Welsh are the best neighbours...

[Matthew]

Read the story here. (http://www.nfh.org.uk/news/index.php?category=all&id=121)

[Matthew]

I always take these 'official' things with a critical attitude to be honest.

I have plans for our own NFH Survey soon, we&#39;ve been asked quite a few times now by media organisations etc if we have any official statistics - will be looking into implementing that this year http://www.nfh.org.uk/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[Tannasg]

>>How representative is a &#39;representative sample&#39; ?<<

Interesting that. When I lived in Southampton where there is a big pedestrian precinct a lot of clipboard-clutchers gather to approach people - but only certain types of people. I would sit with the boys to give them a lunch - a journey into town being an all day thing with a pushchair with David walking part of the way - and watch.

They never approached anyone who looked to be in a low income group. I was only approached if looking very &#39;straight&#39; - not wearing any sloganed t-shirt or leather or - heaven forbid, anything that might be considered &#39;revealing&#39; - even when the boys were with me (they were always well dressed and well behaved) but if *I* wasn&#39;t looking &#39;average&#39; - no clipboard would bother with me, unless, however, I was heard to speak - calling the boys, for instance - instant interest shown - the same middle class voice that condemns me here attracted the c-c&#39;s like flies.

The day I walked through the precinct after having just been to court (to divorce the first one) - in my &#39;going to court&#39; gear - courts, black skirt and jacket etc - pounced on.

They never approached obvious gays, anyone who looked like they might enjoy the odd joint, the elderly - unless very well dressed . . .

Later on, I as approached more often as I had more time for sewing and therefore appeared better dressed.

Still later - in a wheelchair - avoided like the plague.

&#39;Representative&#39; is another word for well-off.

tannasg

[spinkysay]

Couldn&#39;t agree more Tannasg. I&#39;ve watched them myself. You definitely have to fit into a certain category to be approached by these people. In my long black coat with long hair, scarf blowing in the wind I probably look normal and resonably well off - and have to fend these people off in our local town. In my corduroy jacket and short spiky hair, (recently cut&#33;) wearing a badge that says &#39;SO WHAT?&#39;, they won&#39;t touch me. So just how representative are these surveys?

[Mistyeyeddreamer]

Remember Angela? Didn&#39;t she live in Wales? I think she might have had something to say if she were here http://www.nfh.org.uk/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif

Misty