that some did not want to be filmed as it might effect business if customers were to know of gypsey background. i dont want to imply that all gypsies conduct themselves in this way. however the thread on this forum does pose an interesting and valid question.as a footnote i went straight to the police station. two officers approached the station and i waved them down. i explained the whole event and pointed to my car 10 feet away. not even the hacksawed steering wheel could get them out of the warm police car.can u blame them, it was -5c afterall. just told to go to main desk. funny that, i would have been curious but i suppose they have seen it all before. station was packed so i called it a night. i hope this post alerts my fellow community members. its a great forum. thank you.

Peter Savick ● 5327d

Wages?! Last week in the middle of the day I came across a gypsy loitering around my car. I asked if I could be of help and he used the classic diversionary tactic of claiming to be very interested in buying it. Once introduced to one another he then rope-a-doped me by repeating my name at least ten times. After being very persistent for five minutes and verging on the aggressive he just walked away towards his van, a tree surgeon no less. A couple of nights later at 9.30 pm I received the call I suspected might come. A neighbour popping outside to have a ciggy saw three males breaking into said car. I approached with extreme caution, having assumed the neighbour was calling the police and not me. The trio walked quickly from the car straight towards me. On a very cold night it was easy to look down and snuggle into my overcoat and appear unrelated to what had just occurred. As they passed, I clearly recognised the gypsy who had expressed interest in buying my car. They, on the other hand, were much more interested in getting into their getaway car fifty yards further on. As I reached my car, a shaken neighbour pointed out the broken window and - wait for it - the hack-sawed steering wheel enabling removal of the steering security lock. £500 or thereabouts is what the damage came to, the exact amount which was offered to me days earlier by our friendly neighbourhood big fat gypsy tree surgeon. I’ve watched the TV show once or twice and was amused that some did not want to be filmed as it might affect business if customers were to know of their gypsy background. I don’t want to imply that all gypsies conduct themselves in this way; however, the thread on this forum does pose an interesting and valid question. As a footnote, I went straight to the police station. Two officers approached the station and I waved them down. I recounted the whole event and pointed to my car 10 feet away. Not even the hack-sawed steering wheel could get them out of their warm police car. Can you blame them - it was -5ºC after all. I was just told to go to the main desk. Funny, that, I would have been curious but I suppose they have seen it all before. The station was packed so unsurprisingly I called it a night. I hope this post alerts my fellow community members.  It’s a great forum, thank you

Peter Savick ● 5326d