Are we spoilt? First world problems

Each to our own, I say. We live in a horrible disposable society. Last week my dishwasher broke...I'm not in the least bit bothered, but my husband is beside himself and has rushed to buy a new one. I could happily live without it. Its not necessary in the scheme of things. I feel this way about a lot of things, we don't really need. When watching Escape to the Country, I get really irritated by people who insist they MUST HAVE an ensuite....WHY!

I loved the story about the peacock on the hot tub. Very 'overheard in Waitrose.'

I can easily understand that in the first world we are privileged compared with many others. However, I dislike the sanctimony of the 'check your privilege' brigade. The attitude is ill natured and unsympathetic and has the bigoted assumption that some people do not deserve human sympathy. It also displays ignorance of human nature and of the nature of human life which shares emotions whatever the context.

In the context of a high pressured, stressful, over taxed western life a shower breaking when it was needed might well be more than vexing when the difficulty and expense of fitting in a repair to a 24/7 working life is considered.

But the peacock and the hot tub really takes the biscuit.

Harri ?wish I did!

Harrigran, can I come and house sit for you?
When I was small, Mum and Dad found a holiday in a converted railway carriage. I loved it.

I've no idea annie how much it cost but they did not own the land for sure. They have in old age moved to a park home. Dad died 2 years ago and mum who is now 89 is living a quieter life. They didn't come from a privileged back ground their parents were farm labourers in middle England. My friend has carried on with that life style. They don't have children as they have been unfortunate as Barb had a tumour on her spine when young which rendered her sterile and her husband had breast cancer!!!! recently.

They have always worked jalima that's how I met my friend. They are both like me retired now.

I'd do charity work if I wasn't trying to earn a living!
We are very privileged though, on the whole, considering some people don't even have access to clean water.

How much does a converted railway carriage cost ?

Do they own the land they are parked on ?

And who needs an inside toilet ?
me!!!
preferably ensuite as I am a bit wobbly if I have to get up in the night to go to the loo.

Both her parents and herself are firmly middle class
Their story is wonderful, the fact that they want to help others and give back to those who have much less - however, perhaps they are the way they are because they come from a firmly middle class background and grew up not having to think about where the next penny was coming from. Presumably they do not have to work to provide for themselves and their family and can therefore devote all their time, money and efforts to helping others.

Those who had little when they were growing up and strived for a better life may not take for granted the fact that they may now always have enough to eat, a house with mod cons etc. and could become anxious if something happens which could jeopardise that, however small.

It doesn't mean that people who are living to a better standard than they did when they grew up do not do a lot of work for charities and those less well off - just that they cannot afford to devote their whole lives to doing so.

I am spoilt, I have a chef, cleaner and gardener but still had a strop when I realised we had run out of my favourite champagne. Housekeeping faux pas, I shall probably sack the housekeeper

Too much stuff is my problem in life and we seem to be acquiring more.

A generous friend whose children have grown out of the toys has arrived with boxes full.
The toys at the moment have to go in our over flowing loft until our DGS are old enough to play with them.
The toys and books are well cared for
DD doesn't have loft as such.
So can't refuse.

I yearn to be stuff free.

Your wonderful friends WW through their generosity & kindness of spirit have achieved ' the a stuff free' existence and the weight that (IMHO) it brings with it.

P.s.
My sister has just come back from a holiday in Wales.
They stayed in a railway guard's van.
She said the peace was truly wonderful.
And who needs an inside toilet ?
Yeah right

kittylester meant to add that the 'peacock sitting on the lid of the hot tub" made me laugh out loud.

I am not sure there is a first world problem that could beat that one!

I suspect many of us have come from very basic working class backgrounds and cannot believe the strides that have been made in living standards since the '40s, '50s and '60s.

I take nothing for granted and try and count my blessings every day. I expect many of us have known hardship, which makes the fruits of life we have now all the sweeter.

Now matter how 'rich' we are in material goods, life can still throw us many personal problems, which we can't escape. We still feel pain.

And yes, some of my day to day problems aren't really problems at all, but they can still be frustrating!

I was just thinking about your problem kitty and today I am meeting a friend who's philosophy on life is a joy to behold.

Both her parents and herself are firmly middle class. Parents lived in a converted railway carriage and gave every penny they could afford to charity as well as their time and love to the underprivileged. Barb and husband travels to underdeveloped nations and provide help in planting stuff, digging etc. They also spend time in the UK doing lunches for the homeless and refugees etc. They live extraordinarily simply buying clothes in charity etc. They could if they wished have 3 showers and much more, but they choose to give their money to the underprivileged. They are a joyous couple who unless you knew give no clue on their life philosophy
You would would call them model christians except of course they are not christians.

Sometimes stuff isn't important in seeking happiness in life.

Being privileged in those terms doesn't mean we don't have problems though and not just of the shower and peacock variety. GN proves that too.

It matters not a jot how privileged you are (happiness is the most essential ingredient and 3 showers doesn't bring that) provided you can in your heart and mind be sure that those less privileged are treated entirely fairly and have and equal crack if the whip.

Not sure we can be sure of that.

Even the poorest of us is privileged compared the a lot of people in the world.

I think a lot of us are privileged on GN kitty

Annie I pay my cleaner to do what is necessary.

merlot, the peacock didn't move but pooed to show its feelings on the matter.

I do know that I am privileged ww. Until I was 13 we lived in a house with an outside loo and we washed etc at the kitchen sink. Once a week I had a bath at my grandmother's house.

Do you hsve three cleaners to clean or does one hsve to clean the lot?

Of course we get cross about things which affect us personally even if they are minor in the grand scheme of things. This doesn't mean we are less caring towards others or less likely to help if we can.

Yes you are privileged. I have one shower over the bath which I have to clamber into!

We are incredibly privileged but it's our norm so those sort of things annoy us. I have a friend in South Africa who gently mocks me at times with the phrase 'first world problems' when I'm whinging.

That said if your DD had paid for the use of the hot tub and then was denied it by a vicious man eating peacock she has every right to be annoyed.

What a lovely image.....Trying to shoo a peacock off the top of a hot-tub.