The Beggars Of London Town
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As I have previously mentioned, we are moving away from London and Greater London as the surrounding area is known. A real English village sort of life awaits. Incidentally, a free beer courtesy of Mike if anyone can name the singer of “London Bye Bye Ta Ta” back in the late ’60s. I’ll give you one clue, quite apt around this time of the year. ‘Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence’. No cheating by using Google now!
Anyway, I was in London yesterday. Holborn to be precise. A few old school chums met up with me in The Princess Louise pub near Holborn tube station. The beer flowed and reminiscences prevailed. Excellent session.
We had agreed to meet just after mid-day so, checking my ‘Google Maps’ I discovered my journey would take about an hour and fifteen minutes via train and the tube. It actually took less than an hour.
As a result, I arrived early and the pub wasn’t even open. I decided to go for a wander as I rarely venture into the city and my cigarette lighter was nearly out of gas so I thought I’d better buy another.
As I meandered about in search of a shop selling cigarette lighters, the one thing I instantly noticed was the extraordinary number of beggars sitting in doorways waving cups and plastic mugs at passers-by.
One old chap was clearly British. He had a long beard but it was quite neat. His clothing, whilst obviously a bit old and careworn, was fairly tidy and several people engaged him in a conversation along with giving him small amounts of money. I got the impression he was well known in the area and, perhaps, not exactly a beggar as such.
He seemed quite relaxed in his lifestyle. A real ‘gentleman of the road’ perhaps?
The other beggars were completely different. Mainly of what I can only describe as being of a swarthy appearance. Olive-skinned perhaps? Anyway, I would guess at Romanian? Albanian? Something like that I imagine.
They were mainly in groups of four or five. Sleeping bags were very much in evidence.
Their tactics were to step in front of you with a cup and glare at you. Almost defying you to not give them money. I didn’t. I stepped around them and was rewarded with what I assume was abuse in Romanian or something.
I felt extraordinarily vulnerable. I was walking alone. What would I do if they became, shall we say, a little more forceful?
Well, I would have not, I suspect, used my common sense. I would have, if necessary, pushed past them and, quite possibly, got hurt. People do sometimes you know. It’s in the news from time to time.
Why are they allowed to do what they do? Come to that, why are they even allowed to stay in Britain? They are clearly not British. Equally clearly they are not working nor, I have a feeling, looking for work.
Oh yes! They are European citizens with the right to travel freely around Europe. Including Britain for now.
But, wait a minute. EU legislation clearly states that any EU citizen landing on our shores or, come to that, any other EU members shores, must find work within three months or that countries government can remove them back whence they came.
So, why is this behavior allowed in London? Why aren’t the ‘powers that be’ putting a stop to it?
The old British chap was, for want of a better description, a ‘gentleman of the road’. He was certainly no threat to passers-by.
A lady alone – again of Eastern European origin – was not aggressive. She had a sign saying ‘I am hungry please help’.
I offered to buy her some food. At that point, two chaps appeared and, in broken English said: “No! Give money!” I walked on to much alien language abuse ringing in my ears.
I wonder what happened in the old British chaps life that resulted in him having to live as he does? I feel sorry that he is living outside in all elements. I suspect he has experienced enough to know where to go to eat and keep warm. His obvious cleanliness suggested he knew where the hostels where so at least he can stay safe and dry and warm when he needs to.
That is something I suppose.
As to the other beggars. They can bloody freeze outside for all I care. They should be rounded up and shipped out.
I suppose that is the sentiment of a xenophobe to some. Well? You try walking past aggressive beggars from Eastern Europe who, on occasion, have assaulted people to get money. Let them assault people in their own country. Romania? Albania? I don’t care.
We should not have to put up with them. End of.
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“London Bye Bye Ta Ta” by David Bowie circa 68 I think.
….and Jess got it!!!
I wouldn’t go to Scotland or Ireland…or Wales come to that Jess….and ask em if they’re a race…..well….not if you want to be treated nice 😂😂😂😂😂
I’m going there in February but I did just put an ask out on email blast to some of the new friends and people I do know from over there in Scotland and I’ll see what they say when they get back to me.
Jess : ‘a bit aggressive’?? Really? It’s ok for beggars to be a bit aggressive?
No. It isn’t ok. If they’re British lock em up before they hurt someone….the someone who gets hurt would agree I suspect.
If they aren’t British kick em out.
Anyway…I’m having porridge at the moment 😜
These people have nothing, many of them, and they are out there just trying to survive. I’d be aggressive too if I had to beg just to get something to eat.
So is it ok, when a beggar gets in my face and grabs my arm to just get aggressive back and kick him in the balls?
That’s the thing with aggression. Somebody gets hurt. The beggar hurts somebody and that’s ok cause they’re desperate?
Come on!
Perhaps we need the Albanian and Romanian beggars to look back at the time the great Jackie Robinson broke into the Major League. Branch Rickey told him to be silent when mistreated. He didn’t have the right to act like an asshole like Ty Cobb or Eddie Stankey.
You owe me a tablet cleaning. And not for nothing but it went up my nose also and I did that snort thing you do, where it goes down the wrong way and you end up cough snort sneezing on your screen, I’m thinking of the word to shorten it** because that’s too many words for the future. Just saying is all.
**cosnorsneeze is a possibility were it not for the fact snor might be thought of as a snore and I do not snore at all. I do not care that my husband filmed me snoring, he’s not here to show it to you is he, no so ergo ipso, facto pluribus unum, wingardo leviosa I do not snore.
I couldn’t care less whether somebody is black, white, brown or green with yellow dots….well…maybe green with yellow dots in case they’re contagious…
I had, and have, an issue with beggars that happened to be Romanian? Albanian? They were aggressive and it shouldn’t be tolerated.
If British beggars behaved like this – and we have some in my home town who do – then lock em up.
Color is not relevant. Acceptable behavior is.
Purity of race? Wassat? My wife is half Scottish, a quarter Irish and a bit English. My daughter, with that mixture plus half Lancastrian from me, has a partner I adore who is half Italian, a quarter German and has a mother who is half German along with a stepfather who is half Chinese.
I was adopted at 8 months old – not that I remember.
My birth mother was white British. My ‘technical’ father was half Ukranian with Indian ancestry in there somewhere.
Racist? Christ! I’ve nobody left to like.
Even me.
WTF lock up beggars because they are a bit aggressive being beggars. Man you are harsh this weekend, who peed in your breakfast cereal this weekend and let it get all soggy and nasty for you? So is Scottish or Irish considered a race where you come from, I ask because I don’t know seriously? Yeah racist dude, own it, admit it you do you and we’ll (I mean me, when I say we, coz I can only speak for me really) keep calling you on your shit and try making you think more about things and some day you may change your mind a tiny bit.
LOL! He will never admit to his own “shit.” I would except I don’t have such issues, being close to perfect as I am and all. But you knew that 🙂
The only thing I need that would make me perfect is if I were just a little more humble Mike, I even have a plaque that says that “If I were humble, I’d be perfect” my best friend gave me 🙂 I get called on my shit all the time by my best friend but right now he and I are not speaking. I don’t like his new boyfriend AT ALL, so I am avoiding him because he’s at honeymoon stage with this flavor of the month. He’s just nasty and a taker (new guy I mean) and my friend cannot see it yet because his dick is ruling everything right now.
Neil, I am usually on your side but sometimes you are your own worst enemy. There is a term that is applied to the people you prefer that is really quite accurate but here most people know what one means by it. WASP. White Anglo Saxon Protestant, although now days Catholics and even atheist are OK as long as they meet the first three letters. I suspect if they actually make it through W they are good with you, but if you had to choose WAS would still be your first choice. Now, here in America there are different levels of xenophobia and racism. At this point you seem to have what I used to call the passive form. You wish that you could snap your fingers and everyone except the WASP would disappear and Jolly Ole England would be back to the way it was 50 years ago when if there were any people of color they stayed in their places in the slums and you like did not even know they were there. I am very familiar with that form because Growing up in the South there were a lot of passive racists around, still are. I guess we should be happy that you are of the passive sort who would not necessarily take direct action against someone. Accept it for what it is my friend. As you get older this condition will not improve. Also, keep in mind that you are not alone by a long shot. There are substantial parts of populations in every country just like you but no one has the slightest idea, realistically, of what to do.We have nations of people who, like you, want a better life for them selves and their family. They have heard that it is better somewhere else than where they are. So, they go there not knowing that it turns out to be better for only a small percentage of of those who go there, but then are to poor to return to their own country, or they know there is no hope at all in their own country. But, you are doing the wise thing to moving out to be among similar thinkers for as long as that lasts. Eventually, there will be no purity of races at all.
Eventually, there will be no purity of races at all.
Think on this horror you guys. People just like me will be running the country/world sooner rather than later, us mixed breeds and I think that is what is scaring some people like to death. We are not going to treat you the same way we have been treated, we’re not going to have banquets on yer lawns and eat your children, well unless they wanted to be eaten and in a good consensual way when they are of age but that’s a whole new letter to Penthouse Forum isn’t it 😉
signed Joe’s trampy friend Jess
Timmy : oo er….fat broads??? Immigrants who won’t integrate??…you’re in trouble now 😂😂😂😂
Yeah. I realized after I wrote that some might be insulted. At the least Jess won’t like it. I’m hoping she doesn’t see it 🙂 🙂 I was going to mention I don’t like Muslims much but thought that would be a bridge too far.
Oh she saw it but you know what Timmy**, right now the racist shit is burning a hole in my soul more and fat bottomed girls make the rockin world go round and you are very welcome for the ear worm I have maybe just given you 🙂
**not for nothing but EVERY single time I see your name, I start Lassie speak I do not know why it just gives me joy, so thank your mom or if it’s not your real name and just a moniker for these here internetz toobs thank you.
LOL! That’s his real name Jess. I’ve known him for about 55 years, and he’s not nearly as rough and gruff as he lets on.
Holte : of course there were plenty of people. Not down the side street I went down for a newsagents though. These beggars know, in a city, most people will look the other way rather than get involved. Only last week a lady had her bag snatched by what turned out to be a Romanian beggar. It was estimated over 20 people witnessed it. Nobody came forward after the event, let alone when it happened.
Shirley : Quite so. And? I have merely described what happened to me. It appears telling the truth of a personal experience is now racist. Ridiculous.
I live just outside of London, and there are beggars everywhere, but no more than any major city in the world. They’re of all colors and backgrounds too, including white.
You were walking alone? In central London? In mid morning? Beggars only beg where there are throngs of people. Minutes from Covent Garden, the River, Holborn tube station. I was there in February. Can’t be fooled.
He’s living in the London of 28 days Later, after the apocalypse has happened apparently 🙂 In place of the undead we shall call our group swarthy mcswarthertons who beg during the holiday season or longer. Now in this, MY version of the movie, should we meet up with Cillian Murphy and or Christopher Eccleston they are MINE so step back, I get to have those guys not one of you, thanks for allowing me this fantasy.
signed VERY Shallow Jess who gets Cillian Murphy AND Christopher Eccleston in her movie
I’m not very good at things like that. Ta for the info
I should have (literally!) spelled it out. It would be so much simpler if WP let one subscribe without having to post.
I agree with you Diane. Word Press needs to work on this comment subscription issue, and lots of people have told them that.
Neil, sorry. On some other WordPress blogs there’s a convention of simply subscribing to a thread when one doesn’t have anything to say at the moment but would like to follow the discussion. Didn’t take long for “Subscribing” to become simply, “sub.”
Clue 2 : ‘London bye bye Ta ta’ singer. Originally called Jones….
David Bowie??????
YES!!!!! Mike? Beers for Jess!!! 🙂
Only because I know his last name is Jones because of his son Duncan the director and you being a huge Bowie fan.
Jess : Moi? The old British chap was neither aggressive nor threatening. The Romanians? / Albanians? Were all threatening and aggressive. I’ve re-read what I said. It’s racist to tell the tale truthfully????
Bewildered of Blighty xx
Diane : Que?
Come on man!! Just fucking admit it: you are a racist. It’s OK. There are things I don’t like, such as fat broads, criminals, and immigrants who won’t integrate. Of course I don’t write articles about these things, but I don’t write articles anyway, but fact is just come out of the closet man. I mean like every article you write has some anti-immigrant comment or reference. We ain’t stupid man. LOL
Neil, qui you, you could have said that in your article instead of “olive skinned swarthy mcswartherton couldn’t you?
I suppose so….but they were olive skinned and swarthy looking. Is that not the right way to say it anymore? it wasn’t meant as offensive.
sub
Don’t know who the singer was but boy do I have some come back on the rest of this for you but you know that because well I’m me and you are well you 🙂 So British gentlemanly guy, read whitey mcwhiteerton for the rest of us, to you was a ok but swarthy mcswartherton the olive skinned was not ok. You, sir, are a racist no matter how you look at it and don’t come back and say but Jess I only say this because (insert whatever bullshit you insert today here) OWN yer shit Neil, own your racism, own the xenophobic attitude you have. OWN YER SHIT
Ironically, Neil has jumped on my shit for poking fun at the British.
Uh? I don’t mind you poking fun at Brits! I do it all the time! 🙂