A question for anyone from the UK...

The ClubHouse: Archives: A question for anyone from the UK...

Julieboo

Monday, February 25, 2002 - 07:03 am Click here to edit this post
What is Mothering Sunday? I have a calendar that has Mothering Sunday (UK) listed on Sunday, March 10th and I was wondering what it is. Thanks...

Littlebreeze

Monday, February 25, 2002 - 02:58 pm Click here to edit this post
Until a Brit answers your question, Julieboo, here's some info to hold you over....

The earliest Mothering Sunday celebrations can be traced back to the spring celebrations of ancient Greece, honoring Rhea, the Mother of the Gods. The Romans called their version of the event the Hilaria and celebrated on the Ides of March by making offerings in the Temple Of Cybele, the mother of the Gods. Ceremonies in her honor began some 250 years before Christ was born.

In the 1600's, England began celebrating a day called Mothering Sunday, celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent, also called Mid-Lent Sunday. Mothering Sunday honored the mothers of England.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the celebration changed to honor the Mother Church, the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm.

Over time, the church festival blended with the Mothering Sunday celebration. People began honoring their mothers as well as the church.

During this time, many of England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. As most jobs were located far from their homes, the servants would live at the houses of their employers. On Mothering Sunday, the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers.

A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch. Sometimes furmety was served, wheat grains boiled in sweet milk, sugared and spiced. In northern England and in Scotland, the preferred refreshments were carlings, pancakes made of steeped pease fried in butter with pepper and salt. In fact, in some locations this day was called Carling Sunday.

Another kind of mothering cake was the simnel cake, a very rich fruit cake. The Lenten fast dictated that the simnel cake had to keep until Easter. It was boiled in water, then baked, and was often finished with an almond icing. Sometimes the crust was of flour and water, colored with saffron.

Julieboo

Monday, February 25, 2002 - 03:01 pm Click here to edit this post
Thanks Littlebreeze!

Littlebreeze

Monday, February 25, 2002 - 04:42 pm Click here to edit this post
You're quite welcome, Julieboo.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 09:45 am Click here to edit this post
I have been looking everywhere for Teletubbies toys. I can't find any here in the US. Do they have any there in the UK? Anyone know?

Weinermr

Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 10:00 am Click here to edit this post
Julieboo, have you tried this site?

Teletubbies

Babyruth

Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 10:07 am Click here to edit this post
I bought my Tinky Winky (and his magic bag) at Kohl's over a year ago, but they might still carry them. Kmart used to carry them too.
There's always eBay, too.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 20, 2002 - 10:11 am Click here to edit this post
Thank you so much Weinermr! But when I click on some of the items (memory game, talking laa-laa) it gives me a file could not be found message. Anyone else have any links. I would be soooo appreciative! Thanks again wmr!

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 09:33 am Click here to edit this post
I won a bid on ebay from a lady in England. Any ideas on how I can pay her? Can I send an american cheque or money order or cashiers checque?

Fruitbat

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 09:51 am Click here to edit this post
The seller will contact you with this info, Julie. It is probably on the page where you viewed the item also.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 09:53 am Click here to edit this post
Actually the seller has given info in pounds only and she doesn't know either... help! This is one of her first sellings.

Grooch

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:15 am Click here to edit this post
Use this link to convert dollars to pounds or vice versa.

Link

Then you can pay her the equivalent in US dollars and she can deposit it in her bank.

Micknrc

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:17 am Click here to edit this post
You can send her an american check as she is not picky, easier if she signs up with Paypal and then you could just pay her direct through there. DO NOT attempt to get an International money Order unless you live in a very large city w/ international banks--they're almost impossible to find. I tried it once b/c the seller wanted an Internat'l Money order and went to twelve banks and still couldn't get one.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:18 am Click here to edit this post
Thanks for the link Grooch!!
Do you know if she can deposit an american cheque in her bank?

Grooch

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:19 am Click here to edit this post
Ask her. Every bank is different.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:24 am Click here to edit this post
She's going to ask at her bank today. I was thinking maybe someone here knew for sure. The funny thing is is that the total amount is only about $5-including shipping.

Littlebreeze

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:30 am Click here to edit this post
Julieboo.... Go to the bank. Give the bank the figure, in pounds. The bank will convert that pound figure to a dollar figure. You then get a traveller's check in that dollar amount. When she receives your traveller's check, she goes to her bank in England and they convert it back to pounds for her. It's really quite simple.

I went to England a few years back. Before I left, I went to my bank and had 500 dollars converted to English pounds. I wanted to have the English cash on me as soon as I hit the ground over there. I also took several hundred dollars in traveller's checks. It was as easy as pie to take those traveller's checks, which were in American dollars, to any English bank and receive pounds in return.

You just need to have the bank here convert her English pound price to American dollars. You then send her a traveller's check in that dollar amount. She then goes to her bank and converts it back to pounds.

By the way, if you are a member of AAA (Triple A auto club), you can also do this at any of their offices. When I came back from England, I came back with a few hundred pounds as well as English coins. I went to AAA with that English money and they converted it to American dollars and change. They kept the English money and off I went with American cash in my pocket.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:31 am Click here to edit this post
Thanks mick! I wish she were doing Paypal-it makes things so much easier...

Micknrc

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:32 am Click here to edit this post
I just sent an American check to New Zealand and there was no problem, but each seller is different re: preferences. It sounds as if your seller is too newbie to know what they want, so I'd suggest to them that they either take your check for $US (pound equivalent) or that they sign up for Paypal and let you know when they have and pay them through there.

Julieboo

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:32 am Click here to edit this post
Thanks Littlebreeze!!! That sounds perfect!!!! I'm off to email her that suggestion right now!!!! I knew someone here would have a great idea!!!!!

Littlebreeze

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 10:36 am Click here to edit this post
You're quite welcome, Julieboo. Good luck!

Juju2bigdog

Wednesday, March 27, 2002 - 03:59 pm Click here to edit this post
Post offices sell international money orders.

Julieboo

Thursday, March 28, 2002 - 06:58 am Click here to edit this post
Thanks, Juju, I'll check that out too!

Bernie

Friday, April 05, 2002 - 01:16 pm Click here to edit this post
Just think of it as British Mother's Day-that's what it's called now, and that's how everyone handles it-cards and gifts to Mom. I used to buy my Mam geraniums for her windowsill. Alas she's gone now, and today is her birthday, so I can only honour her memory.
Thanks for the background, Littlebreeze :-)