[ronlyre]

Can I thank the above members (especially Madhatter) who have contributed to this particular thread. I haven't laughed so much in years. Madhatter's comments regarding Poles coming over here and...and...(holds sides to stop them splitting) and stealing our women is totally wonderful, I haven't heard anything like that since, what 1953? I wish I'd noticed this thread when it first saw the light of day. Brilliant.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm privileged to work with (what we in the business call) the emerging communities (Polish, Portuguese etc) and don't recognise any of the rubbish above. I suggest that one antidote to the fears that some people are expressing above would be to get out more. Go and meet some of these women stealers, strike up conversation, sign language can be fun, buy each other drinks, discuss politics, laugh, joke, getalife.

Oh yes, for all those 'why won't they learn English' people. Most of the Poles I come across speak two or three languages and those who don't were very ready, willing and able to go to ESOL (English Second language) classes, that is until a recent change in the law made them far too expensive.