Is sectarianism a factor in the McCann case?

[G-Unit]

A bit deep.  I hadn't actually thought about it.  All of my children look like my father, who wasn't much cop emotionally.  But he was very clever, and we all got that bit.
I also got my Italian Grandmother's emotion.  I cry at the drop of a hat and embarrass my sons.  Tough shite.

But you must have some of your mother in you, for which you really should be proud.  Things were so different in those days, and I am more than old enough to remember the shame.

Nurture was never everything, in fact Nature is almost certainly the greatest of all.  I have three sons by different fathers, and I can see the difference.

When I researched my birth family my natural mother had died. I only made contact because I had two older half sisters. As I was two when I was taken by the authorities I thought they might remember that disappearing child. They had absolutely no idea that I existed. They never saw me or heard about me, so it was a huge shock for them. I still don't know how she gave birth and had me looked after without them suspecting, but she did.

I felt no connection with my half sisters or they with me. I think I must take after my father, but I have no way of finding out who he was. Her husband was away in the war, and I was adopted because he refused to reconcile with her unless I went. Not that I was with her anyway, but my adoption made it permanent. I seem to have my natural mother's digestive system as she died of complications with that. I also worked in Accounts as she did.

[G-Unit]

Oh Dear God.  They played The Bag Pipes outside my window every morning when I was in The Wrens in Scotland, and what a joy that was to me.  I suspect you need a Celt ear to love that.

I remain forever a follower of the father of Prince Charlie, although it's a bit late now.

You must know as much about Scottish history as I do, and that desire must have come from somewhere.  I just always felt "At Home" in Scotland.

Although The Bretons are Celts.  Scots, Irish and Welsh.  The Breton Language is a mixture of all of them.

We were stationed with a Scottish Regiment in England and I loved watching their pipe band on their parade square. They would play, march and some of them practiced their sword dancing too. I found my son wearing his sister's kilt and dancing round the living room one day after he had watched the band with me on the way back from the shops, He was about 2 then.

[ShiningInLuz]

When I researched my birth family my natural mother had died. I only made contact because I had two older half sisters. As I was two when I was taken by the authorities I thought they might remember that disappearing child. They had absolutely no idea that I existed. They never saw me or heard about me, so it was a huge shock for them. I still don't know how she gave birth and had me looked after without them suspecting, but she did.

I felt no connection with my half sisters or they with me. I think I must take after my father, but I have no way of finding out who he was. Her husband was away in the war, and I was adopted because he refused to reconcile with her unless I went. Not that I was with her anyway, but my adoption made it permanent. I seem to have my natural mother's digestive system as she died of complications with that. I also worked in Accounts as she did.

The nature v nurture angle is very relevant, as to whether Madeleine would look like her new family, or would bond with them.  Should such a family exist.

[Eleanor]

When I researched my birth family my natural mother had died. I only made contact because I had two older half sisters. As I was two when I was taken by the authorities I thought they might remember that disappearing child. They had absolutely no idea that I existed. They never saw me or heard about me, so it was a huge shock for them. I still don't know how she gave birth and had me looked after without them suspecting, but she did.

I felt no connection with my half sisters or they with me. I think I must take after my father, but I have no way of finding out who he was. Her husband was away in the war, and I was adopted because he refused to reconcile with her unless I went. Not that I was with her anyway, but my adoption made it permanent. I seem to have my natural mother's digestive system as she died of complications with that. I also worked in Accounts as she did.

Seriously watch what you eat, is all that I can say to the digestive problems.  And I do mean seriously.  It does help.

So your mother had a child while her husband was away in The War.  Her and thousands like her.  Some of their husbands were a bit more kind.  Some husbands went away even though they didn't need to.

Some older children were evacuated, so wouldn't have known anyway.  But she doesn't sound like a particularly bad mother to me.

You and I also have something else in common.  We were both married to Service Men who were away from home on occasions, mine for longer periods than yours.  Which is how I came to leave my children while I went next door for a cup of coffee and a chat.  Two years at sea was very ordinary in those days, and not much fun to be left alone with two small children and not a lot of money for as long as that.
I have never given my reasons before because I didn't think I needed to make excuses.  I still don't.  I mention it now only in passing.

[G-Unit]

The nature v nurture angle is very relevant, as to whether Madeleine would look like her new family, or would bond with them.  Should such a family exist.

I saw a woman being interviewed who had both natural and adopted children. She bonded with them all, but said the bonds were different. In her opinion the bond which a mother forms with her natural child can't be replicated with an adopted child. I think the age at which the child is acquired must be relevant too. Madeleine spent almost 4 years with her birth family. I was only 2, but I never felt completely 'at home' with my adoptive parents.

[Eleanor]

We were stationed with a Scottish Regiment in England and I loved watching their pipe band on their parade square. They would play, march and some of them practiced their sword dancing too. I found my son wearing his sister's kilt and dancing round the living room one day after he had watched the band with me on the way back from the shops, He was about 2 then.

Research the family name, there is bound to be a Scot in there somewhere.  And then buy him his own Kilt.  What fun that would be.

[Erngath]

After reading all these lovely thoughts and memories of Scotland, I'm glad I still live here or I'd be terribly homesick.

Mind you it's raining again.

[G-Unit]

Seriously watch what you eat, is all that I can say to the digestive problems.  And I do mean seriously.  It does help.

So your mother had a child while her husband was away in The War.  Her and thousands like her.  Some of their husbands were a bit more kind.  Some husbands went away even though they didn't need to.

Some older children were evacuated, so wouldn't have known anyway.  But she doesn't sound like a particularly bad mother to me.

You and I also have something else in common.  We were both married to Service Men who were away from home on occasions, mine for longer periods than yours.  Which is how I came to leave my children while I went next door for a cup of coffee and a chat.  Two years at sea was very ordinary in those days, and not much fun to be left alone with two small children and not a lot of money for as long as that.
I have never given my reasons before because I didn't think I needed to make excuses.  I still don't.  I mention it now only in passing.

I found three weeks was the ideal length of time for my husband to go away. The first week me and the kids had a ball. We ignored routine and ate what and when we wanted. The second week they began to take advantage, and by the end of the third week I was longing for him to return. Long Navy Tours must have been very hard. I think six weeks was our longest period of separation.

I think it was different then too. We had different attitudes to children and childcare and we had no support from family at all. I remember a dustbin strike when my husband was away, but my mother had come to stay luckily . The Army lit a fire and said 'bring your rubbish and we'll burn it'. My husband had made a soapbox buggy for my son so we loaded the bin on that and set off, followed by my son crying that he wanted to get on the buggy. He had to cry all the way there and all the way back because the bin got the ride lol. My Mum and I were pulling the buggy and steadying the bin, so he got ignored. I think we were all ready to cry after that.

[G-Unit]

Research the family name, there is bound to be a Scot in there somewhere.  And then buy him his own Kilt.  What fun that would be.

He'd have a fit, he's 49 now.

[Eleanor]

He'd have a fit, he's 49 now.

No he wouldn't.  Men never grow out of Kilts.

[G-Unit]

After reading all these lovely thoughts and memories of Scotland, I'm glad I still live here or I'd be terribly homesick.

Mind you it's raining again.

It would be the Highlands or Islands for me. I love wild places; Snowdonia is another favourite place. It's not raining in the Heart of England just now. 

On Benbecula it rained upwards and we had Force ten gales. When people complain that it's windy I still say 'No it's not'. Umbrellas were useless and washing could disappear never to be seen again. Any bookworms can read Lillian Beckwith's books about her time in the Hebrides. She describes the people and the weather very well.

[Eleanor]

I found three weeks was the ideal length of time for my husband to go away. The first week me and the kids had a ball. We ignored routine and ate what and when we wanted. The second week they began to take advantage, and by the end of the third week I was longing for him to return. Long Navy Tours must have been very hard. I think six weeks was our longest period of separation.

I think it was different then too. We had different attitudes to children and childcare and we had no support from family at all. I remember a dustbin strike when my husband was away, but my mother had come to stay luckily . The Army lit a fire and said 'bring your rubbish and we'll burn it'. My husband had made a soapbox buggy for my son so we loaded the bin on that and set off, followed by my son crying that he wanted to get on the buggy. He had to cry all the way there and all the way back because the bin got the ride lol. My Mum and I were pulling the buggy and steadying the bin, so he got ignored. I think we were all ready to cry after that.

I remember one Winter when the Stand Pipes froze on the caravan site, and I was pregnant.  Getting water was really awful.

And then that Russian President was heading for Cuba and I was alone with two small babies at the end of a Naval Air Station Runway.  Beggar The Navy.  Naval Persons weren't supposed to get married, so us Naval Wives were on our own.

[G-Unit]

I remember one Winter when the Stand Pipes froze on the caravan site, and I was pregnant.  Getting water was really awful.

And then that Russian President was heading for Cuba and I was alone with two small babies at the end of a Naval Air Station Runway.  Beggar The Navy.  Naval Persons weren't supposed to get married, so us Naval Wives were on our own.

Officers and their ladies, Non Coms and their wives, soldiers and their women. At least we got 'quarters'  which we 'marched' into and out of. I once asked my husband what would happen to me and the children in Germany if the Russians came over the border. The answer was that they would get us out 'if there was time'. That gave me pause for thought.

[Vertigo Swirl]

Viking/Scandinavian blood is quite common in Northern England and Scotland. I am very blond with blue eyes and so are my children, despite the fact that their father was dark-haired and brown-eyed. I have thought that might due to the presence of Scandinavian ancestors.  My son has piercing blue eyes like Paul Newman's.

All very fascinating but - on topic?  Slarti seems to be happy that it is, bizarrely.

[jassi]

All very fascinating but - on topic?  Slarti seems to be happy that it is, bizarrely.

As was Eleanor - though I agree with you